Semester Instructor & Expeditions Coordinator

Overview

The Island School, a not-for-profit organization based in The Bahamas, was founded to create and support transformational educational experiences with the vision of leadership effecting change, on the island of Eleuthera. The diverse educational initiatives, including our High School Semester and Summer Term, Deep Creek Middle School, Elementary Learning Center, and our Community Engagement and Partnerships, deliver unique educational journeys in conjunction with the authentic and meaningful work our organization undertakes in research and sustainable development at the Cape Eleuthera Institute, our research, and innovation hub. We are reimagining what education is for, and redesigning how education is delivered.

Job Summary

We seek educators with a demonstrated commitment to experiential education and a passion for both teaching and learning. The Semester Instructor and Expedition Coordinator is a member of the larger Semester education team.  Like all instructors, they are responsible for facilitating an immersive learning experience for their students, both in and out of the classroom.  In addition to teaching, the Expedition Coordinator also oversees curriculum and logistics for semester expeditions/camping trips under the direction of the Director of Risk Management and Expeditionary Programs.  They also have the opportunity to lead several multi-day sea kayak expeditions on the coastal waters and remote beaches of South Eleuthera each academic year.

All Semester Instructors play many roles throughout the semester including classroom teacher, mentor, disciplinarian, coach, community leader, expedition leader, and role model.  Ideal candidates are able to deliver thoughtful, interdisciplinary coursework in their subject, but also share excitement for connecting classroom learning to life in the community and learning experiences outside the classroom too.

All in one day, an instructor’s work could include: participating in morning exercise with students, teaching a class, doing chores with students, supporting an off-campus SCUBA experience or research project, supporting a project in the local community, and having one-on-one conversations with individual students.  By design, student learning extends far beyond our physical classrooms and students do not go home at the end of the “school day”.  That means our instructors’ days can be long, fast-paced, and dynamic, but also filled with the rewards of living and working in an intentional community and of having a lasting impact on our young learners.

Duties & Responsibilities

Expeditions Coordination

• Facilitate logistics for expeditions and camping trips, including food, routes, transportation, and equipment
• Assist in the maintenance of expedition and camping equipment, including the fleet of sea kayaks
• Design and facilitate the expeditions curriculum

Classroom Learning

• Design and facilitate two to three sections of classroom teaching in a designated subject area (Marine Ecology, Histories, Literature, Math)
• Assess student work and provide meaningful feedback and summaries of student growth

Experiential Learning

• Lead between two and four sea kayak expeditions each semester.  Expeditions are aimed at personal growth, group dynamics, and building on students’ on-campus learning and last between three and eight days
• Facilitate interdisciplinary connections across subjects
• Facilitate connections between classroom learning and community life, student research, expeditions, and personal growth
• Support experiential student research classes which may take place at sea, on the farm, or at the Cape Eleuthera Institute research labs
• Serve as a mentor and advisor for a designated group of 5-8 students throughout their semester journey

Community Leadership and Residential Life

• Provide community leadership and role model the Island School’s values
• Participate in and lead community chores
• Be “on duty” 1-2 evenings per week and typically 2 weekend days per month to support student needs and after-school programming
• Participate in and facilitate the morning exercise program, including running and swimming
• Support minor student medical needs as they arise
• Attend and participate in weekly team meetings with semester staff
• Facilitate student group meetings
• Facilitate student experiences off-campus in the local community
• Provide professional mentorship for aspiring Semester Instructors
• Other duties as assigned by the Semester Leadership team

Qualifications & Experience

Minimum Qualifications

• Patience, flexibility, and ability to work well in a dynamic, fast-paced, team setting in a remote island location
• Ability to be an inspiring and involved leader
• Experience working with and mentoring high-school-aged students
• Experience teaching/educating, in formal or non-traditional settings, or a combination
• Excellent communication, interpersonal, verbal, and writing skills
• Experience in outdoor/experiential education with Outward Bound, NOLS, or other similar organizations
• Demonstrated skill in leading sea kayaking expeditions
• A commitment to culturally diverse teaching, and demonstrated intercultural competence
• Proficient computer skills, especially using Google-suite
• Bachelor’s degree or higher

Desirable Qualifications

• Experience designing curriculum and writing lesson plans

• Experience with semester-based, gap year, or immersion programs

• Experience with expedition leadership/outdoor trip leading

• Experience living abroad and/or in an intentional community setting

• Wilderness First Responder certification

• Familiarity with Bahamian culture

Schedule

The Semester Instructor and Expeditions Coordinator role follows the academic calendar and staff work from the beginning of August until the end of May.  This includes training and orientation in August, preparation and debriefing time before and after each semester, and a mid-winter break between Semesters.   Staff have the months of June and July of each year.  However, some may staff choose to instruct during the summer term and receive additional compensation for that summer work. The semester is designed as an immersive and rigorous experiential education program. The staff are collectively responsible for students day and night for the entirety of their 100-day journey. As such this role includes work in the early mornings, in the evenings, and on weekends.

Compensation & Benefits

• Salary commensurate with experience
• Access to dining hall meals (3/day) when the dining hall is open
• Medical insurance
• Life Insurance
• Dental reimbursement
• Eligibility for matching retirement plan after two years of service
• Professional development opportunities
• Housing provided

How to Apply

Applicants should submit the following in PDF format through our Hiring portal:

• Letter of application that states career interests, why you would like to work for The Island School and your relevant experience and qualifications for the position
• Current resume
• Three references (to include name, address, telephone number, and email address) familiar with the applicant's work)