Biology/Botany/Environmental Science Facilitator – CP4 & CYP Programs (Grades 8–12)

About Cupola Academy

Cupola Academy is a learner-centered educational community that empowers young people to pursue meaningful earning while developing the skills, habits, and dispositions needed to thrive in a rapidly changing world. Through deep inquiry, authentic experiences, mentorship, and project-based learning, Cupola Academy creates opportunities for young people to engage with complex ideas in ways that are both intellectually rigorous and personally meaningful.

We believe that learning is most powerful when young people are active participants in the process—asking questions, conducting investigations, building, creating, reflecting, and sharing their discoveries with others.

Position Overview

Cupola Academy is seeking an exceptional facilitator to lead two weekly learning communities focused on Biology/Botany/Environmental Science

• CP4 (Grades 8–9)
• CYP (Grades 10–12)

Each group meets once per week for two hours on our Malvern campus.

We are looking for someone who can help young people explore this topic through highly engaging, hands-on experiences while maintaining strong academic depth and intellectual challenge. The ideal facilitator is equally comfortable leading discussions, designing experiments, organizing field experiences, mentoring projects, and helping learners connect theory to practice.

Rather than delivering lectures, our facilitators create environments where young people actively investigate, build, test, analyze, debate, create, and reflect.

We welcome applications from both experienced educators and practicing professionals. Some of our most successful facilitators bring expertise from fields such as science, research, engineering, entrepreneurship, environmental work, technology, design, the arts, and other disciplines, along with a passion for working with young people.

Responsibilities

Design and Facilitate Engaging Learning Experiences

• Develop and lead weekly two-hour sessions for both age groups.
• Create hands-on, inquiry-driven experiences that encourage exploration and discovery.
• Balance experiential learning with meaningful academic content and critical thinking.
• Differentiate activities appropriately for younger (8–9th grade) and older (10–12th grade) learners.
• Design learning experiences that foster curiosity, creativity, and intellectual independence.
• Incorporate authentic tools, methods, and practices from the field whenever possible.

Foster Deep Learning

• Help learners ask compelling questions and pursue authentic investigations.
• Introduce relevant concepts, frameworks, and disciplinary thinking.
• Facilitate thoughtful discussions and encourage evidence-based reasoning.
• Connect learning to real-world issues, careers, experts, and applications.
• Encourage learners to grapple with complexity, ambiguity, and multiple perspectives.

Support Project-Based Learning

• Guide young people through longer-term projects and independent investigations.
• Provide mentorship, coaching, and accountability throughout the learning process.
• Help learners develop research, communication, collaboration, and problem-solving skills.
• Support learners in presenting and sharing their work with authentic audiences when appropriate.

Assess Learning Through Meaningful Feedback

Cupola Academy operates in an ungraded learning environment. Rather than assigning points, percentages, or letter grades, facilitators support growth through observation, dialogue, coaching, and meaningful feedback.

Facilitators should expect to:

• Review learner work regularly and provide thoughtful written feedback.
• Offer constructive guidance that helps learners deepen their thinking, strengthen their skills, and improve future work.
• Evaluate work against clear expectations and learning goals without assigning traditional grades.
• Engage learners in reflection, revision, and self-assessment.
• Document learner growth and progress through narrative feedback and communication with Academy leadership.

We are academically rigorous but not grade-driven. Facilitators are expected to uphold high standards, challenge learners intellectually, and provide meaningful narrative feedback that supports growth and mastery.

Contribute to the Cupola Community

• Communicate regularly with Academy leadership.
• Collaborate on planning, scheduling, and resource needs.
• Maintain a safe, inclusive, and engaging learning environment.
• Participate in occasional planning meetings as needed.

Ideal Candidate

We are looking for someone who:

• Has deep knowledge and genuine enthusiasm for Biology/Botany/Environmental Science
• Believes learning is most powerful when young people actively engage with ideas and experiences.
• Has experience working with adolescents in educational, mentoring, outdoor, laboratory, research, maker, entrepreneurial, or project-based settings.
• Can facilitate discussion and inquiry rather than relying primarily on direct instruction.
• Is comfortable working in an ungraded environment and providing substantive written and verbal feedback.
• Is organized, dependable, and able to design engaging learning experiences independently.
• Demonstrates creativity, curiosity, flexibility, and a growth mindset.
• Enjoys building authentic relationships with young people.
• Values learner agency and is comfortable supporting multiple pathways toward mastery and understanding.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent professional experience in a related field.
• Experience teaching, mentoring, facilitating, coaching, or leading youth programs.
• Professional experience in a field related to the topic area being explored.

What Success Looks Like

By the end of the year, young people should:

• Demonstrate deeper understanding of key concepts within the topic area.
• Develop stronger inquiry, research, communication, and problem-solving skills.
• Produce meaningful projects, presentations, or other authentic demonstrations of learning.
• Build confidence in pursuing their own questions and interests.
• Leave sessions energized, challenged, and excited to continue learning.

Logistics

Location: Cupola Academy, Malvern, PA

Schedule:

• One 2-hour weekly session with CP4 (Grades 8–9)
• Facilitate Lunch and Group Physical Activity between sessions
• One 2-hour weekly session with CYP (Grades 10–12)
• Additional preparation and feedback time as needed

Compensation: $8,000 to $10,000 for the academic year (1 day/week for 33 weeks + 2 weeks of staff training and development).

To Apply

Please submit:

• Resume or CV
• Brief statement of interest
• Description of how you would create a hands-on, academically rigorous learning experience for adolescents around
• Any relevant portfolio materials, project examples, or facilitation samples

Cupola Academy seeks facilitators who inspire curiosity, foster independence, and help young people engage deeply with ideas, challenges, and the world around them.

Pay: $8,000.00 - $10,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• Flexible schedule

Education:

• Bachelor's (Preferred)

Experience:

• Teaching: 1 year (Required)

Location:

• Malvern, PA 19355 (Required)

Work Location: In person