VILLAGES: Temporary Cultural Expert

Unalaska City School District; Wainwright (AK); On-site; USD 73,873 - 105,214; Full time

Job summary

The Unalaska City School District seeks a Cultural Expert proficient in Iñupiaq language, culture, and arts. This role supports Iñupiaq Education programs, working closely with students and educators.

Responsibilities include facilitating cultural arts programs, teaching Iñupiaq history, and ensuring positive student engagement. Ideal candidates will possess strong communication skills and a collaborative spirit, with a commitment to enhancing student achievement.

The position offers a competitive pay rate of $65.00/hour.

Qualifications

• Expertise in Iñupiaq pedagogy and culture.
• High expectations for student behavior and achievement.
• Ability to educate the whole child.

Responsibilities

• Facilitate Iñupiaq arts programs.
• Teach Iñupiaq culture, history, and language.
• Collaborate with the community and volunteers.

Skills

Expert knowledge of Iñupiaq language, culture, history, traditions, or fine arts

Fluent in Iñupiaq

Understanding of conversational Iñupiaq

Knowledge of best teaching practices

Experience in family involvement in education

Excellent communication skills

Ability to work collaboratively

Job description

The Cultural Expert holds expertise in Iñupiaq language, culture, history, or fine arts and will support the Iñupiaq Education programs, ensuring students receive robust support in specific areas based on their expertise. This role involves working closely with the Iñupiaq Education Department, the instructional team, and site Principals to support these programs.

NSBSD Pedagogy

Requirements

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential function satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skills, and/or abilities required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Expert knowledge of Iñupiaq language, culture, history, traditions, or fine arts.
• Speaks Iñupiaq, fluently preferred.
• Understands and speaks some conversational Iñupiaq, required.
• Knowledge of best practices in teaching, including constructivist approaches, hands‑on learning, and language development.
• Knowledge of/experience in developing and supporting family involvement in education.
• Understands Iñupiaq pedagogical philosophy.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively with diverse groups, including educators, students, and community members.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Depending on the type of expertise, duties and responsibilities could include, but are not limited to:
• Facilitate Iñupiaq arts programs, including sewing and fine arts.
• Facilitate and teach Iñupiaq culture, history, traditions, or language.
• Facilitate and teach traditional land use and values.
• Model and teach Iñupiaq values with a sensitivity to diversity.
• Practicing and applying Iñupiaq pedagogical principles.
• Have high expectations for student achievement and behavior.
• Educating the whole child intellectually, spiritually, socially, culturally, emotionally, and physically.

• Facilitate short‑term intensive programming based on designated programming coordinated by the Iñupiaq Education Director & Site Principal.
• Collaborate with colleagues and community/parent volunteers.
• Adhering to District policies and regulations.
• Performing such other tasks and assume other responsibilities as the supervisor may assign.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit, stand, walk, use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, and controls, and reach with hands and arms. The employee frequently is required to stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl, talk, and hear. The employee is occasionally required to climb or balance.

The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 40 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to travel within and outside of the North Slope Borough School District. The employee must be willing and able to fly in small and large commuter planes.

The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

Benefits

Grade Minimum:

$65.00/hour