The Ecology School provides experiential ecology education for K-8th grade students from schools throughout New England.  The Ecology School hires 14 Ecology Educators each term to teach in its various programs which begin each Monday morning and end each Friday afternoon.  Educators work primarily with the residential programs (school groups on site for up to a week at a time) but may also spend time delivering day programs (day long field trips for school groups) or outreach (in school programming).  There are two terms each school year-- the fall session (early September through mid-November) and the spring session (mid-March through mid-June).  In 2019, The Ecology School programs will operate from Poland, Maine.

Ecology Educators develop and lead ecosystem-based lessons for groups of 10-12 students.  Lessons focus on the ecology of areas such as the forest, a fresh water pond, food systems, and rocky tide pools.  Each educator is also responsible for shared supervision of students between and after lessons plus some general maintenance of the site and program.  All educators are given a week of training prior to teaching children, which includes covering general knowledge of basic ecology, narrative education and the methodology of teaching children experientially in the out-of-doors.  Although sample lesson plans are provided in the Teaching Guide, educators are encouraged to create and develop their own lesson plans and activities within the Ecology School framework.

Qualifications

1. Ability to develop good rapport and positive relations with students, teachers and other educators.
2. Experience in K-8 education and/or environmental education.
3. BS or BA degree or, in the case of interns, several terms of undergraduate courses and experience.
4. Ability to work long hours outdoors (often physically strenuous) managing groups of children.
5. Positive attitude, love of nature, hard working, sense of humor and a willingness to learn.
6. Trained in CPR and First Aid

Compensation

College graduates receive a starting salary of $310 per week, post-graduates receive a starting salary of $340 per week. Each educator is provided with room and board, which includes weekends.  A $30 per week (per term up to four terms total) raise is given to all ecology educators who return to teach for additional terms.  The per term raise of $30/week and/or Master’s degree salary increase shall not result in a per week salary to exceed $400.

Responsibilities

1. Plan and teach lessons to a group of approximately 10-12 students.
2. Attend and participate meals (usually sitting at a student table to share the meal and to engage students).
3. Help set up the site for the week on Monday and clean-up the site on Friday.
4. Attend all scheduled meetings, including all Staff Meetings, Teachers Meetings and other meetings called as necessary.
5. Participate in pre-lesson educational skits and dinner theater.
6. Assist in developing curriculum, skits and program materials for The Ecology School.
7. Consult with classroom teachers and Ecology School Directors to make decisions regarding students' conduct.
8. Perform various duties (3-5 per week) such as breakfast or lunch dishes, dorm clean-up with students, recreation or dorm supervision, and put-to-bed.
9. Live on-site in staff housing.

The Ecology School provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.