Description
OUR MISSION: Oregon Episcopal School educates students to realize their power for good as engaged citizens of the world.
ABOUT US: Founded in 1869, Oregon Episcopal School today occupies a wooded 59 acre campus where 880 students in Pre-K through 12th Grade share an excellent faculty, an inquiry based curriculum, and a strong sense of community. The Upper School also includes a small boarding program of international and domestic students who live and learn together enhancing the vibrancy of the school community.
The School values employees who seek to continually develop the OES Essential Competencies in themselves and others and are prepared to engage in a vibrant, diverse learning community. Committed to the professional development of our faculty, teachers are guided by the Learning and Teaching at OES faculty growth model.
As an Episcopal school, we are rooted in a rhythm of gathering and reflection that values and respects all beliefs and cultures. As such, we educate toward a larger purpose – toward inclusion and respect, service and justice and commitment beyond ourselves.
JOB SUMMARY:
Oregon Episcopal School (OES) seeks curious, creative, and self-reflective full-time Summer Lead Educators to co-design and lead week-long, play-based inquiry camps that center on emergent practices. Educators will collaborate with classroom partners to co-create student-centered, engaging experiences in STEM, Visual and Performing Arts, Recreational Athletics, Creative Movement, and/or Environmental Stewardship Education. Classes are developed in the constructivist pedagogy for student campers in rising grades 6th-9th grades.
General Daily Class Flow:
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8:30 a.m.- 4 p.m.: Co-constructed engagements with students outdoors and indoors.
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Learn more about our Summer Programs, including our philosophy, commitment to justice, and core values here.
Philosophy and Role Overview
The Summer Educator models joy, curiosity, and inclusion through respectful exploration of ideas, materials, and relationships. They nurture children’s growth through playful engagement with the natural world, community-building activities, and creative expression.
The summer educator will plan to align with the practices of the OES lower and middle school, fostering an appreciation for lifelong learning through the safe utilization of both indoor and outdoor classroom spaces.
Full collaboration between co-educators is essential during both planning and implementation. Together, educators will design and deliver a summer experience that:
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Expands joyful, student-centered inquiries and emergent curiosities
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Supports the social, emotional, and mental well-being of campers
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Builds a strong, caring community
Successful candidates are flexible, organized, open and constructive in communicating, and good-humored. They prioritize student and community safety, embrace feedback, and model the Summer at OES philosophy and core values.
??Strong candidates are both learners and knowers, bringing a collaborative spirit, technological fluency, and openness to emergent teaching practices and working always to seek ways to positively impact student campers whether it is their 1st or 20th day of the Summer season. They view campers as budding scholars, creators, and engaged human beings, regardless of prior knowledge or ability.
“We believe that every child is unique and capable, that each of them brings gifts to share and questions to explore. Our emergent program draws from the interests and theories of the children and is influenced by constructivist educators: teachers and thinkers like Jean Piaget, Lev Vygotsky and the educators of Reggio Emilia, Italy. In this tradition we believe that learning is an active process, and that learners who construct their own knowledge are most likely to remember their learning, make discoveries, and apply learning to new contexts. We are a community who believes in social constructivism, an understanding that human knowledge is often heightened and deepened by interaction with others.” (OES)
Position Details
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Seasonal, full-time; minimum 2-week commitment
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Upon acceptance of the position, pre-season paid- preparatory work begins March 2026. The 3 hours per week of pre-season prep work payment will be included in your first summer payroll.
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Asynchronous training starts June 1, 2026
Essential Duties
Working with your co-educator and/or the Summer Programs administrative team, you will:
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Co-develop and implement student-centered, play-based curriculum using constructivist pedagogy and developmentally appropriate practices within the summer program’s framework.
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Consistently foster safe, inclusive learning environments for up to 35 students (average class 15-18)
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Support diverse learning needs and communicate clear expectations
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Supervise indoor/outdoor play and student transitions
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Collaborate with co-educators and staff
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Model professionalism and participate fully in camp life
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Other duties as assigned
“A Summer at OES”-Educator:
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Creates, communicates, and maintains clear learning objectives and expectations - including the co-creation of classroom expectations with students.
