Design Technology Teacher

Who we are:

Located in the spectacular South Island of New Zealand, Ellesmere College-Te Kāreti o Waihora is an innovative and forward-thinking co-educational Year 7 to 13 school located in Leeston, approximately 30 minutes south of Christchurch. We welcome a diverse range of ākonga (learners) and staff with culturally responsive and sustaining practice at the heart of what we do. Our pedagogical approach is based on strong positive relationships which provides contextualised and coherent opportunities for deep learning. Learning design is based on learner voice and agency which allows ākonga to develop skills, knowledge and qualifications. With ground being broken on a full school redevelopment next year, we are at an exciting stage of our school’s journey. Located 40 minutes from the largest ski fields in New Zealand and some of the world’s best surf beaches, our student’s playground is the some of the most breathtaking scenery in the world!

The role:

Ellesmere College-Te Kāreti o Waihora has an exciting opportunity for an innovative and passionate Design Technology teacher (speciailising in resistance materials) to join our team from January 2024 (or by negotiation). You will be joining a hard working, close-knit and committed staff who have a focus on research-based pedagogical approaches and are heavily supported by a future-focused Senior Leadership Team. You would be teaching amongst highly talented teachers who have high expectations of their learners and are results focsued – both academic and dispositional.

Who you are:

We are seeking an experienced and innovative teacher of Design Technology who is passionate about working with young people and can develop strong, mana-enhancing relationships with ākonga, whānau and Kaiako (teachers). We are looking for a team player (as teachers co-teach in the junior school) who is unafraid of taking risks. You will need to be flexible, have a growth mindset and be committed to providing rich authentic learning contexts in an integrated way across curriculum areas. You will have the ability to inspire young people, instilling a love and curiosity about technology both as an academic subject and its real world applications. You will be a tireless advocate for your subject and future-focused in your approaches to curriculum development, change and ongoing improvement. We are developing an research-based pedagogical-approach to ensure our learners develop and achieve not only at the highest academic levels but also develop dispositions which will allow them to flourish and thrive as positive citizens of the world. We strongly encourage applicants to read about our learning design on our website.

The successful applicant will:

• Have a strong academic record with a degree and teaching qualification from a leading university in your subject area
• Enact the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi as Tangata Tiriti
• Be strongly passionate about their subject area
• Aspire to care for each and every student as if they were a member of their own family
• Be committed to building and realising the mission and vision of Ellesmere College-Te Kāreti o Waihora
• Be caring, committed, supportive of, and collaborate with, their colleagues
• Role-model our RISE values (Respect, Integrity, Success, Empathy) on a daily basis
• Be open and responsive to feedback from all key stakeholders (students, whānau, colleagues, school leadership)
• Feel a deep sense of commitment to students and the community that they are serving, approaching teaching in a rural school as “a way of life”
• Be committed to continually growing as educators to seek out ways to help their students learn
• Have high expectations for their students and vocalise these expectations in a professional manner
• Develop a deep understanding of the challenges facing the students of Ellesmere College-Te Kāreti o Waihora
• Be willing to take educational risks in order to develop their pedagogical practice and engage students in deep learning
• Achieve high levels of student academic and social engagement and achievement
• Collaboratively plan and implement pedagogical approaches which draw on students’ lived experiences and their cultural toolkit so that it can develop and positively reinforce their self-identity and their individual importance at a local, national and global level.
• Motivate students across social and academic skill levels
• Respond to academic and socio-emotional needs of students in their classrooms;
• Recognise assets and community cultural wealth of all students, families, and staff and utilise these assets to contextualise learning to local contexts.
• Engage students, parents/caregivers & whānau in respectful, affirming, and supportive relationships
• Be able to establish community, family, and home-like characteristics in the classroom
• Engage in explicit, authentically caring practices with every student
• Show curiosity, interest and support in students’ interests, goals and dreams

The benefits:

• The chance to make a difference to the lives of young people in a rural community – Ellesmere College-Te Kāreti o Waihora believes that all of our leaners have the right of access to a student-centred education which allows them opportunities to explore their passions and interests. Being a small school of only 500 students, our staff develop strong-positive relationships with each and every student. Our staff can have a dramatic impact on the lives of their learners and on the community the College serves.
• Fast Career Progression – Because knowledge, pedagogical expertise and inspiring leadership, rather than length of service, are lauded and rewarded at Ellesmere College-Te Kāreti o Waihora, teachers and support staff can quickly take on greater responsbility and grow their careers.
• Ongoing Professional Learning & Development – our staff continually engage in research-based profesisonal learning and development both internally and externally as part of our committment to growing the pedagogical and leadership capactiy of our staff.
• Great outdoors – you will be working with the Southern Alps as the backdrop to our school. Everything that New Zealand has to offer as the adventure capital of the world is on your doorstep!Come join us for an adventure of a lifetime!