Teacher for Middle School Girls' Access Program

It is more than just a summer job.

It's a place for thinkers, leaders, and changemakers who believe in the agency of all girls, with a particular focus on students who are facing consistent economic hardships and are working toward being the first in their family to go to college.

We remain steadfast in our belief that girls need to be trusted and empowered to explore what they value. We believe that teaching is uniquely vital and impactful work for our times.

Our approach focuses on collaboration, connections, and shared learning. 

Are you ready for an experience that not only will have a profound effect on your students, but also will create opportunities for personal development, cultivate valuable skills, and shape how you think about today’s complex world?
 

Core Teachers at Aspire: Position Overview

Teaching an Academic Class: College students are responsible for implementing creative, engaging classes that meet the academic needs of middle school girls. Core Teachers design, plan, and teach three sections (approximately 12 students each) of language arts, science, social studies, or math. Responsibilities include selecting activities, planning classes, preparing materials, and providing feedback on student growth. Core Teachers are the primary teachers in the classroom and are supported by experienced educators who offer guidance and support along the way.

Teaching a Workshop: Core Teachers also lead afternoon workshops based on their own expertise and interests. Workshop offerings, in areas such as dance, drama, world languages, studio arts, entrepreneurship, and robotics, help broaden students' exposure to new skills and areas of interest. Successful workshops are hands-on activities, practicing a new skill or talent, or gaining exposure to interesting topics.  CTs teach two sections of their workshops, each meeting twice a week, about 9 sessions in total. Last summer, Core Teachers ran successful workshops such as: Build It (Architecture), Wired Up (jewelry design), Mic Drop (improvisation), Medical Detectives (medical mysteries), You Win (game design) Guilty (mock trial), Lyric Lab (songwriting), Swag Steps (dance), Science Olympiad (science challenges) and Paris (French language and culture).

Related Responsibilities: Additional responsibilities include running the daily student choice period, helping with Aspire events like the Aspire Olympics, Talent Show, and leadership seminars, and being an active and visible presence during community activities and transitions. Attendance at special events outside of the regular schedule, such as Family Night and the Closing Ceremony, is also expected.

Faculty Community: Twelve college students are selected each year. There is significant opportunity to connect with colleagues on our 32-person staff. All Core Teachers are required to attend teacher orientation and program wrap-up days, which focus on training and team building. At the end of each program day after the students depart, Core Teachers attend staff meetings focused on teaching strategies, program updates, and student progress.  

Read the Aspire Viewbook for more information.

Watch this 2-minute video about teaching at Aspire.

Contact aspire@hb.edu with any questions.

Location

The Hathaway Brown School is located on a beautiful 16-acre campus in Shaker Heights, OH.

Dates and Hours

The summer session runs from June 16 – July 25, 2025, Monday through Friday from 8:15 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Attendance at two or three evening events (ex. Family Night, Closing Ceremony, Extended Day) during the summer is also required.

Calendar:

June 16, 17, 18, 20, 23 Teacher Orientation. Note: Aspire is closed for all on June 19.

June 24 Student Program Begins

July 3 Teacher Professional Development Day, Aspire is closed for students

July 4 Aspire is closed for all

July 23 Closing Ceremony, Last Student day

July 24 and 25 Teacher Wrap-Up and Reflection

Commitment

The days are active and varied. Candidates must be available to work the entire session. Time outside of the school day is typically required for designing lessons, planning classes, and assessing student work.

Eligibility 

Core Teacher positions are open to current college sophomores, juniors, and seniors, with consideration of freshmen who have significant teaching and/or youth mentoring experience.

Housing and Transportation

Most CTs secure their own housing for the summer, but Aspire does provide some college students with housing support in dorms at John Carroll University (walking distance) or at Case Western Reserve University (through the Summer on the Cuyahoga Program). We encourage applicants from all geographic locations to apply.  Hathaway Brown School is accessible by public transportation; however, the train schedule may be restrictive and access to a vehicle is helpful.

Application Process and Deadlines

Step 1: Complete Core Teacher Google Form application including Section 5, where you'll email your transcript (an unofficial transcript is fine) and resume to aspire@hb.edu. 

Round 1: January 27, 2025 at noon EST

Round 2: February 17, 2025 at noon EST

Rolling Decisions: After February 17, we will accept applications on a rolling basis. Please email aspire@hb.edu to inquire about any remaining positions. Typically, all roles at Aspire are filled by the end of March.

Step 2: Selected applicants will receive an email from "The Aspire Program of Hathaway Brown School via Hireflix" with a link to complete a video interview. Applicants will have 1 week to submit their responses, and the interview can be done at any time from any device with a camera and microphone—no app or account required. It takes about 20-30 minutes to complete.

Step 3: Finalists conduct a live Zoom interview with program leadership and offers are extended after those live conversations take place.

The Round 1 deadline is January 27 and Round 2 deadline is February 17. We will accept applications on a rolling basis after that time if positions are still available.