Director of Design Thinking/Technology Teacher

The Independent Day School is a unique place and seeks someone with equally unique skills: someone who can lead our Design Thinking effort with both students and adults; someone who is creative and can implement existing curriculum to make it come to life in new and innovative ways; someone who is passionate about the process of Design Thinking and can help us continue to be a thought-leader both within and outside of our community.

This is a full-time position, and, while having explicit teaching responsibilities in the Middle School, this teacher is a member of our entire school community who facilitates Design Thinking that permeates all areas of our school and all ages of our students. 

Ideally, the candidate will also have a working knowledge of current technology trends, practices and standards.  Potentially, this individual will be able to teach some programming courses and interdisciplinary project-based courses. Knowledge of Processing, HTML, CSS, Java, Scratch, Garageband, iAdobe Suite, iMovie and is preferred.

General Responsibilities:

• Collaborate with colleagues in all three divisions (Early Childhood, Lower and Middle School, ages 3 – Grade 8) to design, structure and implement design-thinking initiatives.
• Work with grade-level teaching teams to design projects-based learning units that highlight the process of design thinking.
• Instruct and develop the 6^th-8^th grade curriculum for Maker Lab classes as well as a variety of Enrichment classes offered after school.
• Communicate and demonstrate the value of Design Thinking within the educational process to the parent body and the general outside community.
• Collaborate with our Tech Director and Lower School Tech Coordinator in both a support and team member capacity.
• Integrate 21^st century technology skills into design thinking projects (3D Printing, Coding, etc.)
• Supporte the use of technology to enhance the middle school curricula, either by teaching specific technology classes or lending technology support for certain projects.

• Helps cultivate a sense of resilience and hard work as students work through the design thinking process.
• Understands the value of hands-on, collaborative work and builds teams through empathy, passion and respect.
• Has the ability to help guide students from their initial idea to completion, while leaving focus of control in the students’ hands.
• Engenders enthusiasm and skill at helping students build their engineering skills over time.
• Is technology savvy.
• Displays experience and confidence teaching the use of a variety of machinery and hand tools.
• Manages and maintains the school’s well-stocked Design Lab.

Qualifications include:

• Advanced degree preferred
• Demonstrated success working with elementary and/or middle school-aged students.
• Experience working in an innovation-oriented setting/non-profit setting strongly preferred
• Flexibility to be present at specifically scheduled weekend and evening events
• Experience in teaching design thinking/strategic design and management, and project based learning
• A sense of humor and love of students
• Hard-working, organized and reliable with a focus on safety

To apply:

Please email a cover letter, resume and contact information of three references.