Buckeye strives to be at the cutting edge of learner-driven education and we continue to push the envelope of what is possible in education. We are a school that says “Yes.”
You want to send a GoPro to the stratosphere in a weather balloon? Let’s do it! You want to build a sail car and go on a journey down an abandoned railway? Sure thing! You want
to investigate how we can help the homeless? Alright, let’s figure it out together! We trust that children are instinctual learners, and we value partnering with them on their
educational path. That is why we call our teachers “Co-learners”.
To be here is to work side by side lovingly and in full support of the children who populate this place with
their dreams, attempts and ideas. We ask co-learners to think big, improvise, and learn alongside students. By taking the best practices from early childhood education and
emergent, project-based experiential learning, we strive to meet students' needs in a flexible, mixed-age environment that breaks the traditional walls between school and the
community outside the classroom.
Many people have shared interest in joining our Buckeye Team. A great way to explore Buckeye, to learn more about self-directed-project-based learning, and to experience our mission in action
is to volunteer as a substitute co-learner.
Because Buckeye is a hybrid school, our substitutes do not need to be certified teachers to participate. All you need is enthusiasm to step
outside of the box and to experience the extraordinary, along with an online background check. We will be scheduling substitute open-house opportunities where potential volunteers can spend
time with our seeds and our team to learn the ropes and what it means to be a co-learner at Buckeye.
We promise an amazing adventure full of learning and fun. To join our pool of
volunteers, please fill out this form and we will reach out with additional information and a time to visit Buckeye.
You have experience working in a school setting. You have a deep understanding of progressive, inquiry-based education. You have the experience of or a desire to teach
in a setting that honors the competence and independence of children.
You are a creative curriculum designer. You leverage student interests, real-world problems,
and professional tools/experts to design engaging interdisciplinary projects that drive student learning.
You are committed to social justice and equity. You see opportunities
all around you to leverage conversations about identity and actively seek to create equitable learning spaces.
You are an excellent communicator. You communicate
effectively with students, parents, and coworkers. You actively listen and ask probing questions. You can communicate clearly through writing the story of your student’s learning journey.
You know how to be candid and kind at the same time. You can hold accountable and be supportive at the same time.
You have a strong sense of empathy. You put yourself in the shoes
of students, and parents and communicate in a way that values their lived experience.
You are a project manager. You have a strong work ethic and are able to help students pace
out projects and create accountability structures that help them reach their goals.
You are comfortable with ambiguity. You are intellectually curious and have a strong sense
of agency. You are comfortable not always having or knowing the answers.
You are a great collaborator with both students and adults. You enlist your problem-solving and
communication skills, sprinkling in your high EQ and fun personality, to build strong relationships. You know the importance of leveraging divergent viewpoints for the improvement of our collective
work. You hold your colleagues and students accountable, and you are receptive and humble when they hold you accountable.
You are a lifelong learner. You have a growth mindset and you pick up new ideas quickly and think critically. You are intellectually curious and deeply committed to learning and growing.
To apply for open positions, we ask applicants to send the following PDF documents to info@buckeyefs.com