Teachers who want to change the world come to the Academy of Thought and Industry.

Changing the world is in our DNA. Our organization was founded to do just that - a group of educators and likeminded individuals had caught a glimpse of what could be possible in education, and wanted to bring it to the world. Education today is filled with false alternatives. We disrupt them all. Our vision is a classroom where students plumb the depths of human knowledge and aspire to the height of intellectualism and do it all at their own self-direction. Do you believe that there is critical, life-shaping knowledge that children desperately need but also believe that they need to be in the driver's seat when they pursue it? Then the Academy of Thought and Industry is the place for you.

ATI is a network of Montessori-inspired middle and high schools, including both brick and mortar campuses and a fully virtual program. Our Montessori approach means we believe in promoting each student's individual agency. This includes open-ended, free work periods, where students choose what to work on and work at their own pace. We bring structure to that through a coaching-based approach that helps students plan their own goals for the day and week, using adults as guides and accountability partners. We also recognize that when approaches like that go wrong, students don't learn. So we've invested years in extensive curriculum development and an accredited teacher training program to teach the curriculum and approach to our "guides," along with the skill of running a classroom in a way that is at once fully individualized and fully engaged and productive. That training program will earn you a diploma that is recognized worldwide.

This is a unique position: you are not just joining an innovative network of schools, you are joining the virtual program: the digital glue that supports the whole. As a virtual guide, you will work closely with a community of students who are choosing virtual. Whether this is because they don't have access to a local school that serves their needs, or because they want the flexibility to travel or pursue entrepreneurship, athletics, or art more intensely than a traditional school will allow, or for health or family reasons, these students are looking for a virtual program that does not lower standards either for academic excellence or for community togetherness.

And you are applying to teach liberal arts: this is a role for someone who loves literature, reveres history, is captivated by philosophy; and wants to instill in their students an absolute veneration of the pursuit of knowledge. Do you want to share with your students your love of reading? Can you model for them your belief that ideas matter, and they matter a lot? Do you want to help build an innovative curriculum combining philosophy, politics, literature, and history to help students see the real power of a deep study of the humanities?

This approach takes work to learn, so you'll need to come in with that attitude. It also takes flexibility. As a virtual guide, you'll be supporting not just your own students but also students around the network who want virtual access to more resources and a larger community. But changing the world takes work: and the people who thrive with us are the ones who know that. You will be joining a team of ambitious, creative, and inspiring educators and a growing organization with opportunities for growth and development.

This is a full-time position, 8 hour paid day, 40 hour work week; work hours may vary somewhat but given that students in the virtual school are in multiple time zones, flexibility with work day hours is necessary.

We'd love to talk to you if you:

• Have a demonstrated passion for the humanities, preferably in conjunction with a BA + advanced degree
• Have exceptional writing and communication skills
• Strongly interested in co-creating a vibrant, loving school community
• An experienced mentor, advisor, or coach of adolescents, dedicated to helping them explore their passions and overcome challenges (with experience in virtual learning, or a deep commitment to learning virtual best practices)
• Have a deep commitment to the pursuit of knowledge
• Are interested in joining a growing, evolving, and ambitious educational program

We strongly encourage and welcome people from all backgrounds to apply for this opportunity and join our unique community. We are committed to building a team that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills.

About us:

Our culture is built on five core values:

If you want to join a thriving and growing new school community, help revolutionize education, and bring out the best in your students and yourself, please apply below and include a detailed cover letter explaining your qualifications and interest in this role.

Learn More:

Interested in learning more about who we are? Here are some resources:

• The Academy of Thought and Industry website and blog, with recommended articles:
  • Why do we study history?
  • A culture of knowledge
  • A parent's view on virtual high school
• Montessorium, our organization's academic think-tank, with recommended articles:
  • Articles on agency and identity, including our approach to social justice, and how we separate education from advocacy in The Persona of an Educator
  • Montessori and technology