Foundation Studio Lead Artisan (K–3rd Grade)

Organization: Learning Blueprint ThinkerStudio

Reports To: Executive Director / Director of Curriculum & Instruction (DCI)

Start Date: Fall 2026 (Operational Expansion)

Status: Full-Time

Position Overview

The Foundation Studio Lead Artisan is the emotional and academic anchor for our youngest learners. At ThinkerStudio, we believe that the early years (Kindergarten through 3rd Grade) are a time for learning to research and a time for discovery. In this role, you aren't just a teacher; you are a co-researcher who views literacy, numeracy, and social-emotional growth as the essential tools for a child’s self-expression.

You will lead a multi-age cohort in our Foundation Studio, creating a fluid environment where play, inquiry, and rigorous skill-building coexist. You will work in a unique, close partnership with our Executive Director (Lead Artisan), who provides specialized technical support for complex maker projects, allowing you to focus on deep integration and the "invisible logic" of student learning.

Key Responsibilities

1. Instructional Architecture & Literacy

  • Integrated Workshop: Lead a daily Readers/Writers Workshop that values student voice and storytelling. You will guide students to use literacy to document their own discoveries and research.

  • Foundation Numeracy: Facilitate hands-on, conceptual math experiences that prioritize number sense and problem-solving over rote memorization.

  • Competency-Based Milestones: Move away from grade-level "locks" to track individual student progress through competency milestones, ensuring every child is appropriately challenged.

2. Co-Research & Studio Partnership

  • Technical Partnership: Partner with the Executive Director to integrate high-level STEM (sound booths, marble runs, water channels) into the daily flow. While the ED may lead the build, you lead the documentation and the "meaning-making" behind the project.

  • Inquiry Cycles: Design and facilitate Expert Arcs—8-week deep dives into student-led interests (e.g., ecology of the natural pond, local history, or mechanical physics).

  • The Environment as Teacher: Curate a Reggio-inspired studio environment that encourages independence, agency, and respect for materials.

3. Documentation & Assessment

  • Learning Portfolios: Capture and curate visible learning through photos, transcriptions of student dialogue, and work samples. You will help families see the deep academic rigor within student projects.

  • Family Partnerships: Collaborate with the Village of parents, specifically those providing Professional Labor Contributions, to enrich the classroom experience and maintain the Studio’s health.

4. Community & The Village

  • Restorative Culture: Foster a studio culture rooted in restorative practices, helping children navigate social complexities with empathy and agency.

  • Village Equity: Support the onboarding of families into our unique labor model, ensuring the Studio feels like a shared community asset.

Qualifications & Experience

  • Education: Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education, Elementary Education, or a related field (Master’s preferred).

  • Experience: * Minimum of 3–5 years of lead teaching experience, ideally in a Reggio-inspired, Inquiry-Based Learning, or Project-Based Learning (PBL) environment.

    • Demonstrated success in teaching foundational literacy and numeracy.

  • Skills:

    • A Generalist mindset with a Specialist's curiosity.

    • Strong documentation skills (digital and physical).

    • Comfort working in a non-traditional, open-concept facility.

Founding Mindsets

  • Radical Trust in Children: You believe that 5-to-9-year-olds are capable of complex thought, sophisticated work, and profound agency.

  • The Player-Coach"Spirit: You are comfortable working alongside the Executive Director and other Lead Artisans in a collaborative, non-hierarchical Village.

  • Comfort with Mess: You view a messy studio as a sign of active research and a natural part of the creative process.

Compensation

  • Salary: Budgeted at $65,000 annually.

  • Benefits: Comprehensive benefits and taxes package (budgeted at 27% of salary).

  • Schedule: Full-Time, Monday–Friday (Aligns with the Day School calendar).