Position Summary

The Innovation Studio teacher inspires, instructs, and develops middle and high school students’ passions and curiosities and will teach students integrated design, using human-centered design as a fundamental process to develop students’ empathy, passion, and curiosity. This role will help students think deeply about the world through various lenses of human needs, positive societal impact, and environmental sustainability. The Innovation Studio teacher will enable students to take action through real-world, hands-on projects. Innovation Studio courses are semester-based, with a foundations course that all new students enroll in and the remaining program built on relevant electives.

The position entails a full teaching load comprising four classes with two or three different course preparations. The role includes advising a group of five to eight students, chaperoning weekend activities once or twice each term, and actively engaging in various student life and extracurricular activities. Teachers also collaborate and innovate with colleagues across different curricular areas and divisions.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following:

• In partnership with the Director of Curriculum and the Innovation Studio teaching team, design and implement a comprehensive and engaging innovation and design curriculum aligned with educational standards and best practices.
• Develop and adapt instructional materials, projects, and assessments to meet the needs of diverse learners.
• Integrate technology, engineering principles, and hands-on activities into the Innovation Studio curriculum to promote creativity and problem-solving.
• Provide innovative and dynamic instruction that stimulates students' creativity, critical thinking, and design skills.
• Facilitate active and collaborative learning experiences, encouraging students to work in teams and develop effective communication and collaboration skills.
• Use a variety of teaching strategies, techniques, and resources to meet the diverse learning styles and needs of students.
• Design and implement project-based learning experiences that challenge students to solve real-world problems using human-centered design processes.
• Guide students through the entire design cycle, from ideation and prototyping to testing and refining their solutions.
• Foster a growth mindset, encouraging students to embrace failures as learning opportunities and to persevere in the face of challenges.
• Maintain an organized and safe classroom space, ensuring that equipment, materials, and tools are well-maintained and accessible for student use.
• Foster a culture of responsible and ethical use of technology and materials within the innovation lab.
• Collaborate with the Hive (the fabrication space at NEIA) to incorporate critical making skills, mindsets, and approaches into the Innovation Studio curriculum
• Participate in professional development opportunities to enhance teaching practices and expand knowledge of innovation and design education.
• Collaborate with colleagues to integrate innovation and design principles across the curriculum and promote cross-disciplinary learning experiences.

The Hours of Work and Responsibilities for teaching staff at NEIA include:

• Teaching staff teach four classes each semester, typically with two or three different course preparations.
• The standard workday for teaching staff members is from 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Monday through Thursday, and 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on Fridays.
• Teachers are available for extra help from 3:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays unless they are engaged in other NEIA-related commitments.
• Attendance at all scheduled teaching staff meetings is mandatory for teaching staff.
• Teaching staff must participate in training sessions or professional learning activities, typically scheduled when the school is not in session.
• Each teacher is required to support or lead clubs and after-school activities. Clubs are scheduled twice a week for 40-minute sessions within the class day, while after-school activities take place in the Fall, Winter, and Spring seasons, from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m., three to four days a week. Teachers either lead or assist two after-school activities OR one club and one after-school activity  each year.
• Teachers chaperone weekend activities or serve as the Adult on Duty once or twice each term. 
• Participation in various school functions is necessary, including but not limited to Opening Meetings, Opening Family Picnic, Overnight Student Orientation Trip, Family Weekend, Professional Days, PIN Points (one or two curricular presentations), Dive into NEIA (three academic days a year), Accepted Student Days, Admission Open House Events, Graduation, End-of-Year Learning Exposition & Gala, and End-of-School Meetings.
• The Interim Head of School may assign additional duties as needed to meet the school's requirements.

Qualifications  

• Passionate about teaching middle and high school students.
• Ability to create a welcoming and supportive community for a diverse study body.
• Ability to work with professionalism, discretion, sound judgment, equity, honesty, and personal accountability at all times.  
• Proficient knowledge of teaching strategies and methods.  
• Ability to incorporate goals, competencies, and objectives into lesson plans in ways that directly apply to students' lives.  
• Ability to use technology effectively in teaching, learning, and administrative functions and willingness to stay current in technology skills and learn emerging technologies as needed.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.  
• Strong administrative and organization skills.  
• Strong creative and critical thinking skills.
• Ability to efficiently and effectively manage the time of self and others.  
• Understanding of and adherence to applicable laws, codes, policies, regulations, and safety practices and procedures.

Education and/or Experience

• Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s degree preferred.
• At least three years of teaching experience in a residential or day school setting is preferred.

About New England Innovation Academy

At New England Innovation Academy (NEIA), our mission and pillars form the bedrock of a holistic and transformative educational experience. This approach integrates academic learning with personal growth, allowing students to discover their passion and purpose, innovate with impact, and prepare for what comes next. Our students, known as 'innovators,' embark on a journey that is as much about self-discovery as it is about skill acquisition. Human-centered design is central to NEIA's philosophy and curriculum. Through real-world inclusion, students apply knowledge in practical projects with the community and industry. This experiential approach teaches vital skills like problem-solving, teamwork, and empathy while encouraging deep questioning and critical thinking across disciplines. Skilled educators enrich interdisciplinary learning through integrated projects, relevant problem-solving, and active engagement. Hands-on learning fosters innovation, creative thinking, empathy, and connection to the real world. Students delve into experiences and ideas that stimulate initiative, reflection, and ownership over their education. As NEIA continues to grow, expanding our enrollment t...o 350–375 students in the coming years, we seek passionate educators committed to this visionary approach. We look for professionals who excel in applying innovative teaching practices, are adept in student-centered and integrated learning, and are experienced in or excited about competency-based assessment. Continuous professional learning and a willingness to contribute to curriculum development and program scaling are essential. Diversity and inclusion are fundamental to our ethos at NEIA. We believe that innovation thrives in an environment where every individual feels a sense of belonging. By fostering a community that values diverse perspectives and backgrounds, we aim to create an inclusive culture for both our students and staff. To better understand our unique educational environment and ethos, we encourage prospective applicants to visit our website at https://neiacademy.org for more information.

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Connections working at New England Innovation Academy