Jobs

The Open School currently has two job openings: (1) A staff position for our virtual program (“Virtual Program Director”), and (2) a substitute staff position for our campus in Santa Ana.

Virtual Program Director

Note: this position is currently on hold. If you are interested in applying, please feel free to reach out so we may contact you when and if this position becomes available again.

The Open School is seeking to hire a staff member who will act in a program director capacity for our Virtual Program. Our school is a self-directed, democratic school, situated in Santa Ana, California with a unique online program launched in December 2020. Our virtual program and on-campus program work in conjunction with each other and are part of the same organization. However, the virtual program is growing and needs dedicated staff and development to continue to serve our families and advance the community.

Though successful candidates may live in any time zone and adjust to fit the Pacific time schedule, it would be ideal for applicants to live in one of the 4 main US time zones. International candidates may apply, but may or may not be eligible depending on applicable laws and regulations. If you do not live in the US please inquire to determine eligibility.

Position Summary

The Open School staff members work directly with students and take on specific responsibilities within the democratic system of the school to maintain and grow the organization. We hire staff rather than teachers to emphasize that adults are not automatically teachers and that people learn from each other in complex ways. The Open School staff are not responsible for creating activities for students to pursue and do not have the authority to unilaterally establish or enforce rules. Staff at The Open School are available as role models, facilitators, and peers as students pursue their own interests.  

There are numerous ways that staff interact with students ranging from tutoring in a specific subject, playing games (computers, cards, sports), working on collaborative projects, building things, going on field trips, cooking, producing plays to playing music, etc. Staff are expected to act as dependable stewards of the school; facilitate student access to resources; exemplify mature practice of personal fulfillment and societal engagement; and anchor school culture to values of interpersonal respect. 

Staff also support all areas of school operations including administration and development. Most work is done from Monday through Friday, 9am-4:30pm Pacific time, but there are times when staff will need to work outside of those hours, such as a weekend event or an evening meeting. Additionally, this position has the ability to have a flexible schedule depending on the needs of the virtual program. 

In addition, this position is specifically for someone who will act as a program director for our virtual program. This includes taking part in online activities, meeting one-on-one or in a small group with students virtually, and holding any number of meetings online. This person will also be a leader in the program and will help manage other staff who work virtually. They will continue to develop the virtual program by identifying new technologies, meeting the needs of our virtual families, and coming up with new ways to grow and market the program.

Staff members are also expected to pursue relationships with parents, holding regular conversations and meetings with them to deepen the parents’ understanding of and relationship with the school.

Qualifications:

• At least 5 years of experience working as a full-time employee in any field OR a bachelor’s degree and 1 year of work experience as a full-time employee in any field
• Experience working with children ages 5-18 in a professional capacity 
• Experience in a variety of online platforms and technology 
• Experience in program/business development and leadership
• Must have read at least 3 books from the following list:
  • Reflections on the Sudbury School Concept, Mimsy Sadofsky (Editor), Daniel Greenberg (Editor) (1999) 
  • The Sudbury Valley School Experience, Daniel Greenberg, et al. (1992) 
  • Free at Last: The Sudbury Valley School, Daniel Greenberg  (1995)
  • A Clearer View: New Insights into the Sudbury Model, Daniel Greenberg (2000) 
  • Kingdom of Childhood: Growing up at Sudbury Valley School, Mimsy Sadofsky (Editor), Daniel Greenberg (Editor) (1994) 
  • When Kids Rule the School: The Power and Promise of Democratic Education, Jim Reitmulder (2019) 
  • Like Water: The Extraordinary Approach to Education at Fairhaven School, Mark McCaig and Lisa Lyons (2008)

A successful candidate demonstrates: 

