Instructional Support Business Teacher & LiFE Program Manager
Job Description
Aspen Academy, a PK-8 independent school in Greenwood Village, has an amazing year-round opportunity for an individual who has demonstrated success in program or organizational leadership and management, is passionate about the domain of leadership and possesses entrepreneurial experience and financial acumen. Under the direction of the LiFE Program Director, the Program Manager will lead and manage Aspen Academy’s LiFE (Leadership, Finance and Entrepreneurship) Program, the nation’s only sequenced curriculum to directly teach Leadership, Finance and Entrepreneurship to students and effective life habits as well as a compilation of a myriad of authentic leadership opportunities for each one of our students. In this year-round position, this role is responsible for the successful engagement, growth, performance and satisfaction of students, families, and team members as well as the growth and performance of the LiFE program and the school overall. With your leadership and management, these and other programs will flourish and create an ever-evolving national model program that will influence and inspire schools around the country. Preferred start date is June 2024.
Interested? Please read on!
About Aspen Academy:
Located in the southern metro area of beautiful Denver, Colorado, at Aspen Academy, we’re not just a school; we’re a community committed to shaping the leaders of tomorrow. Our dedication to Next Generation education sets us apart, as we equip students with the enduring life skills they need for future success. We look at learning as a way to ignite the personal passions and interests of each and every student. Our unique leadership, finance, and entrepreneurial development (LiFE) program prepares students for life. Students thrive as they build lasting relationships with peers and teachers through small class sizes and a community focus.
Diversity and inclusion are foundational at Aspen Academy. We are passionate about cultivating a diverse and inclusive working and learning environment, celebrating and supporting differences.
We embody and promote the community’s values in our thoughts, words, and actions, serving as committed and supportive co-leaders in realizing Aspen Academy’s vision and mission:
- Our values: Be Kind. Do Good. Work Hard. Make the World Better.
- Our mission: We edify and inspire students and educators to grow, learn and lead.
- Our vision: We are a national leader in innovative and transformative education.
Does this inspire you? Then please read on.
- Others describe you as a strategic, innovative, collaborative, charismatic and highly likeable leader.
- You have had demonstrated success in operations, people and financial management with a palpable commitment to clients.
- Beyond a passion and excitement for leadership development, finance and entrepreneurship, you have depth of learning, experience and application in the principles of these domains.
- You consistently demonstrate strong cultural competency (the ability to understand, communicate with and effectively interact with people across cultures.), commitment to inclusion and a palpable continued growth in the habits, skill, and craft of leadership acumen.
- You are committed to every student’s success.
- You are known for building and developing close, positive relationships with students, faculty and parents. The result of these relationships: others are inspired to initiate or adopt leadership practices, roles, and responsibilities, and each team member is lifted from where they are at, inspiring them to reach towards their full potential in these categories in their own life.
- You have a relentless drive to grow in and out of the workplace and are hungry for feedback.
- Your strengths include time, organization and project management; interpersonal, written and verbal skills; and you demonstrate strong social and emotional intelligence.
Essential Functions Summary
Teaching
- Exhibit mastery and enthusiasm for the LiFE curriculum subject matter and classes.
- Teach assigned middle school classes.
- Plan and implement an appropriately focused and balanced curriculum for each student which adheres to the school’s curriculum and standards.
- To prepare and develop activities, materials and lessons to meet the learning objectives (skills and content) of the curriculum and standards.
- To develop and maintain a well-managed classroom where 100% of the students are engaged, consistently challenged, and supported. Classroom policies should be consistent with school policies. Exemplifies and promotes Aspen Academy’s Values, Mission, and Vision.
Program Management
- Effectively manage LiFE program vision, growth and performance and its impact on students, teachers, parents, the community.
- Works to ensure the successful engagement, growth, performance and satisfaction of students, families, and team members as well as the growth and performance of the LiFE program and the school overall.
- Continued development, innovation, research and promotion of curriculum and programs to teach and develop the LiFE Program. This includes social emotional learning, intra and interpersonal relationships, civic engagement and leadership, community service, personal finance, organizational leadership, entrepreneurial mindset and execution to K-8th grade students, parents, colleagues and strategic community partners.
- Develop and implement Student and Faculty growth and performance assessments and program impact measurement.
- Develop and deliver Faculty and Parent learning / training opportunities on LiFE topics, focused on understanding and application.
- Work with and partner with Faculty to deliver leadership retreats, daily LiFE block, and the integration of the domain’s concepts into the core and essentials curriculum; observe and coach Faculty in the instruction and personal integration of these domains, enabling them to be excellent LiFE Facilitators; and provide continuous feedback on how students are grasping and applying the content.
- Lead, manage and provide accountability measures on all ancillary and co-curricular leadership programs: Student Government, Mentor-Mentee Programs, 8th Grade Mentorship and Shark Tank, Bear’s Student Enterprises, Post Grad Student Internships and other programs that fall under the LiFE umbrella.
- Collaborate with the Associate Head of School, LiFE Program Director and Middle and Lower School Directors to develop, track, and achieve the program’s annual goals, quarterly objectives and KPI’s.
- Budget management and fundraising.
- Coordinate activities across Aspen Academy to build key partnerships and relationships in the youth leadership and entrepreneurial development community.
Education, Experience, and Qualities:
- Required: Bachelor’s Degree. Master’s degree preferred.
- Preferred: teaching credential or license.
- 3-5 years middle school classroom experience.
- K-8th grade education or youth organization experience.
- Evidence of content mastery, such as completed degree or course of study in a field (e.g. MBA), related to the domain of business.
- Demonstrated success in program or organizational leadership and management.
- Strong financial acumen and entrepreneurial experience is a plus.
- Grant permission for a criminal background check upon hire.
- Meet physical demands to perform essential functions of the role. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions: Ability to work full-time, including some evenings and weekends; work in person/in the school building; speak for long periods of time. Regularly required to stand; walk; use hands; reach with hands and arms; and stoop, kneel, or crouch. Frequently lift and/or move up to 25 pounds; occasionally life up to 50 pounds.
Aspen Academy is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace committed to providing an environment of mutual respect, where equal employment opportunities are available to all applicants and teammates without regard to race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, national origin, age, physical and mental disability, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, and military and veteran status.
Compensation Package:
Health, dental, vision, employer-paid telehealth, a holistic EAP, 403(b) with matching and more. Aspen Academy offers an excellent compensation package including wide-ranging opportunities for professional development with a generous annual stipend, and a talented and dedicated staff of teaching professionals and supportive administrators.
Salary Range: Starting annual salary $54,137-$81,932 (based on education & experience step and ladder, max 9 years teaching experience credit)
