Substitute Teacher

Brightworks is seeking experienced candidates for the position of Substitute Collaborator for the current school year. The substitute will be responsible for implementing the primary collaborator's lesson plan, mentoring and supporting interdisciplinary projects for a group of 10-12 students.About Institute for Applied TinkeringBrightworks and Tinkering School are projects of the Institute for Applied Tinkering. The Institute for Applied Tinkering is an organization dedicated to building a 21st-century model of education. Over the past 16 years we've brought child-centric, collaborative, hands-on education experiences to children in many different ways: sleep away camp, K-12 school, day camp, after-school programs, teacher workshops, and more. We believe that all children deserve opportunities to engage with their world in creative and adventurous ways. We are committed not only to making our programs available to families of all income levels but also to sharing our learnings with parents, teachers, and schools around the world. DescriptionBrightworks has been at the cutting edge of learner-driven education since its founding in 2011, and we continue to push the envelope of what is possible in education.To be here is to work side by side lovingly and in full support of the children who populate this place with their dreams, attempts, and ideas. We ask Collaborators to think big, improvise, and learn alongside students. By taking the best practices from early childhood education and emergent, project-based experiential learning, we strive to meet students' needs in a flexible, mixed-age environment that breaks the traditional walls between school and the community outside the classroom. Candidate Requirements - General (FYI) You have mastered the balancing act of showing up as a professional and thoughtful person while maintaining your identity and spark that makes you, you.You have experience working with elementary-age students. You have a deep understanding of progressive, inquiry-based education. You have the experience of or a desire to teach in a setting that honors the competence and independence of children. You are an excellent communicator. You communicate effectively with students, parents, and coworkers. You actively listen and ask probing questions. You can communicate clearly, with intention, and with an open ear for listening. You know how to be candid and kind at the same time. You can hold accountable and be supportive at the same time. You have a strong sense of empathy. You put yourself in the shoes of students, parents, and your peers, and communicate in a way that values the lived experience of others. You are a project manager. You have a strong work ethic and are able to support students pace out projects to reach their goals. You are comfortable with ambiguity. You are intellectually curious and have a strong sense of agency. You are comfortable not always having or knowing the answers. You are a great collaborator with both students and adults. You enlist your problem-solving and communication skills, sprinkling in your high EQ and fun personality, to build strong relationships. You know the importance of leveraging divergent viewpoints for the improvement of our collective work. You hold your colleagues and students accountable, and you are receptive and humble when they hold you accountable. You are a lifelong learner. You have a growth mindset, and you pick up new ideas quickly and think critically. You are intellectually curious and deeply committed to learning and growing. Application Procedure To apply for open positions, we ask applicants to submit the following PDF documents. Cover Letter: How did you learn about the position? What is your journey? Why are you excited to work with us? What's the last project that excited you? Resume of relevant work and educational experiences to support your candidacy We are currently reviewing applications Applicants must be authorized to work for ANY employer in the U.S. We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment Visa at this time. Brightworks is an equal opportunity employer and makes employment decisions based on merit. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex (including gender, gender identity, gender expression, transgender, pregnancy, and breastfeeding), sexual orientation (including heterosexuality, homosexuality, and bisexuality), national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, marital status, age, medical condition, genetic characteristics or information, military and veteran status, and physical or mental disability, or any other consideration made unlawful by federal, state or local laws. Salary $22 - $35 per hour

Created: 2026-04-02