Jobs

Middle School Cluster Teacher, “Taking Action” Theme (part-time, 6-week position)

Atrium School seeks a skilled educator who is excited to teach 6th, 7th, and 8th graders to bring positive change to their communities. Atrium’s “Clusters” program creates concentrated two-week units (approximately three hours per morning) in November, January, and March. In the “Taking Action” Cluster, the teacher will:

• Guide 6th graders as they research how to take action, and then help them choose a well-defined, whole-grade cause/goal to research and take action towards. In-class discussions, various forms of research, meeting with changemakers & public servants, and field trips are all anticipated.

• Guide 7th graders as they choose their own causes in small groups, reaching into local communities and taking action more independently.

• Guide 8th graders as they initiate personal capstone Passion Projects, and support each individual student’s vision to create positive ripple effects and develop lifelong habits as a changemaker.

The “Taking Action” Cluster teacher is an adult with experience as a changemaker themselves, active in grassroots community work, and/or local and state politics. Beyond teaching hands-on classes, this adjunct teacher is responsible for preparing lessons, developing benchmarks, and writing brief narrative evaluations for each student (~15 per cluster).

Cluster classes are sustained, immersive experiences, supporting Atrium’s mission of progressive education in a different way than is possible during the regular daily schedule. Atrium School’s PreK – Grade 8 progressive education encourages academic curiosity, creativity, and exploration while fostering each child’s intellectual growth. Our students develop confidence in themselves and respect for others within a joyful, vibrant community of nurturing teachers, engaged families, and enriching partnerships.

Schedule and Compensation: 2026-2027:

• Clusters will take place three times, Monday – Friday:

  • 11/12-11/24 (9 days)

  • 1/11 – 1/22 (9 days – no school on 1/18 for MLK Day )

  • 3/15 – 3/26 (9 days – no school on 3/19 for PD Day).

• Daily hours are 8:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m., with a set-up at 8:30 a.m., class start time of 9:00 a.m., and a snack break from 10:30 – 10:45 a.m.

• Instructors will receive a stipend of $2,210 for each 2-week course, as well as a budget for supplies. The total payment for the year is $6,630.

• Each grade level will rotate through three cluster classes for two weeks at a time; the Taking Action teacher will teach Grades 6, 7, and 8 throughout the year.

Expectations for Instruction:

• The instructor will share lesson plans two weeks prior to course start and have ongoing steady communication with Atrium staff.

• Students should engage in hands-on work each day.

• Students should engage in an open-ended project, either individually or in groups, related to the course content. This project should take roughly half of the time of the course, and, when possible, include a social justice theme.

We seek candidates who will add to the racial, cultural, and gender diversity of the school community. Additionally, we seek candidates who are committed to building and sustaining a community that is richly diverse and includes a wide range of family structures, racial, cultural, and socio-economic backgrounds.

For further information about the mission, program, and community at Atrium, please visit http://www.atrium.org. To apply for this position, please submit a resume, a cover letter, and the names of three references to Marshall Carter at mcarter@atrium.org. In your cover letter, please mention where you first saw this position posted. No phone calls, please.