Teacher Collaborator, Science

KairosPDX is a non-profit organization focused on delivering an excellent and equitable education to underserved children, their families and their communities. Through innovative pedagogy, community collaboration and family partnership we are working to close Portland’s persistent achievement and opportunity gaps in measurable and sustainable ways. Our mission is to eliminate the prolific racial achievement and opportunity gaps by cultivating, confident, creative, compassionate, leaders. We aim to do this through an organizational approach that includes: Preschool-5 KairosPDX Learning Academy, Family Connections Programming, KairosPDX Training Academy and Local and Legislative Policy. Please visit www.kairospdx.org.

Working at KairosPDX

KairosPDX is currently seeking candidates for a full-time, Teacher Collaborator, Science/Outdoor position starting August 2026. Persons of color and members of other underrepresented groups are strongly encouraged to apply.

KairosPDX launched our flagship program, our Learning Academy, a public charter school sponsored by Portland Public Schools, located on N. Gantenbein Avenue in Portland in 2014. We practice a combination of direct instruction and inquiry-based experiences towards maximizing learning for all students. Our curriculum approach is culturally-responsive, infuses mindfulness, restorative practice, studio art, STEM, music and fitness towards teaching the whole child, at all points of the day.

KairosPDX launched our Training Academy in 2021. KairosPDX Training Academy is focused on training current leaders across multiple sectors on how to lead in an equity movement that is grounded in transformational change and rooted in a framework of belonging and the neuroscience of love. We provide training and professional development around rehumanization practices and protocols for administrators, educators, early childhood professionals, organizations, and businesses to do the work in equity that KairosPDX puts into practice daily.

The Preschool Program, which opened in 2022 as a pilot site for Preschool for All, is designed to affirm and celebrate Black identity in young children and their families. It is grounded in the belief that culturally-specific, early learning experiences expand opportunities for children to actively engage in creating their own lives and to contribute fully to the quality of the world around them. We value the creativity, interests, ideas and questions of the children and adults at our school. We practice listening, observing, inquiring, being attentive, and reflecting together with children and families. We value the role of the arts and sciences as languages for thinking, expressing ideas, communicating who we are, and telling the stories of those we belong to – past and present.

Kairos is Greek for a special moment in time and we believe we are creating this time and space for children and families, making KairosPDX a very special place to work. We are committed to the core values of Respect, Responsibility, Excellence, Honesty, and Service. We value data, reflection, feedback and continuous improvement as we work together on behalf of our children and families.  Our expectation is that staff at KairosPDX are invested in our mission and participate in creating structures, developing school culture and communicating our work to families and the larger community. Staff work together to support the whole child – academically, socially, emotionally and culturally, using published curriculum, current research and children’s own interests to build their curriculums. KairosPDX values data, reflection, feedback and continuous improvement as we work together on behalf of our children and families.

Overall Responsibilities:

Share responsibility with a team of colleagues and parents to honor the mission: 

to eliminate the prolific racial achievement and opportunity gaps by cultivating confident, creative and compassionate leaders;

Practice the values of KairosPDX in professional conduct and daily interactions: 

respect, responsibility, honesty, excellence and service to community 

Incorporate the beliefs of KairosPDX in all approaches and instruction 

Every child is uniquely capable, innately curious and inherently creative,

Character and agency are essential to achievement and are developed through relationships and service to others,

A multi- cultural context delivers a strong sense of self and is a requirement for participation in our global society,

Children must be supported in the context of their families; 

Support multicultural practice and inquiry-based approaches that are:

Actively anti-racist – confronting bias in all of its forms,

Education for social justice – acknowledging history and studying the present to make informed decisions regarding a more equitable future,

Pervasive– Examining practices in all levels of school culture and organization,

Personal –Beginning with the necessary consideration of self as a cultural being,

Critical Pedagogy– Pursuing multiple perspectives, anticipating contradictions and challenging assumptions,

Empowering– Providing children the ego strength to challenge racist societal views,

Helping children think deeply about themselves and others.

Core Position Responsibilities:

Create a learning environment designed to build skill, confidence and a positive cultural and academic identity;

Collaborate with instructional staff to design and implement Culturally Responsive Science-based lessons for all students using Next Generation Science Standards learning in the classroom, the school garden, and surrounding neighborhood.

Plan, organize and supervise field trips grades 3-5, (both local and overnight trips) as needed with partners.

Maintain and manage the school garden, teach garden lessons that connect to grade-level standards per school year. 

Collaborate with instructional staff to schedule lessons serving all KairosPDX students

Design and implement project-based and service-learning lessons for Community Action Sessions CAS and classroom

Collaborate with community partners to support service-learning projects for CAS and classroom

Organize all things related to the school garden and green spaces i.e work parties, gatherings, etc.

Coordinate with SUN to develop KairosPDX weekly community gardening days with the aim for KairosPDX families to invest in garden plots, beds, etc.

Create experiences with professionals of color to support sustainability and climate justice for students and families.

Create a learning environment designed to develop independent learners with positive racial, cultural, and academic identities around sustainability.

Integrate environmental issues, wellness, and garden activities into the science curriculum.

Oversee Wellness Committee and support all activities under the wellness committee.

Develop waste prevention practices, including recycling and food waste reduction at KairosPDX.

Collaborate with the Nutrition Manager to offer cafeteria tastings and support local procurement.

Collaborate with the Nutrition Manager to support healthy food habits and farm-to-table style meals at KairosPDX.

Collaborate with classroom teachers to establish student wellness opportunities and outdoor/ therapeutic interventions for students.

Oversee and plan all garden activities and garden Ambassadors.

Provide direct student support as need:

Supervise students during recess and other non-instructional times

Substitute in classroom teacher

Administer attendance and student medication 

Coordinate, facilitate and/or support the proctoring of formal school wide assessments including Kindergarten readiness, NWEA and SBAC

Support the practice and implementation of skills/strategies presented in classroom presentations, school-wide training and/or outside agency presentations/trainings 

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of every activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required for this position. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change, be assigned with or without notice.

Additional Responsibilities:

Participate in continuous improvement practices including observation, reflection and collaboration;

Participate in professional development (meeting, training and/or workshops) to facilitate growth of each student, staff member and the organization overall;

Attend several KairosPDX staff and family events:

Work hours may include evening and weekend activities as needed;

Perform other related duties as needed.

Salary and Benefits

Salary: Dependent on qualifications, ranging from $54,571- $107,686.

Benefits include: Up to nine weeks of school closure breaks, paid sick/personal leave days, paid holidays, participation in Public Employees Retirement System (PERS), employer contribution for health insurance, professional development opportunities

How to Apply

Interested candidates please submit a cover letter and resume via email to: careers@kairospdx.org. Please state “Teacher Collaborator, Science/Outdoor application” in the subject line. In the cover letter please briefly describe your previous teaching experience, why you are interested in this position and what strengths you will bring to the job. Resumes will be accepted until the positions are filled. 

KairosPDX is an equal opportunity employer. KairosPDX will not discriminate against any job application or employee on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, disability, marital status, age, sexual orientation, and/or gender identification.