Job Abstract

Overview

HGW is seeking dedicated and effective candidates with classroom experience and a penchant for cultivating students’ lifelong love of learning for the role of STEAM Teacher in our five-week Summer Academy enrichment program.

Work Location*

Norwood School

8821 River Road

Bethesda, MD 20817

*This position may be onsite, virtual, or both based on health restrictions and other factors in the community and the organization. Candidates must be willing to work in the full range of work environments.

2024 Program Dates

Staff Orientation: June 24th – June 27th, 2024

Summer Program: June 28th - August 2nd, 2024*

*There will be no program on Thursday, July 4th in observance of Independence Day

About Horizons Greater Washington

Horizons Greater Washington (HGW), an affiliate of Horizons National, advances educational equity by building long-term partnerships with students, families, communities, and schools to create experiences outside of school that inspire the joy of learning. HGW supports over 400 students in grades 1-9 with year-round programming, developing the whole child through experiences that build problem-solving skills, foster awareness of community responsibility, and instill respect for self and others. By spanning from first grade to ninth grade, the program nurtures long-term connections between diverse learners and dedicated staff who support them throughout the year. HGW program design and staff practices follow a Positive Youth Development approach, emphasizing engagement, interaction, support, and a safe environment as key components that meet the needs of youth. The five-week Summer Academy is Horizons’ core program, blending high-quality academics—with an emphasis on literacy and STEAM—with arts, fitness, cultural enrichment, field trips, and confidence-building challenges, including learning to swim.

Position Description

HGW is seeking dedicated and effective candidates for the role of STEAM Teacher to further enhance our culture of creativity, innovation, and experimentation by melding the diverse disciplines of math, science, art, engineering, design, architecture, and more. Using design thinking, STEAM Teachers will assist, support, and encourage students as they learn new skills for developing ideas and experience both success and failure in a highly collaborative setting. STEAM Teachers are supported by a Site Director and the HGW administrative team and must work as a team player with teachers across disciplines and program support staff to help fulfill the Horizons mission. Successful applicants will be flexible and creative in response to students’ interests and needs, passionate about Horizons’ mission and building transformative relationships with young people, and self-driven, demonstrating a commitment to quality and growth.

Core Duties and Responsibilities

Teaching & Student Engagement

• Deliver instruction and guidance to elementary- and middle-school elective students while in the classroom, working one-on-one with students or in groups to ideate, prototype, and present projects. Each grade will meet 2-3x per week throughout our five-week summer enrichment program.
• Implement Horizons’ high-quality, culturally-responsive, project-based curriculum with effective teaching strategies to bolster student progress throughout our five-week summer enrichment program.
• Engage approximately 15-20 students in daily lessons that promote active, student-centered learning in math and reading.
• Analyze student assessment data to inform decision making and improve instruction, consulting with the Site Director and Reading Specialists as necessary.
• Lead already planned experiential learning experiences and when appropriate, accompany students on weekly field trips.
• Collaborate with teaching assistants and/or program support staff to deliver lessons and activities.
• Inventory and maintain all materials, tools, and equipment, including hardware and software.

Classroom & Program Management

• Establish and maintain a classroom environment conducive to learning. HGW’s programs adhere to the Pyramid of Program Quality designed by the David Weikart Center for Youth Program Quality. All HGW staff strive to support the domains of Engagement, Interaction, Supportive Environment, and Safe Environment to support the needs of youth.
• Maintain daily attendance records, execute and follow lesson plans from normed Horizons curriculum, and provide formative feedback to the Site Director and Assistant Site Director on a consistent basis.
• Assist in the administration of student assessments.
• Supervise students during daily meals and recess.
• Prepare and submit a final evaluation of each student’s progress prior to the end of the program.
• Meet regularly with the Site Director (and Program Director as needed) to proactively accomplish goals and problem solve as issues arise.
• Ensure compliance with state and organizational regulations and policies.