• A solid grasp of the school’s educational philosophy and practices, and a strong commitment to them  
• Continued striving for personal growth, open to learning and being challenged to grow
• Passion and engagement with personal interests  
• Responsible, respectful, professional, and mature adult behavior at all times; able to hold personal boundaries and engage in a professional manner
• Safety consciousness and commitment to understanding and complying with all school laws and policies
• Strong communication and literacy skills, including the ability to express thoughts in writing; careful attention to grammar and punctuation is ideal
• Ability to tailor communication with students of different age groups and developmental levels in a respectful, egalitarian, and non-patronizing manner, and interact effectively with people of all ages and backgrounds  
• Strong self-management skills, including high levels of initiative, excellent time management, and efficiency, and the ability to effectively balance day-to-day operational responsibilities with availability to students; see what needs to be done, and do it 
• Reliability and punctuality
• Ability to work well in a group decision-making organization
• Commitment to creating a space for a variety of voices and backgrounds, without advocating for an agenda or bringing in personal, political, or religious views when working with students
• Ability to maintain the confidentiality of student and family data, as well as to keep a constant eye out for the protection of student privacy in less formal ways
• Ability to work with a neuro-diverse population 
• Where applicants have a background in education they will be required to demonstrate why they have chosen to move away from mainstream practice  

Beneficial Experience:

• Experience in a democratic education environment would be highly beneficial whether as a student, staff member, or in another capacity 
• Experience of Self-Directed Home Education or Unschooling could also be beneficial as a demonstration of an understanding and commitment to student-directed learning

Commitments:

 All candidates should share these commitments:

• Personal responsibility and sustainability of the school
• Diversity of student and staff population
• Economic access for all who feel the school is right for them
• A deep belief in democratic, “free” or “Sudbury-model” education. Staff at The Open School uphold this model of education, and are not “testing the waters” or “seeing if it works”
• Ongoing personal and professional growth
• Continuous personal education on democratic education, Sudbury schools, youth rights, etc.

Compensation:

Employees are placed on the pay scale based on their completed years of experience. For newly hired employees, experience at other schools would be measured according to the below formula. The HR Committee will determine the definition of previous experience for new staff:

• Number of years at a Sudbury model school – 1 to 2/3 ratio (i.e. 1 year at another school equates to 8 months at our school)
• Number of years at a significantly similar school (i.e. free school, unschooling center, Liberated Learners) – 1 to 1/3 ratio (i.e. 1 year at another school equates to 4 months at our school)
• Years of experience in the following areas would not be considered for placement on the pay scale:
  • Work at any other model of school or learning center
  • Unschooling one’s own children
  • Work providing child-care in a professional or non-professional capacity

Newly hired staff cannot be placed higher than row F. 

Pay adjusts at the anniversary of hire based on years of experience. 

Row    2022/23 matrix   Pay Rate
A          Entry                     $36,331
B          1 year                     $38,147
C          2 years                   $40,054
D          3 years                   $42,057
E          4 years                   $44,159
F          5-6 years               $46,366
G          7-9 years               $51,003
H         10-14 years            $56,104
I           15+ years               $61,714

Schedule:

The Open School follows a standard academic calendar and staff work 35-40 hours per week during the school year.  Due to the virtual nature of this position, there is some flexibility with the daily schedule provided that all responsibilities are being completed and the virtual staff member is attending required meetings and is available to other staff and students during the school day. 

Staff have fewer responsibilities during the summer and therefore have a fair amount of time off during those months. There are periodic meetings and this position will require some summer work to prepare for the following year as well as further develop the program. Additionally, staff are considered on break during the school breaks (i.e. winter break, spring break, etc). Note for international applicants: the holiday breaks are tied to national US holidays. 

Benefits include:

• Paid time during school holidays and breaks
• Paid time off ranging from 70-105 hours/year depending on the number of years employed. Unused PTO may be paid out at the anniversary of the date of employment at the current hourly rate
• Sick pay of 15 hours/year
• “Name your own tuition” for staff children enrolled in The Open School (range of 0 – 50% of high end of tuition)

Application process:

Interested applicants should submit a resume (including names & contact information of previous managers), cover letter, introductory video, and three references to info@openschooloc.com.

The cover letter should include information about your background knowledge, research, and experience in self-directed education environments. Include how long you have been interested in this type of education and why you are committed to it. Also, please share your weekly availability and what time commitment you are willing to make.

Along with this, please send a 3-minute video that explains who you are and why you would be a good staff member. 

