High School / Secondary Language Arts Teacher

Language Arts Guide - Middle & High School

Dates: August 24 - November 28, 2026 (14 weeks)

Location: Jelsa, Croatia

About The Field School of Hvar

The Field School of Hvar is an independent enrichment program located in Jelsa, on the island of Hvar, Croatia. We bring together children ages 3 through 15 from around the world for a year-round academic program grounded in experiential learning, close reading, and deep engagement with literature, history, and the natural world. Small groups, meaningful work, and genuine community are at the heart of everything we do.

Our curriculum is organized based on a chronological story of Western human development. In the fall of 2026, we will be centered in pre-history and Ancient Greece.

About the Role

We are looking for a literature-loving educator to lead Language Arts for our two oldest groups: 12 children ages 11–12 (middle school) and 14 children ages 13–15 (secondary). You will meet with each group four times per week for 80 minutes per session. Sessions will generally take place outside, weather and other practicalities permitting. Each session is divided roughly in half between close reading and discussion of a primary text, and preparation for a dramatic performance.

Language Arts Program

In the fall, both groups spend the fall in deep engagement with The Odyssey, with texts calibrated to each age group.

• Middle (ages 11–12): Rosemary Sutcliff’s The Wanderings of Odysseus, supported by the Garlic Press Discovering Literature guide
• High (ages 13–15): The Odyssey in the Fagles translation, also supported by the Garlic Press guide

Each 80-minute session divides roughly as follows:

• 40 minutes: Read-aloud, close reading, and Socratic discussion of the text. You will generally highlight a language arts concept in each lesson, such as meter or metonymy, from each reading as a starting point for discussion.
• 40 minutes: Rhapsody project — students work in small groups to prepare a dramatic performance in the tradition of the ancient rhapsode. The goal is for children to inhabit the fun and creativity of the oral tradition from which Homer emerged, rather than to produce a perfect performance. Your role is to support the process, highlighting opportunities for language study and skill development.

Schedule and Responsibilities

Teaching Days

The school day runs 9:00am–4:00pm. Math and Language Arts take place in the afternoon, following a faculty hour from 12:00–1:00pm. During the faculty hour, teachers manage assessment documentation, communicate with the administrative team, and prepare materials for the following day.

On Fridays, you will help students prepare and present a brief summary of the week’s work for parents. This is a valued part of how we keep families connected to their children’s learning.

Non-Teaching Day

One day each week (equivalent to one day in five) is reserved for non-teaching work, divided among three activities:

• Planning and administration — curriculum preparation, collaboration with other guides and specialist fellows, and coordination with the administrative team
• Workshop for local children — a free or low-cost offering for children from the Jelsa community who are enrolled in Croatian public school and cannot participate in the full program
• Workshop for community adults — open to Field School parents and local adults, connecting the school’s activities to a wider audience

Assessment and Documentation

There is no formal grading. Instead, you will be expected to:

• Conduct entry and exit assessments to support internal planning (e.g. assigning groups)
• Maintain ongoing observational notes on each student’s development
• Issue a brief weekly summary of work covered with each group
• Contribute to ongoing program assessment — what’s working, what needs adjustment

The administrative team manages parent communication, disciplinary matters, and family concerns. Teachers are not expected to interface with parents beyond the Friday presentations, community workshops, and everyday pleasantries. Our communication policies are described in detail in the school handbook.

About You

We are looking for someone who brings several of the following:

• Experience leading seminar-style or discussion-based learning with a group of middle or high school-age students
• Enthusiasm for and expertise in classical literature
• Comfort with student-led, open-ended work
• Warmth, adaptability, and ease working within a small, close-knit school community

This is an excellent fit for a classicist, drama teacher, classroom literature teacher, or a specialist in experiential education, such as a museum educator.

Other Details

• Fluency in English is required. Croatian is not required but warmly welcomed.
• This position can be combined with another part-time role in order to create a full-time position, if that is of interest.
• We are open to hiring on a permanent basis.
• Benefits: All benefits and protections in accordance with Croatian law
• Right to work: Candidates must have the legal right to work in the European Union
• For more information about our program, visit www.fieldschoolhvar.org

All benefits and protections in accordance with Croatian law

Up to two full scholarships for children or close relatives attending the program

English fluency required.