Lower Elementary Lead Teacher on a Farm School (starts January, 2027)

Sundial Classical School & Farmstead is a classical Christian farm school near Lansing, Michigan. Our robust Common Arts program utilizes every inch of our 14 acres to teach forestry, small-scale agriculture, and animal husbandry. Our vigorous academic program is founded on the principle of offering Christian hospitality to all types of learners. This means that we maintain very high behavior standards alongside completely individualized academic standards.

SCSF began in 2022, currently has ~40 students, and plans to expand to 120 students in grades K-12. We will remain intentionally small to enable small-group instruction and to cultivate an atmosphere of schole: restful learning for personal enjoyment.

SCSF offers a unique weekly schedule and year-round calendar. During the school year we offer students a 1, 4, or 5-day week. The Arts & Academics program runs Monday through Thursday. The Agriculture & Trade Skills program operates on Friday. Our school year calendar is 33 weeks (in contrast to the typical 36 weeks). It begins after Labor Day and ends before Memorial Day. Then, during the summer we offer 10 weeks of one-week summer day camps. Teaching positions can be either part time or full time.

PART TIME POSITION:
(School Year) Lead Teacher for the Early Elementary Multi-Age Classroom - academic instructor for students ages 5 to 7 years old, Mon-Thur, 9:00am - 1:00pm

FULL TIME POSITION OPTION:
(School Year; Full Time Salary) Optional Extension Of Part Time into Full Time - additional art, music, science, history, geography, agriculture, and handcraft classes for all ages, Mon-Thur, from 1:00-3:30 as well as Fridays from 8:30-3:30.

(Summer) Camp Program Leader - a required component of all full-time salaried positions. All summertime positions are full time (Mon-Fri) when camp is in session, but daily hours are flexible (choice of either 8:00-3:00 or 10:30-5:30).

FACULTY DESCRIPTION:
Sundial Classical School & Farmstead is a school like no other, formed by a faculty unlike any other. Our faculty members read widely and think deeply about child development with Imago Dei as a core principle. We are seeking teachers with a passion for programs that develop the whole child–a strong and skilled body, a wisely cultivated mind, and a spiritually disciplined soul.

Each faculty member has a personal commitment to Christian faith and practice. We are seeking teachers whose solid foundation enables them to welcome Protestant, Catholic, and Orthodox Christians equally, as well as families who do not have a religious practice.

Our faculty members are professional-quality experts in their field. We are seeking teachers who are knowledgeable and experienced in designing courses that lead students into deep, lasting mastery. We are seeking teachers who have the capacity, work-ethic, and discipline to deliver on their promises.

Our faculty is humble, friendly, and goes the extra mile to be supportive of the entire Sundial community. We are seeking teachers who like to talk to parents, want to join a faculty of friends, and have a great sense of humor!

BENEFITS
Pay range $45-60k; salary is commensurate with experience and education. The Sundial model is committed to low student-to-teacher ratios. Salaried, year-round staff receive the following:
--9 full weeks of paid vacation (3 weeks are flexible–to be used during the summer; 6 weeks occur on fixed dates–5 spread throughout the school year and 1 in the summer--1 week for Thanksgiving, 3 weeks for Christmas, 1 week for Easter/Pascha, 1 week for Independence Day)
--2 weeks of paid planning time without student supervision duties during the summer term ((1 week is flexible; 1 week is fixed)
--2 weeks of available paid emergency personal leave
--Assistance with medical insurance through a tax-free Health Reimbursement Arrangement (HRA) may be an option.

REQUIREMENTS:
--Prior experience as a paid instructor or intern/student teacher in a K-12 setting
--Experience leading or assisting in a Montessori-style program, and/or a willingness to pursue formal training in creating a prepared environment of high-quality independent-learning stations.
--A minimum of a bachelor’s degree in a related field is strongly preferred; a teaching license is also preferred but not required.
--Willingness to submit 2 professional and 1 personal references; and, be willing to undergo background checks that include fingerprinting.
--Demonstrated ability to supervise and create lesson plans for teaching assistants.
--Demonstrated ability to communicate professionally with parents by: assessing students, writing reports, holding twice annual Parent/Teacher Conferences, sending monthly newsletters, and preparing student demonstration projects for an annual presentation to the community.
--Commitment to following professional guidelines as articulated in the Staff Handbook

Website - sundialclassical.farm
Facebook - Sundial Classical School & Farmstead
Instagram - sundialclassicalfarmstead
Location - 6822 State Rd. East Lansing
Contact - Sarah Kwilinski at info@sundialclassical.com