POSITION: Social Studies/Language Arts Teacher
LOCATION: Northwest Youth Corps Headquarters, Eugene, Oregon.
Will require up to 4 weeks per year of camping in locations around the Northwest.
COMPENSATION: $39,000-47,000 DOE
BENEFITS OVERVIEW
Benefit Package includes: Personal Leave, Paid Holidays, Medical and Dental Coverage, Disability/Life Insurance, PERS Equivalent 401k investment plan, Professional Development, and other perks!
ORGANIZATIONAL BACKGROUND
Since 1984, Northwest Youth Corps (NYC), a non-profit organization, has given tens of thousands of youth and young adults opportunities to learn, grow, and experience success. Through partnerships with conservation agencies, youth and young adults gain the personal and professional skills needed to carry out a variety of stewardship projects, from which they can earn a stipend, high school credit, and/or an AmeriCorps educational award. More importantly, these young people gain skills needed to become economically and socially self-sufficient, benefit their communities as citizen stewards, and recognize that they can make a positive difference. NYC also operates an accredited charter school, internship program, and the Idaho Conservation Corps (ICC).
TRCS
Northwest Youth Corps’ (NYC) Twin Rivers Charter School (TRCS) is an accredited alternative high school for youth, ages 14-19, who learn best in an experiential format and who may have had difficulty succeeding in a traditional school environment. TRCS employs a cooperative, team-based format, in which staff engage students in hands-on learning that combines classroom instruction with the completion of conservation projects, field study assignments, and outdoor recreation activities. Students spend equal amounts of time in and out of the classroom and staff will strive to ensure conservation projects are complementary and integrated. School curricula include science, math, language arts and social studies with an emphasis on resource management, conservation and environmental studies. Students earn high school credit toward a diploma.
At Twin Rivers Charter School we believe that Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Justice are integral to, and inseparable from, the learning process. That means purposefully structuring educational opportunities that challenge systems of power and privilege that work to the benefit of some and to the detriment of others. We aspire to transcend anti-discrimination policies to create environments where students’ unique histories, cultures, languages, families, and selves are actively and sustainably engaged as assets that inform collective learning.
We also realize that we have much work to do to achieve these goals and while they are aspirational we remain dedicated to the journey. Our work is not ahistorical and, in fact, we have and continue to perpetuate systems of power and privilege. As an educational institution we dedicate ourselves to continued growth and learning, to taking action to remediate our harm done, and to be accountable as a system and as individuals when we do harm again. We do this with humility, respect, and an understanding that doing so represents our greatest opportunity to achieve our shared goals.
POSITION SUMMARY
At TRCS we like to consider ourselves slash teachers—meaning that we are all teachers/counselors/field coordinators/CTE instructors etc. This position is for a Social Studies/Language Arts teacher that offers a unique opportunity for a high energy individual with vision and creativity to develop cutting edge curriculum that integrates classroom and field experiences for students. Teachers use the outdoors as an instructional vehicle that leads students to high school completion while also fostering good character and environmental awareness. Teachers also plan and facilitate residential “spikes”, camping trips that combine fun, education, community, conservation work, and teambuilding. We want a social studies teacher that can help students explore the intersections of Race/Class/Gender and Nature, help prepare students to be active participants in democracy and foster a sense of purpose and belonging that extends from our classrooms into the local community and beyond.
POSITION DETAILS
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Support
• Promote continued organization support of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion initiatives.
• Seek to remove barriers to participation in NYC programs for underrepresented populations.
Department Supervision and collaborations
• This position is supervised TRCS Principal
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
- Build Social Studies and Language Arts curriculum and plan lessons to meet program objectives and individual student needs.
- Design curriculum and field experiences that explore the intersections of various systems of oppression both domestically and internationally.
- Work to implement the Tribal History/Shared History curriculum.
- Collaborate with Lead Language Arts teacher to align curricular and pedagogical approaches to create a cohesive approach to literacy.
- Work with other core content teachers to develop interdisciplinary projects
- Teach social studies to students with varied academic levels.
- Teach other classes (electives, CTE) as necessary.
- Coordinate, facilitate and participate in student camping activities.
- Provide instruction, assess learning, keep class records, and assign grades.
- Participate in IEP meetings and work with special education teacher ensure compliance with IEP’s.
- Maintain portfolio assessments and records.
- Attend regular staff meetings, staff development opportunities, and organization-wide activities.
- Mentor and advise an assigned cohort of students, and maintain contact with family, case worker, etc.
- Participate in field experiences that include physical labor, trail work, invasive species removal and others.
Position Qualifications & Certifications
• Current Oregon secondary teaching license required
• Dual endorsement in Language Arts and Social Studies preferred
• Experience teaching high school-aged and/or at-risk youth
• Experience teaching Social Studies
• Experience guiding groups of teaching in the outdoors
• Outdoor leadership experience
• Must possess a valid driver’s license and clean driving record.
• Wilderness First Aid training (we will provide training if necessary)
• Reliable and self-motivated.
• Exceptional communication skills.
• Superior problem solving skills.
• Strong leadership qualities.
• Interpersonal skills
• Strategic thinker.
• Exceptional organizational skills.
Physical Demands/Work Environment
• In the performance of the job duties, the employee will work in a variety of environments from an office setting to remote locations in the wilderness.
• This position will primarily work outside in all types of weather conditions and environments including but not limited to high elevations, remote areas, cold, rain, snow, heat, humidity, wind, etc.
• The noise level in the environment is quiet to loud. PPE is provided and use is required.
• The employee must – frequently lift and/or move up to 75 pounds (with or without reasonable accommodation).
• While performing the duties of this job, with or without reasonable accommodation, the employee is required to stand; walk; use hands to handle, feel or operate objects, tools or vehicle; reach with hands and arms; sit; climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl; talk, hear; and smell repeatedly.
**This Position Description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change or new ones may be assigned at any time with or without notice.**
Terms of Employment
Based in Eugene, will require 15% travel to remote training and project locations which may include travelling within OR, WA, and ID. This is a full time, exempt position. Typical hours are Monday - Friday, 8:00AM to 5:00 PM; with periodic long days and/or evening and weekend responsibilities seasonally.
To Apply
Send a cover letter and resume to Jessica Johnson, Human Resources Officer at jessicaj@nwyouthcorps.org with “TRCS Social Studies/Language Arts Teacher” in the subject line and document attachments in word or PDF format. Please do not call or drop in. Additional program information can be found at www.northwestyouthcorps.org
Northwest Youth Corps is an Equal Opportunity Employer - Our core purpose is to provide opportunities for youth and young adults to learn, grow, and experience success. We believe diversity is a key source of strength for our communities, and we strive to create a safe and empowering environment for participants from a wide range of backgrounds and abilities. We are deeply invested in the success of youth and young adults of all races, ethnicities, gender identities, religions, sexual orientations, economic statuses, or other socio-cultural identifiers