Upon receiving an application, the process is as follows:

1. The applicant will have a Zoom interview with the HR Committee chair. 
2. If recommended by the chair, applicants will be invited to participate in an interview with our hiring committee of students and staff. 
3. If recommended by the committee, the School Meeting will vote on inviting the applicant to spend a trial period in the virtual program. This will consist of approximately 4-5 activities per day for 2 weeks and joining the school’s Discord server. Additionally, the candidate will have the opportunity to speak one-on-one to each staff member and learn more about their job responsibilities. 
4. If approved by the School Meeting, the applicant will be required to complete their trial period after passing a background check with the Department of Justice
5. After the trial period, there will be an additional interview with the HR Committee
6. If recommended by the committee, the School Meeting will vote on hiring the applicant as a fellow
7. Upon completion of the fellowship period, during which the fellow completes training as deemed appropriate by the HR Committee, the School Meeting will vote on whether or not to retain the fellow as a staff member.

 

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Substitute Staff

Position Summary

This opening is for a substitute staff member for our campus in Santa Ana, California.

The Open School staff members work directly with students and take on specific responsibilities to keep the school running. We hire staff rather than teachers to emphasize that adults are not automatically teachers and that people learn from each other in complex ways. The Open School staff are not responsible for creating activities for students to pursue and do not have the authority to establish or enforce rules unilaterally. Staff at The Open School are available as role models, facilitators, and peers as students pursue their own interests.  

This position is for an on-call substitute staff member. There may also be opportunities for regularly scheduled and pre-scheduled shifts. This position is NOT a school meeting member and will not have the ability to vote in the weekly School Meeting.

A person filling the role as a substitute for our staff should be familiar with our model and philosophy and willing to learn how we interact with students. This is NOT a teaching position. Substitute staff will be expected to engage with students respectfully and without condescension. You should be available to help students with requests and needs, as they are presented and should not interfere with their activities. 

Additionally, substitute staff should be prepared to support the staff members on campus as needed. School operational or administrative tasks may need to be completed, or the substitute staff may be asked to station themself in a particular location to be present for student requests.

School hours are 8:30am-4:30pm and staff shifts are either 8:15am-3:45pm, 9:30am-5pm, or 10am-5:30pm with a 30 minute break. A substitute staff should be available for any one of those three shifts and will be trained on opening or closing shifts as needed.

Tasks may include:

• Aid students when requested, with things like write-ups, computer sign-up sheets, food opening, etc.
• Fill in for absent staff members in the event of a fire alarm or other emergency
• Perform administrative tasks as requested
• Help with end-of-day clean up and dismissal procedures
• Be ready and willing to help in other areas, as requested by TOS staff

A successful candidate demonstrates: 

• A solid grasp of the school’s educational philosophy and practices, and a strong commitment to them  
• Continued striving for personal growth, open to learning and being challenged to grow
• Responsible, respectful, professional and mature adult behavior at all times, able to hold personal boundaries
• Safety consciousness and commitment to understanding and complying with all school laws and policies  
• Strong self-management skills, including high levels of initiative, excellent time management and efficiency, and the ability to effectively balance day-to-day operational responsibilities with availability to students. See what needs to be done, and do it 
• Reliability and punctuality
• Commitment to creating a space for a variety of voices and backgrounds, without advocating for an agenda or bringing in personal, political, or religious views when working with students
• Ability to maintain confidentiality of student and family data, as well as to keep a constant eye out for the protection of student privacy in less formal ways
• Ability to work with a neuro-diverse population 
• Where applicants have a background in education they will be required to demonstrate why they have chosen to move away from mainstream practice  

Qualifications:

• Flexible schedule with the ability to be on call
• Willing to complete first aid training
• Self-directed and reliable
• Have read at least one book on self-directed education 

Compensation: 

• $20/hour, scheduled for 7 hours at a time plus a 30-minute lunch break

Application Process:

• Send an email to info@openschooloc.com with the following:
  • Your resume, which should include dates for each previous job
  • Which book or books you have read on self-directed education
  • Three references (names, emails, phone numbers) of people you have worked with or for in the past. Do not include family members or friends.
  • Any scheduling restrictions you have at this time
• If you are qualified, you will have a Zoom interview with the HR Committee chair. If the chair recommends, we will invite you to visit the school and speak with the entire HR Committee.
• Upon completion of the school visit, you will need to pass a background check
• If approved, the HR Committee will recommend hiring you to our School Meeting, who will vote on bringing you on board.
• You will then complete training and have some scheduled shifts to learn the ropes before being added to the sub pool

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