Nature-Based Pedagogy Coordinator
Regular
Internal/External Posting
Posting Date: April 29, 2024
Closing Date: May 12, 2024
Posting # 2024033
Hours
1.0 FTE
Beginning August 27, 2024
Salary
Commensurate with placement on the SMS Salary Grid, based on years of teaching experience & education (TQS Category).
This is a bargaining unit position in the Professional Employees Association.
Stipend
$1,100
All candidates must hold a valid B.C. TRB Teacher's Certificate and be legally able to work in Canada.
Summary
St. Margaret's School (SMS) is Western Canada's only girl-centered, independent day and boarding school located in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada on the unceded traditional territories of the Esquimalt Nations, Songhees Nations, and W̱SÁNEĆ Nations. Founded in 1908, SMS is an international centre for girl-centered learning and leadership development, providing empowering education for girls from Junior Kindergarten to Grade 12 (boarding grades 7–12). St. Margaret's School is an International Baccalaureate (IB) School offering the Diploma Program.
Our sustainability programming is rooted in the belief that the ability to be creative and innovative in ecologically fragile times will be supported by a well-developed understanding of the natural world. The primary focus of this role is to provide leadership, instructional support, and resources that will develop robust nature-based and sustainability programs through inquiry and experiential-based teaching methodologies. This person will work closely with the Director of Curriculum, STEM-X Curriculum Coordinator, and the wider educational leadership team.
Our school's motto “service with love” embraces both individual pursuits and shared responsibilities. At SMS, teachers are required to participate in the extra-curricular life of the school, thereby educating the whole person and supporting students to develop the full range of their skills, talents, and interests.
Core Competencies
- Integrity & Trust
- Service Orientation
- Adaptability
- Innovation
- Resilience
- Professional Knowledge
- Communication & Collaboration
Duties and Responsibilities
- Design a nature-based, sustainability program rooted in inquiry and experiential learning that supports the IB and BC curricula across all grades.
- Lead and support teachers in the implementation of nature-based initiatives using an experiential-based approach to teaching, including the OWL Program and Outdoor Education classes.
- Collaborate with Director of Curriculum and STEM-X Lead, to implement the necessary direction, processes and learning opportunities required to enact the inquiry-focused, progressive vision of the School.
- Act as a thinking partner for co-planning enhanced sustainability learning experiences across grades and disciplines, focused on experiential, inquiry-based learning.
- Ensure all teachers have access to learning opportunities which extend and improve their practice.
- Initiate, facilitate and organize nature-based enrichment opportunities with experts from the community.
- Co-plan the SMS STEM Conference with the support of the STEM-X Lead, Director of Curriculum, and Principal of Academics and Deputy Head of School.
- Share articles and resources related to nature-based learning with faculty.
- Support Communications in writing content for the Parent Newsletter and the school website.
- Develop and deliver nature-based and sustainability informational sessions with current and prospective parents.
- Develop and nurture community partnerships that enhance the student learning experience and connect parents to information about nature-based learning.
- Connect teachers to nature-based and sustainability learning opportunities in the community.
- Awareness and understanding of the social/emotional needs of girls.
- Superior communication, organizational and interpersonal skills in working with colleagues and parents.
- Ability to work collaboratively as part of a team.
Required Education & Experience
- Current and valid Teacher Certification through the Teacher Regulation Branch
- Minimum of a Bachelor of Education in STEM, Social Sciences or related field.
- At least five (5) years of accomplished teaching experience.
- Demonstrates exemplary experiential and inquiry-focused instructional practice in sustainability education and the STEM fields.
- Demonstrates masterful application of the BC curricular competencies and assessment practices.
- Experience working within an IB setting.
- Experience initiating, facilitating and directing change.
- Excellent communication skills.
- Embodies a growth mindset.
- Experience working as part of a diverse learning team, as well as leading change.
- Experience supporting students with diverse backgrounds and identities.
Required Knowledge, Skills & Abilities
- Ability to articulate a vivid, rigorous, interdisciplinary, and powerful vision of Nature-Based instruction from K-12.
- Ability and desire to lead, to organize and to collaborate with others.
- Evidence of continued professional growth.
- Maintains confidentiality and demonstrates integrity.
- Actively support the vision, mission and values of our school.
- Experience working in an all-girls environment is an asset.
- Experience working in an independent school is an asset.
Valued Benefits
A career with St. Margaret's School will offer you the opportunity to be part of dedicated team of professionals in a dynamic and rewarding educational environment. This position is located on the school campus, with access to rapid transit, on-site gym, and other amenities.
St. Margaret's School emphasizes a dedication to equity, diversity, and inclusion across living, learning, and work environments. The school aims to have its workforce mirror the diversity of students and the community. Actively encouraging applications from groups facing historical or current equity barriers, the institution is committed to fostering an equitable, diverse, and inclusive community. Employees needing employment support, technical aids, or accommodations, are encouraged to contact Human Resources [email protected].
Interested candidates are invited to submit an application package, including a covering letter, curriculum vitae and professional references, through Bamboo HR, by May 12, 2024, to:
Questions email [email protected]