Career Center

The SMS Teaching Residency is an experiential program meant for college graduates who are interested in working at independent schools. Residents both learn and teach in our academic, outdoor, and boarding programs. Each Resident is paired with an expert mentor teacher, leads our outdoor programming, and regularly works with the boarding students on campus. The SMS Teaching Residency lasts for 10 months, and residents are provided with room and board. 

Academic Component:

The primary purpose of the Residency Program is to facilitate an immersive learning experience that prepares residents for jobs in teaching fields. In order to prepare residents for their own classroom, they will…

• work alongside an expert teacher mentor.
• take a weekly class that focuses on curriculum development, assessment development, classroom management, effective teaching strategies, and the creation of their own “Why I Teach” philosophical statement. 
• observe their mentor teacher and other teachers of their choice. 
• gradually develop lesson plans of increased lengths for sections of their mentor teacher’s class.
• culminate their teaching experience, hone in on their educational philosophy, and solidify their teaching methods by fully taking over a month-long class in the month of April. 
• provide learning support for students.
• substitute for teachers when necessary.
• receive counsel on career planning. 
• assist in administrative tasks.

Outdoor Component:

Residents will lead alongside faculty in our outdoor programming that occurs throughout the year.  Throughout our outdoor programming, residents will be expected to create community, model and teach expedition behavior, work as a team with their co-leaders, and ultimately push our students to develop resilience, confidence, independence, relationships, and a sense of adventure. 

High School Residents

In August, they will participate in our three day Orientation Backpacking Trip with a small group of students, teaching hard and soft skills in the backcountry surrounding Steamboat. In October, they will help guide one of the Desert Week trips (canoeing, climbing, mountain biking, or canyoneering) and prepare the students for their upcoming adventures through weekly afternoon outings. In the winter, if residents have a ski pass on the mountain or have a backcountry ski setup, then they will also be included in our winter programming and ski with students at least once a week.

K-8 Resident

In August, they will participate in our three day orientation family camp trip.  In the fall, they may join one or more middle school overnight science and outdoor education trips.  In the winter, they may assist with middle school winter trips (day or overnight) and lower school science and outdoor education trips.  In the spring, they may join one or more middle school (typically outside of Colorado) or lower school (typically within Colorado) overnight trips.

Boarding Component

As members of the school’s community, residents will live and work alongside the boarding students of Steamboat Mountain School. They will be provided with a communal living space, which contains individual rooms and a kitchen with a stove and refrigerator. Each week, residents will work in the evenings to support our boarding program. This could include taking attendance at dinner, driving students to appointments or practice, facilitating study hall, or running a dorm meeting. Residents can also expect to work 4-6 weekends throughout the year, either on duty or running a weekend activity. 

The Residency Program is meant for college graduates who are interested in teaching, curious about independent schools, and passionate about the outdoors and communal living. We are currently seeking residents for the following positions:

• English Literature
• US and World History
• The Sciences
• Spanish
• Mathematics
• Experiential Education
• Studio Art
• Elementary Education
• Middle School Education