Job Description

Thetford Academy seeks a two-thirds time (0.67 FTE) faculty member to launch the school’s inaugural Environmental Studies and Outdoor Education half-day program. The school also seeks an Outdoor Initiative Coordinator, a part-time, stipended position. The two positions may be filled together or separately.

Environmental Studies and Outdoor Education is an interdisciplinary, three-hour-per-day, full-year program focused on hands-on learning, ecological awareness, and service to the community. Students are immersed in a curriculum focused on problem-solving in a real-world context, building aptitude for self-marketing, and self-directing a capstone project to apply their experience at the end of the school year. Ecological literacy, field experiences, and mentor relationships are key components of the class. Students read literature connected to the class projects and utilize modern scientific methodologies to gain a deep understanding of their work. The course involves embedded work in English and science; over two semesters (four blocks), students earn two science credits, one English credit, and one elective credit. It is expected that much of the class will take place out of doors, in and around the school’s hundreds of acres of woodlands.

The instructor must be well versed in the natural sciences (including Environmental Science, Forestry, Biology, and/or Geology), have experience in outdoor education and environmental studies, and be comfortable facilitating groups in team challenges and in navigating conflict. He or she must possess strong outdoor skills, including expertise in hiking, orienteering, and wilderness safety, and have experience leading student groups in the wilderness. The teacher must also have content knowledge in the area of English, including nature writing.

The teacher should be a confident communicator experienced in mentoring young people as they develop their reading, writing, and speaking skills. Additionally, the instructor will help students to develop, plan, and implement a long term independent project. Strong organizational skills are essential.

Traditional teacher certifications and classroom experience is preferred but not essential for the success of this program. Additional certification in wilderness first aid, chainsaw safety, school bus driving, etc., or a willingness to obtain such certifications, is also preferred.

The Outdoor Initiative Coordinator (a part-time, stipended position) is responsible for managing and promoting the various aspects of Thetford Academy’s outdoor program. The TA Outdoor Initiative, generously funded by the Woodbury Foundation, includes the new half-day program in Outdoor Education, a number of ongoing interdisciplinary academic initiatives in environmental studies, and several extracurricular programs, including an Outing Club and Cross Country Ski Club. The coordinator is responsible for the financial management of the initiative, plans and organizes Outdoor Initiative Committee meetings and retreats, facilitates academic and extracurricular activities across all departments, communicates with the Thetford Academy community about the initiative, plans and leads Outing Club activities, and accomplishes agreed-upon annual program goals.

Thetford Academy is an independent school with a public purpose; it functions as both a public and a private school. For nearly 200 years, the Academy has served as the community school for the town of Thetford and a school of choice for neighbors in surrounding areas. Today, students come from more than a dozen towns in Vermont and New Hampshire, and from countries around the world, to become a part of this close-knit educational community.

Every day, Thetford Academy fulfills its educational mission to celebrate the worth of all students, to nurture their strengths, and to challenge them to reach their potential. At TA, highly qualified teachers, recognized for their innovative approach to teaching and learning, are passionate about engaging every student. And with more than 100 courses, TA’s curriculum is designed to be flexible and accessible.

The Academy embraces a diverse community of students with a wide range of learning styles. It asks both teachers and students to experiment, stretch their boundaries, and take risks as learners. In this environment—where diversity is acknowledged, respected, and celebrated—students gain the skills they need to take advantage of life’s opportunities and the tools they need to overcome its challenges.

The Thetford Academy campus consists of nearly 300 acres of woodlands, fields, and buildings, and is contiguous to the 176-acre Thetford Hill State Park, which the school manages (through a multi-year agreement with the State of Vermont).

The Town of Thetford is an integral part of the Upper Valley of Vermont and New Hampshire, a group of interrelated communities surrounding Hanover, NH, and Dartmouth College. The Upper Valley is a high-quality place to live, with a host of opportunities for outdoor enthusiasts and connoisseurs of the arts. Check out TA’s website (www.ThetfordAcademy.org) for more information.