Sustainable STEM Teacher & Technology Coordinator

Sustainable STEM Teacher & Technology Coordinator

The Academy for Global Citizenship seeks a visionary individual to develop a world-class Sustainable STEM program using our new maker, tinkering, and lab spaces, to coordinate school-wide technology, and to teach innovative Middle School Design Thinking courses. This position involves teaching a technology and design class to our 6-8 graders, collaborating with our team to reimagine the future of education, and providing technical support for our school-wide tech infrastructure. The successful candidate will have a diverse range of qualities, competencies and experience. As a design teacher, this individual is responsible for teaching students about the design process and engaging students in using design thinking to solve real-world challenges. As our in-house technology support, this individual proactively addresses school technology needs and supports the integration of technology across grade levels and departments. The coordinator requires vision, creativity, and practical knowledge. The coordinator reports to the Principal. 

As an International Baccalaureate school, the successful candidate should be an adaptable and inspiring educator, with the ability to deliver a coherent, balanced, integrated, inquiry-based program in design thinking and should be capable of preparing students for international program in a stimulating, challenging and well-organized learning environment. In addition, the role of the coordinator assumes professional responsibility for providing, leading and facilitating diverse and effective learning experiences using technology in a supportive and positive climate across the Middle School and Primary School.

Key Responsibilities:

• Technology & Network Maintenance:  Effectively maintains all Apple technology equipment. Maintains the school network; manages support for google accounts for each student and across two buildings (one building starting in 2023-24); sets up tech-based testing systems across grades K-8, including: MAP/NWEA, ACCESS, IAR, ISA. 
• Technology Planning: Responsible for the identification and allocation of appropriate IT resources within the school’s overall resource plan; setting targets and providing a term by term overview of progress for the executive director; ensuring effective continuity and progression between all internal educational stages; contributing to the development of the school budget and helping to ensure that the appearance and fabric of the educational facility reflects the expectations of a 21st century international school.
• Instruction: Teaches an innovative Middle School Technology Design course once a week; leads a daily advisory class to support the social-emotional and academic growth of a small group of students; works with the MYP Coordinator to further develop the Design and Technology class for middle school. 
• Professional Development: Stays abreast of latest techniques and demonstrates an eagerness to learn new skills; maintains our Apple Distinguished school. 
• Collaboration: Works well with others; leads, models and inspires staff to  thoughtfully integrate technology into their lessons when appropriate; demonstrates clear and comprehensive computer knowledge and skills; works with staff and pupils in  both the primary and middle school, with responsibility to introduce and develop concepts, processes and skills related to the MYP Design Technology program; and ensures the safe use of the technology room during lessons.

We are looking for staff who:

• Have a big heart to match a big brain
• Are bilingual in English and Spanish (ideal)
• Want their work to define best practice
• Respect and thrive in a dynamic, changing, and growing environment
• Know extraordinary things can happen when people work hard together
• Are inspired by the unique mission and vision of the Academy for Global Citizenship
• Want to participate in a laboratory for innovation in education

Working at AGC means:

• Being surrounded by thoughtful, inquisitive students and hard-working, like-minded colleagues
• Thinking outside of the box to do what is best for our students
• Being held to high standards for continuous personal and school improvement, and being given the time and support to do so--AGC teachers receive twice as many professional development hours as their peers
• Promoting student profile qualities of the International Baccalaureate program: inquirers, thinkers, communicators, risk takers, knowledgeable, principled, caring, open-minded, well-balanced, and reflective.
• Having high academic expectations for every student in the school everyday
• Getting your hands dirty in our school garden and through nature-based teaching
• Enjoying 100% organic, scratch made meals prepared by our on-site chef
• Working in an environmentally sustainable school culture 

Required Skills, Knowledge and Experience:

• 2+ years experience as a technology / design thinking educator (ideal)
• Fluent with Apple devices and platforms (OS, iOS, iPad, Mac computers)
• Experience managing computer networks and device management
• Bilingual and biliterate preferred (English/Spanish)
• Familiarity with IB program (ideal)
• Familiarity with various educational models: Inquiry-based teaching and Responsive Classroom
• Believer in culturally relevant teaching
• Strong leadership skills and personal drive
• Ability to maintain a safe, orderly environment
• Strong written and spoken communication skills
• Technically proficient in Apple operating systems, internet working protocols, server and other file-sharing systems, office applications, tablets and smartphones, smartboards, and data communications; experience in A-V systems and video-editing preferred

Education & Certifications:

• Bachelor Degree in Education
• Master’s Degree in technology and education (ideal)
• State of Illinois Teaching Certificate (ideal, not required)
• ESL or Bilingual Endorsement (ideal)

Reimagining the Future of Learning

The Academy for Global Citizenship (AGC) is reimagining the future of what’s possible in public education. As a non-profit Chicago public charter school, located on the city’s urban southwest side, we are constructing a “school of the future” that is trailblazing an unparalleled level of sustainability and new learning environment rooted in wonder. Our mission is to develop mindful leaders who take action now and in the future to positively impact their communities and the world beyond. Our innovative and holistic approach aims to foster systemic change and inspire the way society educates future generations through incubating, evaluating, and disseminating our best practices to the world.

In addition to operating a K-8 school as a learning laboratory for the Chicago Public School district, AGC’s bold vision is to serve as an incubator of innovation and center of learning for the entire community. Our mission is to reimagine community learning by building partnerships, providing services, and establishing a living institution that model how to coexist peacefully and productively on a more sustainable planet. We envision a world where all have access to inspired educational opportunities, preparing communities to tackle local and global challenges and to live within our planetary boundaries.

New Community Revitalization Project

Leading up to this moment, AGC has not only been focused on helping its Chicago area students create lives full of possibility, but also has reached 5 million students in multiple states and countries by sharing our work openly and encouraging replication of our model. We are now poised to invigorate the AGC mission on a visionary new campus which will be completed in the summer of 2023. Experts from all over the world helped us reimagine the nexus between inspirational learning and healthy communities, and we have attracted a $31 million capital commitment from the State of Illinois.

The new AGC learning hub is one of the most architecturally ambitious projects in the U.S. today and is paving the way for reimagining the role of “school” and learning environments in cultivating the next generation of globally and environmentally minded leaders. AGC’s new learning hub will provide critically needed access to tuition-free early childhood learning, high quality K-8 public education, health care and mental health services, community wellness facilities and programming, neighborhood gardens and green spaces, and a fresh foods market featuring produce from the campus three-acre urban farm, food forest, orchard, apiary, and greenhouses. A variety of sustainable technologies and innovative learning environments, including STEM labs, tinkering studios and maker spaces, will allow educators to reimagine experiential and real-world learning.

Compensation:

A competitive salary based on experience and level of education will be provided. Full benefits, free scratch-made and organic breakfast and lunch, a wellness fund, and professional development funds are offered.

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, gender, age, national origin, or disability.