Lead Academic Guide (Elementary Educator)

Discover Gila County, Inc.; Payson (AZ); On-site; USD 29,000 - 34,000; Part time

Job summary

Mountain Microschool in Payson, Arizona seeks a Lead Academic Guide for elementary learners. This part-time role focuses on high-quality instruction for small cohorts, regular progress monitoring, and targeted interventions, with a strong emphasis on relationships and responsive teaching.

The ideal candidate brings professional instructional experience and an educator credential; AZ-certified substitutes and long-term substitutes are welcome.

Qualifications

• Applicants must have professional school-based instructional experience and an appropriate educator credential, certification, or documented professional qualification.
• Strong candidates may include: current or former certified elementary teachers; AZ-certified substitute teachers; long-term substitutes; academic interventionists; school-based paraprofessionals; credentials from another state.
• Current Arizona educator certification is strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead core academic learning for small elementary cohorts, up to 12 students.
• Monitor individual student progress and understanding; review curriculum data and student work.
• Provide direct and small-group instruction when needed; identify gaps and plan interventions.
• Communicate progress or concerns with families; collaborate with Academic Support and other guides.
• Utilize Monday office time for planning, progress review, and family communication.

Skills

Instructional experience

Educator credential

Arizona certification

Special education background

Education

Professional educator credential

Arizona certification preferred

Job description

Lead Academic Guide (Elementary Educator)

Mountain Microschool | Payson, Arizona

Part-Time | Approximately 25 Hours/Week

$21-$25/hour, DOE and Credentials

Mountain Microschool is seeking an experienced, professionally qualified educator to serve as our Lead Academic Guide for elementary students.

This is a unique opportunity for an educator who values strong academics, small-group learning, meaningful relationships with students, and the ability to respond to individual learning needs.

Our elementary cohorts are limited to no more than 12 students at a time, allowing our Lead Academic Guide to know students well, monitor meaningful academic progress, and provide instruction or intervention when something isn't clicking.

Schedule

Monday: 9:00 AM-1:00 PM

Tuesday-Thursday: 8:30 AM-3:30 PM

Approximately 25 hours/week

No regular Fridays

Compensation

$21-$25/hour, depending on directly relevant experience and credentials. $21/hour is the starting rate for a qualified candidate. Candidates bringing significant classroom, special education, intervention, or other directly relevant professional experience may be considered at a higher starting rate within the range.

What You'll Do

The Lead Academic Guide owns the quality and progress of Mountain Microschool's elementary academic program.

Responsibilities include:

• Lead core academic learning for small elementary cohorts
• Monitor individual student progress and understanding
• Review curriculum data and student work
• Provide direct and small-group instruction when needed
• Identify academic gaps and areas requiring intervention
• Recognize when students are ready for greater challenge
• Establish student academic priorities
• Provide individualized support without creating dependence
• Communicate meaningful academic progress or concerns with families
• Collaborate with Academic Support and Mountain's Learning & Development Guide
• Use Monday office time for planning, progress review, family communication, intervention planning, and preparation

Mountain currently uses Miacademy as its structured elementary core curriculum. The curriculum provides the framework; the Lead Academic Guide provides the professional judgment, instruction, intervention, and human connection that help students succeed.

Required Qualifications

Applicants must have professional school-based instructional experience and an appropriate educator credential, certification, or documented professional qualification.

Strong candidates may include:

• Current or former certified elementary teachers
• Current or former special education teachers
• Arizona-certified substitute teachers
• Experienced long-term substitute teachers
• Academic interventionists
• Qualified school-based special education paraprofessionals
• Educators holding comparable professional credentials from another state

Current Arizona educator certification is strongly preferred.

Candidates should also demonstrate:

• Experience working directly with elementary-age students
• Strong academic and instructional judgment
• Ability to support students working at different levels
• Professional communication with families and colleagues
• Comfort with educational technology
• Reliability, professionalism, and strong boundaries
• Willingness to complete all required background, fingerprint, safety, and employment requirements

Why Mountain Microschool?

This role may be especially appealing to an experienced educator who still loves teaching but wants a different kind of classroom experience.

At Mountain, you'll find:

• Cohorts of no more than 12 students
• A structured core curriculum already in place
• Time to actually notice and respond to individual learners
• Paid weekly planning and progress-review time
• A collaborative team
• Specialized learning and development support
• A relationship-based environment that values both strong academics and the whole student
• A consistent Monday-Thursday schedule with no regular Fridays

We believe education is about more than what students know.

It's about who they become.