Staff Instructor 2024-25

IslandWood Overview:

IslandWood’s mission is to provide exceptional learning experiences and inspire lifelong environmental and community stewardship. Our innovative outdoor learning experiences foster three main goals:

• Provide a foundation of stewardship for our students through their experience on campus

• Create equitable access to and culturally responsive instruction for all students in science education

• Develop meaningful and sustainable relationships with the community

The Staff Instructor is a seasonal contract, full-time member of the professional education team for IslandWood. During the school year, the Staff Instructor will teach most week in alignment with established curriculum while ensuring culturally responsive instruction to engage all learners.  In weeks not teaching, Staff Instructors will provide program support. 

Job Title: Staff Instructor

Job Type: Full-time/Contract Seasonal/ Non-Exempt

Work Schedule: During school year:  Monday through Friday varied schedule between 7:00am to 8:30pm

Work Hours: 40 hours per week

Pay Range: $24.00 -$25.00/hour

Benefit Package: 100% IslandWood paid Medical, Dental, Vision option for full-time staff.

Additional benefits: Life, Disability, employee assistant program, flexible spending accounts and 401k with employer match. Food during programming.  On-site hoursing option available at $700/month split into equal payroll deductions. 

Paid Time off: IslandWood offers FT employees 3 weeks paid vacation, 10 annual paid holidays and 80 hours of paid annual sick leave. Prorated based on date of hire and length of service.

Location: Bainbridge Island, WA

Position Dates:  September 3, 2024- August 8, 2025.

Responsibilities:

• Provide high quality, culturally responsive instruction in natural and cultural history, ecology, and stewardship to multi-cultural elementary-aged students from diverse backgrounds: language, racial/ethnic, socio-economic, geographic, ability groupings for School Overnight Program and for Summer Camp.

• Provide program support beyond instruction for School Overnight Program, including but not limited to curriculum development, program recruitment, community education, instructional coaching, school orientation, coordination, leading or supporting meals, and program support.

• Attend relevant Education Team meetings and/or training as schedule allows

• Develop a professional growth plan for the season

• Assist in the upkeep of program areas such as the prep, tech, and gear rooms

• Other duties as assigned by supervisor

Required Qualifications:

• Ability to contribute to a positive culture in a variety of settings including elementary age students, graduate students, and IslandWood staff.

• Must be able to participate in all key weeks of SOP as designated by Supervisor (busiest months are September, October, April and May)

• Must be able to participate in all weeks of Summer Camp (6/30/25 to 8/8/25)

• Commitment to support IslandWood's work towards justice, equity, diversity and inclusion in the workplace

• At least two years of direct teaching experience in formal or non-formal settings

• Bachelor's degree in environmental education, education, natural sciences, environmental studies, related field or equivalent experience.

• Basic knowledge of natural history and/or desire to increase knowledge of local flora and fauna, and cultural history

• Understanding of and first-hand experience in multicultural and culturally responsive education

• Excellent communication and collaboration skills

• Lesson planning experience

• Wilderness First Aid and CPR certification (we can provide this training with a fee)

• Demonstrate IslandWood's core values that enable teams and individuals to succeed with shared respect and purpose

• Support IslandWood's strategic plan to expand our mission and impact, and commitment to mission, vision, values and goals of IslandWood.

• Must pass child safety screening procdure; post-offer

• Must be able to comply with and maintain a smoke-free, drug-free, and fragance-free work environment.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Completion of IslandWood’s graduate program in Education, Environment and Community

• Experience teaching outdoors

• Master’s degree in education or related field or equivalent experience

• Classroom teaching experience

IslandWood is an Equal Opportunity Employer and welcomes applications from qualified individuals without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, pregnancy, genetic information, marital status, amnesty, or status as a covered veteran in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws.  We encourage diverse applicants because we believe having a staff that authentically reflects the community, we serve is critical to our ability to be culturally responsive.