Professional Development & Team-Building

• Attend a four-day orientation session prior to the start of the program (as noted in the dates above).
• Attend Family Night, Ice Cream Social, Faculty Meetings, and other activities, including those that may fall outside the program hours.

Qualifications and Competencies

In addition to having a steadfast commitment to Horizon’s mission, the ideal candidate will possess classroom experience in project-based instruction, behavior management, and differentiation. Candidates must also be flexible, organized, and self-driven.

Minimum Qualifications

• BA/BS degree from an accredited college or university preferred, equivalent experience considered
• Position-relevant teaching credentials are strongly preferred, but equivalent content expertise or teaching experience will be considered in lieu of certification
• Working knowledge of Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) preferred
• Knowledge of best practices for classroom management as well as social-emotional learning and the ability to implement specific strategies for developing children’s non-cognitive skills such as focus, determination, empathy and self-discipline
• Proven ability to relate well to diverse children and families as well as plan and deliver engaging, challenging lessons for school-aged children
• Excellent communicative, organizational, and time management skills
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively as a member of a multidisciplinary team
• Experience teaching elementary and/or middle school-aged students in a classroom setting is strongly preferred
• Knowledge of effective teaching strategies for second language learners is preferred

Compensation

This is a salaried position, ranging from $5,257 to $6,382 for six weeks, with a 40-hour work week at hourly pay rates ranging from $21.90 to $26.59. The specific pay for?each teacher is determined by our teacher pay model that accounts for education and academic year teaching experience to ensure equity across all teachers. There is an opportunity for the staff to earn a bus bonus of $25 per ride.

How to Apply

Please fill out our online application which will include uploading a current copy of your resume. Applications will be considered on a rolling basis, with interviews beginning in mid-November. Priority consideration will be given to applications received by January 15, 2024. Final candidates will be subject to a reference check. All offers of employment to individuals 18 or over are contingent upon clear results of a thorough background check process.

Background Check Requirements

All offers of employment to employees 18 or over are contingent on the successful completion of the background checks described below:

• Fingerprinting (FBI) (MD & DC)
• MD Criminal Database Background Check (MD)
• Maryland Child Protective Services Clearance (MD)
• DC Child and Family Services Agency (CFSA) Child Protection Registry (CPR) (DC)
• Metropolitan Police?Department (MPD) Criminal Background Check (DC)
• National Sex Offender Registry (DC)

All offers of employment at Horizons Greater Washington are contingent upon clear results of the above suitability checks. Background checks will be conducted on all final candidates immediately after acceptance of employment offer and on all employees who are promoted, as deemed necessary.

COVID-19

Horizons Greater Washington requires that the holder of this position be fully vaccinated against COVID-19, as defined by the CDC, and as ordered by DC law. Horizons Greater Washington will review and consider requests for reasonable accommodation to this requirement and determine whether an accommodation can be provided based on the essential functions of the job. Horizons Greater Washington may require information or documentation from an employee and reserves the right to request additional information or documentation in consideration of the request for accommodation.

Environmental and Physical Conditions

The environmental factors and/or physical requirements of this position include the following: While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to have ordinary ambulatory skills sufficient to visit other locations; and the ability to stand, walk, stoop, kneel, crouch, and manipulate (lift, carry, move) light to medium weights of up to 20 pounds. Requires good hand-eye coordination, arm, hand and finger dexterity, including ability to grasp, and visual acuity to use a keyboard. The employee frequently is required to be in one position for long periods of screen use, reach with hands and arms, and talk and hear both in person and over devices. The employee interacts in close spaces and frequently with children and other staff. May be in situations which require conflict resolution. The employee must have visual, auditory, and physical ability to respond quickly to critical incidents involving students and act in an emergency situation. Work is performed in a school environment with artificial light and air, with occasional trips off-site to parks, museums, etc.

Horizons Greater Washington is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate in employment opportunities or practices on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, marital status, personal appearance, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, family responsibilities, political affiliation, disability, genetic information, matriculation, source of income, place of business or residence, pregnancy, homeless status, or any other status protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.