The Evergreen School is currently accepting applications for a Teaching Assistant (TA) for our BIG Lab Makerspace. 
 
Our Mission
We inspire highly capable, creative learners to lead with curiosity, compassion, and courage in a diverse and dynamic world.

About the Organization
Located just north of Seattle in Shoreline, Washington, The Evergreen School has been educating highly capable, creative learners for nearly 60 years. Our students love to ask questions, and our teachers use that natural curiosity to craft engaging lessons and spark thought-provoking conversations. Evergreen’s program infuses challenging academics with foundational support for social skills, emotional well-being, a multicultural perspective, and empathy for others. Our students think deeply, take intellectual risks, and tackle complex problems. They learn how to self-advocate, collaborate with others and understand and respect differences. Evergreen graduates move on to high school and beyond with confidence, ready to contribute to a diverse and dynamic world. 
 
Community
Our community members at Evergreen value and embrace the dignity and diversity of all people. We actively seek and support students, families, faculty, staff and trustees who bring a diversity of identity into our community. Our mission makes it essential that we skillfully deliver an inclusive educational program that teaches respect for others, empowers students of all backgrounds equitably, encourages social responsibility, and prepares students to be leaders in an interdependent global community. At Evergreen, our goal is to curate a culture where every family feels fully welcomed and encouraged to participate in every aspect of the community. The school community is committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion work; it is a place where all faculty and staff are required to complete SEED training within the first three years of their employment.

The Opportunity
The BIG Lab TA will learn with and assist the makerspace lead teacher, support student and teacher projects, and keep the lab running at 100% efficiency. The Evegreen School BIG Lab is a makerspace facility that supports student and teacher innovation, tinkering, design, prototyping, and engineering. Throughout the school year, groups of students across all age levels (PK-8) and in all subject areas visit the facility to invent and test scientific tools, create videos using the green screen, build interactive museum exhibits, laser cut diorama components, and engage in many other constructionist projects. Our students and teachers have access to 3D printers, a laser cutter, basic electronics tools, microcontrollers, basic woodworking tools, sewing machines, digital audio and video tools, and more.

The school seeks candidates who demonstrate a commitment to anti-bias and anti-racism work and to fostering a diverse and inclusive learning community that is responsive toward all differences including but not limited to race, ethnicity, national origin, geography, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, physical ability, learning styles and marital, parental or economic status.  

This is a salaried, full-time, benefits-eligible position for the 2022-2023 school year, beginning in August 2022. 

Duties and Responsibilities
As makerspace teaching assistant, you will:
maintain 3D printers, laser cutter, and other equipment in good working order
manage tools and supplies, including supporting organization and monitoring consumables
learn how to use new tools to support makerspace activities, like microcontroller robotics kits or wearable technology
support students and teachers in implementing and troubleshooting their projects
prepare lab space and equipment for scheduled activities, such as rearranging tables between a kindergarten class and an 8th grade class or preparing sewn circuitry kits for a 2nd grade class to use back in their home classroom
take on other duties as assigned

Experience, Education and Desirable Skills
bachelor's degree or equivalent experience
enjoy working around and with young children from preschool through 8th grade (ages 3-14), and communicates clearly and patiently with them
enjoy partnering with other adults, and is supportive and positive when helping them learn new skills
developing skills in relevant machine maintenance - 3D printers and laser cutters especially
developing skills in relevant engineering tasks - electronics and microcontrollers, woodworking, sewing
developing skills in relevant software applications - 3D modeling, video and audio manipulation, Arduino software
able to work independently, seeks out useful secondary tasks when urgent tasks are completed
dependable in reporting to work and seldom absent when expected
able to lift up to 30 pounds
can stand for 30 or more minutes at a time

Compensation will be commensurate with the candidate’s background and experience and will be competitive with similar positions in Seattle area independent schools. 

