Teaching Arts at SEEQS

SEEQS is accepting applications for middle school arts (visual, performing, or other) teachers for the 2020-2021 School Year.

SEEQS faculty members are team players committed to making the SEEQS vision—the school culture, academic excellence, and interdisciplinary, community-based work—a reality.
SEEQS faculty members:
  • love working with and being mentors for young people, especially middle school students
  • are passionate about the power of collaborating with others
  • are self-reflective, lifelong learners
  • are experienced at managing diverse and energetic groups of learners
  • are flexible and open to adjustments and improvements
  • have an excellent sense of humor
  • take on leadership positions
  • use technology proficiently
  • have both disciplinary content expertise and interdisciplinary interests
  • are committed to implementing sustainable practices and philosophy
  • have pedagogical commitment to and demonstrated excellence in constructivist and investigative approaches to learning
  • hold a Bachelor's degree
  • have at least two years experience working with middle school-aged children 
The following additional qualifications are preferred:
  • Masters degree and/or significant professional experience in content area
  • Three or more years experience teaching at the middle school level
  • Valid Hawaii Teaching License in the subject area of instruction
  • Experience working with students with special needs

Primary Responsibilities

SEEQS Faculty have the responsibility of implementing our curriculum, maintaining a strong and healthy school culture, and fostering family and community relationships.  Teachers can expect to:
  • Develop and/or implement research-based, standards-aligned curriculum that enables students to develop content-specific skills, tools, and knowledge. Arts courses are multi-aged, theme-based courses designed by teachers.
  • Co-lead, plan, supervise, and assess an Essential Question of Sustainability course alongside other teachers with different content expertise. Learn from experts, field trips, student projects, and colleagues about issues related to sustainability during EQS courses.
  • Participate with students in morning Physical Activity (including physical activity in Advisory).
  • Serve as a mentor/advisor to a group of students in Advisory to support student success, health, happiness, and intellectual safety.
  • Model a democratic, collaborative approach to creating school norms and rules by participating in school-wide decision-making and facilitating constructive conversations.
  • ​Implement classroom, school, and behavior management strategies as necessary that are aligned with SEEQS's philosophy of logical consequences and restorative practices.
  • Lead a student-centered classroom with an emphasis on inquiry, classroom collaboration, and self-exploration. 
  • Personalize each student’s learning environment by providing relevant and timely feedback, strategies and suggestions for growth and improvement, as well as facilitating student success on individual projects.
    Be creative problem-solvers during the school day and adapt as new needs arise.
  • Use standards-based grading to document a variety of formative and summative assessments that measure student progress towards content standards, performance expectations, and work habits. 
  • Communicate with families about classroom studies and student progress to help create an engaged community.
  • Provide instructional leadership by modeling effective practices and strategies for fellow faculty members.
  • Contribute to and attend events for the SEEQS community, including Open Houses and Project Exhibitions, and Presentations of Learning.
  • Collaborate with local organizations and communities to introduce students to real-world issues, and to have a real-world audience assess student exploration
  • Support an environment of full inclusion for students with special needs by meeting regularly with Special Education/Support teachers to co-plan shared courses and by attending and preparing for IEP and 504 meetings.

How to Apply

First, read our website thoroughly so you understand our mission, values, philosophy, and school schedule. 
Then prepare and submit the following:
  1. Resume stating your qualifications and relevant experience (max 2 pgs)
  2. Statement of interest that answers the question “Why are you an excellent candidate for SEEQS?”  This statement may be in the form of a written letter, a video, or some other format that best helps you to tell us more about yourself and your interest in contributing to SEEQS. Consider including your educational philosophy, examples of your pedagogical practices, and community organizations with which you have worked and how they connect to the SEEQS mission, vision, and philosophy. Please also describe how you see yourself contributing to our school culture - from our morning physical activities to our advisory program to the kinds of projects you would be able to support students in designing. Limit your submissions to no longer than three minutes of audio or video, one single-spaced page, or the equivalent.
  3. (Optional/Recommended) Written response to the question, "Why do you teach?" Limit your response to no more than one page, single-spaced, 12 pt. font, with one inch margins.

Submit these items via email, as attachments or links  (in user-friendly formats), to employment@seeqs.org. Please indicate in the subject line which position you are applying for. 

Hiring Process

  1. Round 1: Candidates for this round will be interviewed by telephone. SEEQS will contact candidates to schedule a 20-minute interview.
  2. Round 2: Candidates who are invited to the second round of the interview process must prepare a portfolio or e-portfolio with examples of teaching practice, including a video, as well as student work.  Candidates will also be expected to teach a short lesson to a real audience (provided). Candidates must provide contact information for three to five references. Applicants are encouraged to include supervisors, teaching colleagues and students as references.
  3. Round 3: Candidates who are invited to our third and final interview phase may take part in a collaborative work session with SEEQS faculty. During the activity, candidates and faculty will work together on a project relevant to the school.  

Final candidates will be expected to complete an employment application and provide college or university transcripts and proof of licensure (if applicable). Hiring is contingent upon successful completion of employment verification, background check, and fingerprinting. Salary is commensurate with experience and qualifications, and is subject to the Hawaii State Teachers Association salary scale.