Adolescent Teacher & House Parent Burnsville, NC

Overview

Adolescent Teacher & House Parent job at Arthur Morgan School. Burnsville, NC. Description of school:
Arthur Morgan School is a small, alternative boarding and day school for 27 students in grades 7-9. Our 100 acre campus, located in the Black Mountains of North Carolina, consists mainly of woods and meadows, with creeks and a pond; it is surrounded by National Forest. The school fosters a loving, energetic living/learning community dedicated to supporting individuality while teaching group cooperation.

A balance is sought between academics, outdoor activities, and meaningful work. Experiential learning and responsible participation in community are emphasized throughout. Boarding students live in homes with two or three staff members, and the entire community actively shares work, study, play, and decision-making.

It takes a lot of energy to work here. We have intense work schedules--usually 60 plus hours per week. Our work calendar generally follows a conventional school year calendar, with some additional work required during students" breaks. AMS is staff-run by consensus; we have no director or headmaster. All staff are expected to attend our two weekly staff meetings, two of our four Board Meetings, and to participate in running the school cooperatively.

Everyone is also expected to attend our weekly student-run All School Meeting and to participate in work projects with the kids. Most of the staff is also involved in planning and leading backpacking/outdoor trips, our 18 day field trips, and any other special field trips or projects/activities we might plan to do.

• Running the household (facilitating student"s chores, cooking meals and housework projects)
• Identifying and working on general care of the house and grounds (including yard work, the maintenance of the appearance of the boarding house etc.)
• Managing a house budget with a monthly house allowance
• Helping students with homework
• Having fun with the kids in daily life as well as in special house activities

House parents act in loco parentis--in the place of parents--and fill the role of limit setter and authority figure as well as friend and confidant. The position requires the sharing of one"s personal space (one"s home) and one"s self (being 'real"