What are the responsibilities and job description for the Explo Middle School STEM Instructor (Summer Teacher) position at Exploration School?
EXPLO Middle School STEM Instructor
EXPLO Middle School at Wellesley College, Wellesley, MA
www.explo.org
Dates (in person): June 26, 2025 - July 25, 2025 (weekdays only)
We are seeking dynamic teachers, creative professionals, and innovative researchers to engage curious students at our EXPLO Middle School Program at Wellesley College.
About the Program:
EXPLO Middle School is a 4-week summer program for students who are currently in grades 6-8. It includes two 2-week sessions taking place at Wellesley College’s campus in Wellesley, MA. Students will either participate in EXPLO 360°, in which they will take a variety of classes over their two weeks, or in one of our Focus programs — Veterinary Science or Medical Rotations. Classes will be taught by subject-area experts and professional teachers, and Student Advisors will facilitate activities, events, and all other parts of the campus community experience.
The Opportunity
As an Instructor, you will engage with a dynamic, project-based curriculum crafted by EXPLO’s professional curriculum development team, yet retain the flexibility to infuse your teaching with your unique expertise, interests, and passions. In this role, you will guide bright and curious students through an experience that emphasizes collaboration, critical thinking, and real-world problem solving, supported on the ground by EXPLO’s Office of Teaching and Learning. You will have the opportunity to facilitate connections with guest speakers and others who are shaping the future in your field, and inspire students to explore both new areas of study and potential future career paths.
Instructor Responsibilities
- Review existing project-based curriculum and work closely with our curriculum coaches to customize it based on your areas of interest, research, and/or professional practice
- Teach two or three 75-minute classes each weekday
- Complete the relevant and necessary daily preparation required for delivering an engaging student experience
- Facilitate connections with external partners and guest speakers, as appropriate
- Attend weekly faculty meetings, and provide student feedback throughout the summer
STEM Classes Include:
- Environmental Science
- Engineering in Action
- Forensic Science
- Medicine: First Aid & Clinical Skills
- Psychopathology
- Aeronautical Engineering
- Robotics: Mars Exploration
- Game Theory
- Gastronomy: Art & Science of Cooking
In addition to the courses above, there are afternoon electives, in all fields, that rotate each week.
Dates, Compensation Benefits
- This is a 4.5-week seasonal position. A 2-day, on-campus, in-person training and orientation will start on Thursday, June 26. Dates for pre-season, remote coaching (primarily including the review of lesson plans and course content) are flexible, and will be discussed as part of any job offer.
- Compensation for this role, assuming a teaching load of 2 classes, is $4,200 to $5,000, based on relevant training and experience. Lunch is provided for all instructors.
- As noted above, campus housing for instructors is very limited; if campus housing is needed, instructors will be expected to fulfill additional program responsibilities, to be discussed during the hiring process.
About You
- You have earned, at minimum, a bachelor’s degree, with coursework and/or professional experience directly related to the classes you will teach.
- You are available to work on campus for the duration of the program. Please note: campus housing may be available, on a very limited basis, for applicants not local to the Boston/Wellesley area.
Physical Requirements and Work Environment
- This position will require staff members to occasionally assist with a variety of physical tasks, including carrying signage and supplies, event set-up and tear-down, and standing or walking for prolonged periods of time during events; responsibilities before students arrive will include setting up both indoor and outdoor spaces.
- The Wellesley College campus is large and spread out, and we will be using spaces throughout the campus. Because of this, days will include significant amounts of walking. In addition, weekend trips may also include walking tours and similar demands.
EXPLO will make reasonable accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act that would enable employees to perform the essential functions of their job. Accommodations must be requested in writing prior to the summer.
To learn more or to apply, please visit our Faculty Hiring page at https://explo.org/meet-us/faculty-staff/hiring. You may also send questions to faculty_hiring@explo.org.
EXPLO is an equal opportunity employer. We have a clear vision: to be an organization that attracts a diverse mix of talented people to come and do their best work. We are building a team that values diversity and belonging. EXPLO, as a part of the Exploration School, does not discriminate on the basis of physical handicap, sex, race, creed, color, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, marital status, or national or ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admissions, scholarships, or other social programs. It affords all students the rights and privileges that are generally made available at the School.
About Exploration School:
At EXPLO, our engine is curiosity. We drive joyful learning through investigation, collaboration, and play. We’re a mission-driven, educational non-profit with more than 89,000 student alumni who hail from 90 countries. We offer day and residential summer programs for clever and curious students in grades 4 through 12 on three of the most beautiful college campuses on the East Coast of the U.S. For many, EXPLO is a life-changing experience. Our students sometimes describe it as the place where they feel like the truest version of themselves. We know you’ll transform the lives of our students. We hope the experience will transform yours, too.