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Understands and responds with warmth and curiosity to each camper’s emerging needs
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Differentiates instruction/facilitation to support diverse learners
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Believes in each child’s potential for growth
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Experiments with and reflects on teaching strategies with their team(s)
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Maintains and models high standards of behavior and care for students and their teammates
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Builds awareness of individual student strengths, affinities, and challenges
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Seeks and applies professional feedback
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Arrives on time and is fully present during all assigned program hours
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Promotes and models responsible and safe use of equipment, materials, and environments
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Communicates openly and clearly and professionally with colleagues, families, and students
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Collaborates openly with colleagues and models kindness, enthusiasm, and curiosity
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Requirements
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
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Demonstrated commitment to creating inclusive, welcoming, and equitable learning environments for all children
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BA/BS degree or equivalent experience gained through community-based work, auxiliary, or enrichment teaching, youth programs, or other relevant pathways
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1–5 years of experience supporting children’s learning and growth in classroom, camp, enrichment, or comparable settings
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Cultural humility and intercultural competence, with the ability to teach and support students from diverse backgrounds, identities, and abilities
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Ability to meet Oregon Episcopal School’s safety requirements, including successfully completing a background check
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:
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Prior experience supporting youth in summer programs, school settings (public or independent), community organizations, or other child-centered environments
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Experience collaborating or co-teaching with colleagues from diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and lived experiences
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:
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Commitment to ongoing professional learning, self-reflection, and growth, with the flexibility to adapt to the dynamic flow of summer programming
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Ability to facilitate and supervise groups of 15–30 campers with appropriate support, centering student safety, dignity, and belonging
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Strong interpersonal and collaboration skills, with the ability to contribute to a positive, inclusive, and healthy team culture
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Clear, respectful, and open communication skills for engaging with students, families, colleagues, and supervisors from diverse identities and communities
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A joyful and curious approach to working with children; showing respect, responsibility, playfulness, and a willingness to try new ideas
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:
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Camp activities take place in classrooms, playgrounds, and outdoor areas across a 59-acre campus; duties may involve moving between these spaces with reasonable accommodations as needed
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Ability to support the safety and supervision of young children, using whatever mobility supports or accommodations are appropriate for the individual
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Ability to communicate and engage with students, families, and colleagues in ways that ensure safety and effective interaction; OES will provide reasonable accommodations to candidates who use alternative communication methods
Summary
Program Schedule:
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Two sessions: June 22–July 10, 2026 and July 13–31, 2026
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Teaching hours: 7:30 AM–4:00 PM, M–F (40 hrs/week)
Training Schedule:
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5–8 hrs mandatory asynchronous online training
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New to OES educators: In-person training the week of June 15, 2026
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All Summer Faculty & staff: Mandatory Orientation and setup on June 18, 2026, 8 AM–4 PM
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Expectations are approximately 3 hrs/week, pre-season prep included in compensation package including team planning and short check-ins with administrators.
COMPENSATION:
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Stipend: $2,350/week for exempt faculty and seasonal faculty
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Hourly: $58.75/hr for year-round OES hourly staff
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June Training: Paid at $25/hr for all summer employees
BENEFITS:
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Free camp class slots for participating employees’ dependents during assigned teaching weeks
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Pre-registration for employees’ dependents during the weeks they are working on campus
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Advanced Reservations for year round employees to guarantee placement of their qualified dependents
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Accrued sick leave
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Lunch and snacks included
APPLICATION and PROPOSAL INSTRUCTIONS:
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Visit www.oes.edu/careers to learn more about OES.
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Internal candidates, please: Fill out a proposal form, and complete this job application via GNSA for payroll purposes.
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External candidates, fill out the OES Summer Elementary Summer Full Time Contracted Educator 2025 and upload your resume and cover letter addressing your understanding of inquiry based and child centered learning and why you love summer camp/what you would bring to Summer at OES as a camp class educator.
IMPORTANT NOTE FOR INTERNAL CANDIDATES: Login to the payroll system as normal, search for My Career, then, select Search for Jobs. This brings up a menu of all open positions allowing you to apply easily from there.
Management reserves the right to change or add to this job description at any time.
Oregon Episcopal School does not discriminate in its hiring or employment practices on the basis of race, color, religion, gender (including gender identity or expression), disability, national or ethnic origin, age, sexual orientation, marital status, genetic information, or other legally protected characteristic or status.