Technology Support Specialist / Upper School Teacher

Hawken School is committed to doing school differently and better. This means developing an inclusive and accepting community where adults feel empowered to design educational experiences for students that deepen their learning, engaging their emotions as well as their intellects. Hawken School seeks culturally-competent teachers who are committed to equity and social justice, comfortable taking risks, and who embrace a growth mindset. Our faculty members are constantly looking for new ways to inspire student curiosity while remaining dedicated to nurturing compassion and kindness in our students. 

Mission, Culture, and Philosophy Alignment?

Candidates must show they can thrive at Hawken and are highly motivated by the school’s mission.  

Fair Play: Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Justice?: Candidates must indicate a commitment to and have experience with serving students and communities equitably.  

Relationship Building and Cultivation: Candidates must show they can build relationships throughout the Hawken community.  

Content Knowledge: Candidates must demonstrate that they can lead and guide colleagues and/students to depth in their work.  

Humility and Growth Mindset: Candidates must be eager to learn new approaches and methods and be able to team effectively with others.   

Approach to Work: Candidates must show initiative and agency with a commitment toward feedback and flexible problem solving.  

THE POSITION

Hawken School is seeking a Technology Support Specialist / Upper School Teacher to provide level 1-2 IT support to faculty, staff, students, and administration, as well as teaching up to two courses, including an Intensive course. We currently have a full-time position available (0.6 FTE Technology and 0.4 FTE Faculty), and this person will primarily work at the Gates Mills campus.

This role is focused on supporting our technology initiatives, including our student 1:1 computer program, and spends significant time processing computer repairs or associated tasks required to keep students “on the road” with their technology. The essential functions of the position include: 

• Providing frontline tech support for our 1:1 tablet computing program  
• Providing immediate break/fix support and responding to help desk support requests from students, faculty and staff
• Providing event setup and support, including projectors, screens, sound, video, and computers
• Providing installation and support for classroom equipment, including video projectors, interactive displays, document cameras, audio, and printers
• Installing and configuring computer systems (primarily Windows OS, but some MacOS and iOS platforms), diagnosing hardware/software faults and solving technical problems either over the phone, e-mail, remotely, or face-to-face
• Configuring and managing iPads, smartphones, and/or other mobile technologies
• Providing some basic departmental business support, including making purchasing/supply requests, updating asset inventory, software licensing and activation, and client satisfaction management
• Other duties as needed or assigned; some evening and weekend hours are required for special events, on an infrequent basis
• Help lead a group of student technology interns, teaching them some of the basic aspects of IT support including classroom technologies, device troubleshooting and repairs, and responsible management of our pool of loaner computers and accessories
• Provide support to a computer science course at the Upper School, providing 1:1, co-teaching, and/or small-group support 
• Create and teach or co-teach an Intensive course – all-day, 3-week classes in December and/or May focused on one topic or challenge. (e.g., Leveraging AI, Rollercoaster Physics, National Parks, Cracking the Code, Tabletop Game Design, Urban Studies, etc.)
• Serve as a co-advisor to a group of 8-12 students, helping to guide their journey through high school

QUALIFICATIONS

The ideal candidate will have the following:

• High level of proficiency working with Windows computers in a networked environment
• Proficiency troubleshooting network file-sharing and printing issues, classroom technologies, and common software applications in schools
• Proficiency with basic presentation technologies
• Ability to use appropriate tools to remove parts of a computer and make minor repairs when practical
• The skills to become certified to repair computers per manufacturers’ requirements
• An aptitude for technological support, a willingness to learn, a positive attitude, and a calm presence of mind when constituents may be under stress
• A high degree of discretion and initiative, exhibiting superb interpersonal skills when interfacing with all levels of school constituents
• Efficiency, organization, adaptability, and a sense of humor
• Qualified candidates should possess a bachelor’s degree or equivalent combination of education, skills, and/or certifications
• A background in math or computer science is preferred

THE SCHOOL 

Founded on the ideal that “the better self shall prevail, and each generation introduce its successor to a higher plane of life,” Hawken School is a coeducational independent day school with over 1,600 students from toddler through grade 12. Our four campuses are located within 25 minutes of downtown Cleveland, with two campuses in the eastern suburbs of Cleveland, a campus on Cleveland’s west side, and a campus in University Circle, home to the Mastery School of Hawken and our school-wide center for experiential and service learning. A nationally recognized leader in innovative programming, Hawken prepares students to meet the challenges of tomorrow's world.

To learn more about us, visit www.hawken.edu.