Elementary School Teachers (Grades K to 8)

The Balsam School; Kelowna; On-site; CAD 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

The Balsam School seeks passionate teachers for unique roles that extend learning beyond traditional classrooms. Teachers will engage students in diverse environments, including nature and the community, fostering deep connections and maximizing learning depth. This challenging position requires adaptability and strong classroom management skills.

Qualifications

• Teachers must manage multiple learning environments: classroom, nature, and community.
• High expectations for creating diverse learning experiences.

Responsibilities

• Plan and execute lessons across various environments.
• Coordinate with community partners and manage transitions.

Skills

Collaboration

Adaptability

Classroom Management

Education

Teaching Certification

Job description

Why only learn behind a desk when you can learn outside? Why limit students to one building when we have a whole city to explore? At The Balsam School, our city and nature are important classrooms.

Our purpose is to expand the depth of student learning at all grade levels through the purposeful and pedagogically sound incorporation of our community and nature as vital, comprehensive, and integrated learning spaces. Our students build confidence and resiliency by pushing beyond the expected. They are always safe, but not always comfortable.

As a fully certified Group 1 Independent School, The Balsam School aspires to be a true alternative learning option for families, not a re-creation of what is already available in our public school system. We offer a unique and demanding program that exposes children to incredible experiences, environments, and engaging learning opportunities. From visits to art galleries, lessons with local chefs, wild foods foraging, to long hikes in the forest, Balsam goes where the learning is and fosters deep connections with nature and our community.

Joining The Balsam School as a teacher means taking on a unique and challenging role. Teaching here is demanding, with high expectations. Unlike traditional schools where teachers mainly plan within their classroom, Balsam teachers create and execute learning experiences across three different spaces: their classroom, nature, and the community. They must manage liability issues, scout locations, review weather conditions, coordinate with community partners, manage multiple transitions daily, all while ensuring lessons meet BC curriculum standards and are pedagogically sound.

Our teachers value the challenge because they see the immense rewards in student learning. Maximizing learning time and depth each day is a core expectation at Balsam.

Creating these diverse learning experiences involves many moving parts. One challenge is student disruptive behavior, which can undo hours of preparation and limit learning depth. Teacher time and school resources should not be spent on managing behavior that consistently diminishes learning experiences. Students exhibiting such behavior are given until the end of the academic term to correct it before considering a school transition that better suits their engagement style.

Due to our growth, we have openings for three 1.0 FTE teaching positions. We welcome teachers seeking a high-performance, collaborative, and supportive professional community where boundaries are pushed and risk-taking is encouraged.