Be part of a startup school – the first of its kind in Australia

The Tombolo Academy seeks to employ outstanding prep-year 12 and secondary educators to join our highly committed, creative and dynamic team.

• Start date: Term 3, 2021.

• Full time and Part-time positions available.

• Salary commensurate with experience. As a registered charity we can offer attractive salary packaging benefits.

About Tombolo Academy

We are an Independent Specialist School (Years 7-10) that caters for twice-exceptional students (gifted + disabled concurrently), who are able to function within the Victorian Curriculum at age level, or above, in a majority of academic areas but also at level 3 or above in their area of disability. Newly established in 2021, located in Hampton, Bayside. Tombolo Academy is the first school in Australia to be focussed entirely on the comprehensive education of a broad range of twice-exceptional students. Our foundation intake is approximately 30 students, and we are excited to grow and expand rapidly in the next few years.

OUR MISSION

Our mission is to provide our twice-exceptional students with the best possible education, allowing all to reach their full and appropriate potential. Twice-exceptional  (2e) students are defined as being gifted with some form of disability. These students are considered exceptional both because of their gift; intellectual, creative, perceptual and or motor abilities and because of their special needs which could include specific learning disabilities, neurodevelopmental disabilities, and/or a physical disability.

OUR VISION

Tombolo Academy provides a rich educational program that sets the highest aspirations for all community members to be creative and critical thinkers. Equal consideration and responsiveness are given to academic and personal growth areas, utilising individual passions as motivating stimuli. This includes having a robust set of social morals and ethical beliefs that enrich their lives and those around them.

Tombolo Academy graduates young people with the skills necessary to be successful throughout their lives. They are confident, compassionate, reliable and resilient, with a positive personal philosophy and a focus on continued growth.

OUR VALUES

Tombolo Academy is based on the 10 fundamental principles, which together make up our values:

1. See the potential

At Tombolo we believe the twice-exceptional young person deserves the opportunity to positively change the world. Their potential is vast. We work to see this recognised and appreciated in real world applications.

2. Acceptance of who you are

We recognise that all twice-exceptional young people and adults have unique challenges We accept and embrace their positive differences and seek the opportunities in their difficulties.

3. Mutual respect

Students and parents/carers are treated with respect at all times by Tombolo Academy staff. Staff are treated with respect at all times by students and parents/carers. Tombolo Academy staff all treat each other respectfully and as equals.

4. All students have choice

Students are enabled and encouraged to take control of their own learning through negotiation with teachers and their parents/carers. Student ideas are always be met constructively and with optimism to enable them to have as much choice as possible in the what, when, where and how of their learning.

5. All students have a voice

We work hard with our students, parents/carers, staff members and the wider community to ensure that our students can advocate in a positive way to justify and defend their own needs.

6. To have fun

We ensure that our students enjoy coming to Tombolo Academy, and that they build a positive relationship with learning and the community socially, emotionally and academically.

7. Teach the whole person

Learning is not aimed solely at academic progress - we develop the capacities of our students across the whole range of human experience.

8. Strengths-based, individualised, authentic, big picture learning

We support students in identifying their strengths and we individualise students’ learning to ensure their strengths are harnessed and developed. All learning is individualised to each students’ zone of proximal development. We also provide authentic, real world activities and projects to give context to our learning by demonstrating where it fits within a bigger worldview.

9. Yes, is the default

If a student, parent/carer or staff member has a suggestion for a potential learning opportunity at Tombolo Academy, the default answer is always yes, unless it detrimentally affects other people or is not aligned with our values.

10. Be ready for the real world beyond

We support students to ensure that when they leave Tombolo Academy, they are ready and able to fully engage with further study or work and the rest of the world beyond. Thus, continuing to realise their potential.

About the role

We are looking for enthusiastic, innovative and collaborative teachers to join our growing team. You will be an outside-the-box thinker, have excellent communication skills at all levels. We expect the successful applicants to contribute to all aspects of Academy life and take a key role in our founding years.

The ideal applicant will:

• Be required to demonstrate a high level of collaboration in a flexible classroom setting. All classes within the school are multi-aged groupings ranging from 8-15 years old;

• Have effective interpersonal skills and be prepared to work independently as well as a member of a team;

• Have a high level of competence with technologies to enhance learning;

• Demonstrate creative and innovative teaching practices to provide rich learning opportunities 2e students;

• Be willing to contribute to the broader aspects of school life;

• Have experience of positive behaviour support models;

• Have experience of teaching children with social, emotional and behavioural issues.

• Be a confident classroom manager both in terms of student behaviour and liaising with a range of other adults;

• A demonstrated skillset to differentiate teaching and learning for students with a range of needs and abilities. Alongside their giftedness their disabilities will include: Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD), Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD), Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA), anxiety, depression, trauma etc.

Essential requirements

• A minimum of three years of teaching experience

• Current teaching registration

• Working with Children Check

• Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check (or willingness to obtain this)

• Be legally entitled to work in Australia with proof of Australian Birth,

• Citizenship or residency visa details.

• Current First Aid certificate

• A strong indication of a willingness to improve personal understand of twice-exceptional, gifted and disability in education and how the giftedness alters the presentation of the disability

Key Selection Criteria

• SC1 Demonstrated understanding of how students learn and the supports required for optimum wellbeing and development.

• SC2 Demonstrated high-level classroom teaching skills and the capacity to work with colleagues to improve teaching and learning continually.

• SC3 Demonstrated ability to monitor and assess data and to use this data to inform teaching for improved student learning.

• SC4 Demonstrated high level written and verbal communication skills and high-level interpersonal skills, including a capacity to develop constructive relationships with students, parents and other staff.

• SC5 Demonstrated commitment and capacity to actively contribute to a broad range of school activities and an ability to reflect on, evaluate and improve professional knowledge and practice.

• SC6 Demonstrated commitment to working as a collaborative team member and capacity to develop highly effective teaching practices for 2e students.

Tombolo Academy can offer you:

• Small class sizes

• A friendly, dynamic team of expert educators to offer assistance and guidance.

• On-going coaching and mentoring.

• Collaborative planning and learning design,

• Professional development opportunities and role diversity.

For more information about the range of roles available please contact Catherine Kirby via [email protected] using the subject line: Exceptional Educators for Twice-Exceptional Students enquiry via EthicalJobs.

Our curriculum is designed to extend the student’s strengths and gifts.

All staff are required to be involved in the students' pastoral care and demonstrate a commitment to the principles and ethos of Tombolo Academy.

Tombolo Academy is committed to being a child-safe organisation. Applicants will be required to undergo a criminal records check and hold valid employment working with children check and a current VIT (or equivalent) registration.