On-Call Field Academy Experiential Learning Instructor

Zero Dropouts; Centennial (CO); On-site; USD 30,000 - 39,000; Part time

Job summary

Zero Dropouts - Field Academy is a community-embedded, experiential learning program serving high school students through immersive expeditions in the Denver Metro Area. This on-call pool role supports credit-bearing learning aligned to core standards and relies on partnerships with schools and youth organizations.

Instructors thrive outside traditional classrooms, embracing flexible scheduling, place-based projects, and strong student relationships.

Qualifications

• Teaching, tutoring, or facilitation experience in middle or high school settings.
• Comfort facilitating learning outside traditional classrooms.
• Experience working with diverse youth and communities.
• Strong group facilitation and relationship-building skills.
• Valid driver's license and ability to drive a 15-passenger van.
• Ability to pass criminal background and motor vehicle record checks.
• Flexible availability, including weekends and school breaks.

Responsibilities

• Facilitate credit-earning learning aligned to standards.
• Build inclusive group culture and relationships.
• Deliver interdisciplinary, real-world learning experiences.
• Assess learning via portfolios, reflections, projects.
• Maintain safe, student-centered environments.
• Mentor students throughout expeditions.
• Coordinate logistics for off-site experiences.
• Collaborate with community partners.
• Transport students safely in Field Academy vehicles.
• Support expedition planning and continuous improvement.
• Communicate progress to program leadership.

Skills

Facilitation

Relationship-building

Adaptability

Outdoor/field facilitation

Education

Teaching, tutoring, or facilitation experience in middle or high school settings

Job description

Zero Dropouts - Field Academy is a community-embedded, experiential learning program serving high school students through immersive, credit-bearing expeditions. We partner with schools and youth-serving organizations to create learning experiences grounded in academic rigor, lived experience, and real-world relevance.

About Field Academy

Zero Dropouts - Field Academy is a community-embedded, experiential learning program serving high school students through immersive, credit-bearing expeditions. We partner with schools and youth-serving organizations to create learning experiences grounded in academic rigor, lived experience, and real-world relevance.

Why This Role Exists

Zero Dropouts - Field Academy exists to re-engage high school students through credit-earning, community-based learning experiences that restore momentum toward graduation and build belonging, agency, and purpose.

The Experiential Learning Instructor plays a central role in bringing this vision to life-facilitating interdisciplinary learning expeditions across the Denver Metro Area, building strong relationships with students, and partnering with community organizations to create meaningful, real-world learning opportunities.

This role is designed for educators who thrive outside traditional classrooms, value relational learning, and are energized by flexible, responsive programming shaped by student needs.

Position Overview

The Field Academy Experiential Learning Instructor supports credit-bearing learning expeditions aligned to grades 9-12 English/Language Arts, Math, Science, and Social Studies standards through community partnerships, place-based experiences, and applied projects.

This is an on-call pool position designed to provide flexible staffing as Field Academy opportunities emerge. Instructors in this pool are contacted when expeditions, learning experiences, or short-term programming become available and may choose to accept assignments based on their availability.

There are no guaranteed weekly hours. Scheduling is entirely opportunity-based and depends on student enrollment, community partnerships, and program needs.

Programming may occur:

• Over 3-day weekends (Friday-Sunday)
• During weekday half-days
• Full days during summer, fall, winter, or spring breaks

Because Field Academy programming is responsive to student needs and emerging partnerships, this role does not follow a consistent daily or weekly schedule.

You’ll Thrive in This Role If You:

• Appreciate flexible, project-based work without guaranteed hours
• Believe learning happens through relationships and lived experience
• Are adaptable, creative, and comfortable with ambiguity
• Center student strengths rather than deficits
• Enjoy collaborating with community partners
• Are energized by experiential, place-based learning
• Can opt into opportunities as they arise and adjust availability week-to-week
  

Key Responsibilities

Student Learning & Experience (Primary Focus)

• Facilitate experiential, credit-earning learning aligned to academic standards
• Build inclusive group culture and strong relationships with students
• Deliver interdisciplinary learning experiences rooted in real-world contexts
• Support students in demonstrating learning through portfolios, reflections, projects, and applied tasks
• Maintain safe, supportive environments that center student dignity, agency, and voice
• Provide consistent mentorship and encouragement throughout expeditions

Community Partnership & Logistics

• Collaborate closely with community partners, youth-serving organizations, shelters, advocacy groups, and mentoring organizations
• Coordinate logistics for off-site learning experiences
• Safely transport students using Field Academy-provided or rented 15-passenger vehicles
• Support day-to-day expedition logistics (materials, scheduling, site coordination)

Planning & Collaboration

• Co-design expeditions with Field Academy staff and partners
• Participate in planning, reflection, and continuous improvement conversations
• Communicate clearly with program leadership about student progress and emerging needs

Requirements

Required

• Teaching, tutoring, or facilitation experience in middle or high school settings
• Comfort facilitating learning outside traditional classrooms
• Experience working with diverse youth and communities
• Strong group facilitation and relationship-building skills
• Valid driver's license and ability to drive a 15-passenger van
• Ability to pass criminal background and motor vehicle record checks
• Flexible availability, including weekends and school breaks

Preferred

• Colorado teaching license preferred (7-12 subject area strongly desired)