Teacher Aide -- For Special Ed High School Student and Elementary School Classes

Open Position: Teacher Aide for Special Ed High School Student and Elementary School Classes

Dates of Employment: April 5 to June 18, 2021; August 30 to June 17, 2022

Hours: 

2020-21 School Year: 4 days per week from 8:15 AM to 3:15 PM; 1 day per week from 8:15 AM to 4:45 PM

2021-22 School Year: 3 days per week from 8:15 AM to 3:15 PM; 2 days per week from 8:15 AM to 4:45 PM

Compensation: 

2020-21 School Year:  Training:  11 weeks at $400 per week

2021-22 School Year:  $2,000 per month for 10 months

Who We Are

Longview School is like no other. While Longview School certainly has a rigorous pre-K through 12th grade academic program, what makes Longview unique is our supportive community where each student knows and is known by every teacher. In our small classes (2-10 students), teachers make the curriculum relevant by connecting their subjects to the students' lives. This, combined with a hands-on educational approach, inspires students to love learning. Beyond academics, Longview empowers students to become independent and responsible as they participate in our democratically-governed school with a student-led judicial system. Longview's focus on educating the whole child, academically and personally, gives our graduates an undeniable advantage as they transition to college.

The above is what we say about the school, but Longview is of course much more. It is a place created by teachers who often were successful in traditional academic settings, but who believe that education is not filling students' heads with information. Rather, it is about learning to become successful adults. For us, success is measured first and foremost by being able to lead happy lives. Not the sort of happiness that comes with seeming perfection on the outside while there is endless turmoil on the inside. No, the kind of happiness that comes from people knowing themselves well enough to be able to guide their lives towards happiness. The kind of happiness that comes when people have learned the skills to have some control over themselves and their world, having tested their mettle in a safe, supportive environment so that they leave school ready to face what comes next. The kind of happiness possessed by people who have learned independence and responsibility, at the same time that they have learned how to form meaningful and supportive relationships with peers and teachers.

If this is the sort of school you want not only to be a part of, but to have an active role in helping to create, then maybe we have a place for you.

Longview has 2 educational tracks:  the Academic track and the Self-Directed track. Each family--parents and kids together--chooses which track is right for the child. On the Academic track, students take classes in English, math, science, social studies, foreign language, and art, in addition to electives. On the Self-Directed track, students are able to choose how to fill their time at school. They can take as many or as few classes as they choose, or help to create classes in areas of their special interests. Although the classes cover fairly traditional content, there is a constant focus on hands-on learning, inquiry-based instruction, and making the material relevant to students' lives.

Regardless of their track, all students participate in the other aspects of a Longview education, which include participation in:

• a truly democratic school (run by School Meeting in which every student and each staff member get one vote);
• a student-run judicial system to resolve conflicts among all community members;
• a system of clerkship jobs in which students share in the real-world work of running and maintaining a school;
• an internship system placing kids in real job settings;
• a student-run chore system in which students take responsibility for keeping the school neat each day.

If you intend to apply for this position, then you will need to learn more about our school. You should definitely watch our intro video and review our website in detail: www.longviewschool.org.

What We Need

We are looking for a half-time 1:1 aide for a high school school student with special needs and a half-time elementary school aide, although the exact breakdown in the positions is variable. In addition, the right candidate for the job will have the ability to support groups of students in make-up work and study skills classes. Finally, the ideal candidate will also have the ability to support or teach some classes, such as online math or some interesting electives, even if they would not be considered classes in a more traditional school.

The right candidate should be excited by our innovative model who is nearly bursting with passion for democratic education. Since our school includes students with a variety of learning challenges as well as typical learners, a special education background is also a plus.

The right person also might be

• a former pre-school teacher who is interested in working as an aide for a challenging and thoughtful student;
• an actor or actress who is great with kids and wants a steady job while going on casting calls;
• someone who has very good people skills and loves spending time with children;
• someone who is new to education but is hesitant to work in a traditional public school;
• a parent who is unwilling to send her/his child(ren) to public school, wants to be a part of their education, and has the background described above;
• someone retired from teaching who can’t stay away from education and supports a school where students have equal power and respect in a school community;
• a person with real-life skills who wants to apply her/his knowledge through teaching;
• someone who is uniquely qualified for reasons we haven’t yet considered.

What We're Offering

We are hiring for a full-time aide with some teaching ability/potential.  The aide will work about half the time as a 1:1 aide for a twice exceptional high school student and about half the time as an aide in the elementary school.

The work hours would be as described above, plus there would likely be some additional required community events in the evenings or weekends a few times per year (for which there is no additional compensation).

We are a small, private school with a small budget. Please read this carefully before applying for the position. We are offering an initial training salary of $400 per week from April to June, and then an aide salary of $2,000 per month starting at the end of August.  There would be no additional compensation for a few community events, and no additional compensation for teaching a few classes.  Health insurance is not included, but you can buy into the Longview health care by paying the full price for coverage.  Longview staff are unpaid during July and August. If you have a child/children who you would like to enroll in the school, reduced tuition and less salary would be a possibility.

How to Apply

Watch our Hiring Video on YouTube at https://youtu.be/utNqFesW3WU. 

Look over our website (www.longviewschool.org) and watch the introductory video on the website. Then write a cover letter in which you explain why you would like to work specifically at Longview School and how your background makes you a suitable candidate.  Generic cover letters will be returned. Send in your CUSTOMIZED cover letter AND resume through Idealist or by email (info@longviewschool.org) or by mail to Longview School, 571 North Main Street, Brewster, NY 10509.

Level of Language Proficiency

English--Fluency

Minimum Education Requirements

We prefer a candidate to have a Bachelor's Degree. We will consider candidates without a BA but with interesting, relevant life experience.