Elementary School Teacher- Cloud Forest School

  Costa Rica

• Monteverde: 
Monteverde

Length of Position: 1-2 years+

Description: Hiring for 2010 school year. We are now accepting applications for elementary teaching positions.

Our elementary school classes have an average of 17 students, the majority of whom are local Costa Rican children. Our English classroom teachers guide students in their learning of English language arts, math, science, environmental education, physical education, and visual arts.

While teachers work in their own classrooms, the elementary school teachers also work in partnership on a teaching team. Most teams choose a self-contained classroom experience with their students, but sometimes mix activities such as art, music, etc.

Our school year is year-round beginning in mid-July, divided into six 6-week thematic curricular segments. There is a December and June vacation, as well as one week vacations after each theme.

We are looking for candidates who have had at least 2-3 years teaching experience at the elementary school level, and who have experience teaching English language learners. While the bulk of teaching is done in English, candidates who are bilingual in English and Spanish are highly desired.

Highlights: The Cloud Forest School sits upon our 106 acre campus of pastureland and rainforest, nestled at the top of Costa Rica's northwest Tilaran mountain range. Monteverde is renowned for its unique biodiversity, and is surrounded by tens of thousands of acres of conserved cloud forest. Our town of 5,000 people is comprised of local Costa Rican's and North American and European nationals who have decided to make Costa Rica their home. Full of art, music, the best coffee and ice cream in the nation, and a magnificent natural ecosystem. Monteverde is a dynamic, though remote, place to live.

The Cloud Forest School serves 226 local children, from preschool through high school. A progressive, bilingual, educational institution, environmental education is one of our core mission values.

Qualifications:
- Must hold a current certification in Elementary Education
- Must be a native English speaker
- Fluent language skills in Spanish - speaking, reading, writing is HIGHLY desired
- Excellent organization and communication skills
- At least 2-3 years of classroom teaching experience, especially with English language learners.
- Teachers with experience in constructivist math, readers and writers workshop, science education and thematic teaching is HIGHLY desired.

*** NOTE: This is not a TEFL/TESL position.

Salary / Pay: Teachers are paid in Colones, which is the local Costa Rican currency. Net pay, depending upon the exchange rate, is between $550-600 monthly. Teachers also receive a holiday bonus.

Experience Required: yes

This Program is open to American, Australian, Canadian, Kiwi, South African and Worldwide Participants.

Participants Travel to Costa Rica Independently

Typically Participants Work Independently

Application Process Involves:

• Letters of Reference
• Other
• Phone Interview
• Resume
• Transcript
• Written Application

Cloud Forest School's Mission Statement: Our mission is to nurture generations of ecologically aware, academically well-rounded bilingual individuals. We will work to provide students with the knowledge, values and skills needed to make environmentally and socially conscious decisions on a local, national and global scale. Our vision is a sustainable future for the Earth through educating individuals to love, respect and protect the natural environment, to strive for justice and peace as well as academic excellence and to work towards conserving biodiversity and enriching community life.

Year Founded: 1991