Applicants should submit the following:
A cover letter outlining their interest in and qualifications for this position
A current resume
A completed Evergreen Employment Application 

All materials should be sent to jobs@evergreenschool.org. Please include "BIG Lab TA" in the subject line.  
Any applicant scheduled for an interview will be asked to submit a 500-word (max) answer to the following question:
At Evergreen, our mission calls us to “inspire highly capable, creative learners to lead with curiosity, compassion, and courage in a diverse and dynamic world.” Reflecting on your current or previous experiences, describe a time in which you moved diversity and inclusion efforts forward in that role. How did you approach this effort and what did you learn about yourself during this process? (Please limit your response to 500 words or less.)

COVID-19 Vaccination Policy
To work at The Evergreen School all employees are required to be vaccinated for COVID-19 and must show proof of vaccination prior to the start of employment, unless the employee has a documented medical or religious exemption.

Notice of Nondiscrimination
The Evergreen School strives to provide equal opportunity to all employees. The school's policy is not to discriminate in employment based on race, color, sex (including pregnancy), religion, creed, age, national origin, citizenship status, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran or military status or any other status protected under applicable local, state or federal law. The School is committed to administering employment decisions, including hiring, promotions, compensation benefits, transfers, layoffs, return from layoffs, terminations, training, sabbaticals, tuition assistance and other programs, without regard to an employee's protected status.

Additional School Information:

The Educational Experience
At Evergreen, we believe learning isn’t a one-way path. Our highly capable students delight in exploring ramifications and digressions, gaining strength from setbacks and successes alike. At the same time, Evergreen’s insightful teachers help students uncover and develop their own unique perspectives on every subject. Through “planned exploration,” teachers carefully design the curriculum and lessons, while building in time and resources for students to pursue unexpected discoveries and long standing interests. From preschool through 8th grade, Evergreen’s hands-on curriculum encourages experimentation. In our extensively equipped BIG Lab (Build Imagine Grow), on overnight trips, during Adventure Days, and on the month-long 8th grade Global Studies trip, students expand their curiosity and put their classroom discoveries into practice. Equally important, we intentionally interweave academic subjects with social and emotional learning and an active commitment to equity, inclusion and diversity—so that as students grow intellectually, they also become increasingly self-aware, build ethical relationships with others, and continually strive to improve the wider world.

Head of School
On July 1, 2020, Halsey Bell became Evergreen’s fifth head of school.
 
Enrollment
Total: 491
Grade Levels: Preschool through 8th grade 
Class Size: 14-17 students
Ratio: 7:1 (students to full-time faculty)
 
Faculty and Staff
132 faculty and staff, including 55 full-time faculty, 5 part-time faculty, and 20 teaching assistants. Faculty includes 2 counselors and 2 learning resource coordinators. Approximately 71% of teaching faculty hold an advanced degree.
 
Campus
Evergreen occupies four and a half acres that include forested area typical of the Pacific Northwest, as well as distinct wetlands and native vegetation. A recent renovation and addition added significant new classroom and administration buildings, including the BIG Lab, our state-of-the-art makerspace, as well as beautiful outdoor gathering areas and courtyards.
 
Student Diversity
Students come to Evergreen from 38 zip codes and a wide variety of schools and daycare programs.
52% of Evergreen students identify as students of color, including African American, Asian American, Latino American, Middle Eastern American, Multiracial American, and Native American

Financial Aid
14% of Evergreen families receive need-based financial aid, totaling approximately $1.5 million.
 
Accreditation & Membership
The Evergreen School is fully accredited by the Northwest Association of Independent Schools (NWAIS) and is a member of the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS), Puget Sound Independent Schools (PSIS), National Association for Gifted Children, Washington Federation of Independent Schools (WFIS), and the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). 
 
Environmental Certifications
The Evergreen School is proud to be a Platinum-Certified Washington Green School and a Sustaining Green School in the King County Green Schools Program. 
 
For more information about The Evergreen School, please visit our website at www.evergreenschool.org.