Our Culture
Do you love to learn? Do you like to play? If so, read on!
There are many different options in education and each district and even each school is very different. If you are a self-starter, like to be challenged, like having the freedom to explore, you are creative and quirky, and you love working with children who will wow you, we'd love to talk with you about a career at Ideaventions Academy.
We are looking for creative, high achievers who want to change the way education is delivered to children and who understand and thrive in working with gifted children. We are looking for smart and talented individuals who thrive on a challenge and like to have fun. We think there is a better way to teach STEM to children using small groups, quality curriculum, and engaging teachers that bring passion to every class. Read on to learn more about the qualities that make someone successful at Ideaventions Academy. In short, this defines our culture.
Entrepreneurial Leadership
Great companies are built on people and the diversity of ideas that they bring to the table and their drive to see those ideas come to fruition. We want to change how STEM education is delivered so that today's kids grow up to become tomorrow's leaders - Leaders who can problem solve, leaders who have the courage to try out a new idea and leaders who have the determination to continue experimenting again and again and again after many set backs. In order to influence the kids we touch, we need to be leaders ourselves.
Flexibility
We are looking for people that are able to thrive with change. People who see a gap and jump at the opportunity. People who are two steps ahead and are chomping at the bit to prototype a new class or lesson, then draw up a plan without being asked are entrepreneurial leaders. It can be as small as seeing that the way that a lesson was written does not fit the group of students you are teaching because they all already know it or they are so tired by the end of the day that they need to get the wiggles out before getting started. On a larger scale, educational changes, incorporating a new technology into one of our classes. Each child is different and Ideaventions Academy will grow. People who see these changes as opportunities (as opposed to barriers in the way) have the flexibility to lead through change.
Energetic and Enthusiastic
We work with kids. Bouncy kids. Intelligent kids. Wiggly kids. Happy kids. Excited kids. Sweet kids. We look for people that have more energy than the kids. Your enthusiasm when you are with them is contagious. The moment you see a child, the first thing they should see is the smile on your face because you are that excited to see them.
Passionate
Gifted Education... Science... Technology... Engineering... Mathematics... When someone mentions one or more of these words, do your eyes light up? Do ideas start running through your mind? Do you get excited about getting a Van de Graff generator and immediately start thinking about what kinds of experiments you can run? Do you start thinking about that field experience you can take your class to? When a high-school student asks you about your major in college, do you want to share all of your experiences with them? When you see kids pretending to be scientists while they play, do you clap your hands together and do a little jump? That's passion.
Respectful
Our single-word rule at the beginning of each class that we review with all kids is RESPECT. We respect each other, we respect our teacher, we respect our materials. The same applies to the adults. We respect the kids by showing up with our whole-self. We respect our peers by valuing their ideas and their time. We respect the parents of our students by really listening to what they have to say. We respect our leaders by owning their decision as our own even if it is not what I recommended. And most importantly, we respect ourselves by continuing to grow intellectually and professionally.
Growth Mind-Set
We're looking for the "I can do this!" or put another way, "I can work at this until I get it" type of person. A positive attitude can move mountains.
Humility
While we all are very smart and can do things very well, humility is key in what we do. We work with many intelligent children who will stump us with their questions. We have to be willing to say "I don't know." There is always someone out there who knows more than you. We have to be humble to listen to that person when they show up. We have to be humble to know that we don't have all of the answers and we can't always be right. We have to be humble to continue to learn.
Long-Term Focus
We are willing to struggle in the short-term if there is long-term potential. We are looking for people that want to grow and build a career with us. We are looking for people who are looking to impact children's lives and for people who are looking to change gifted education and how STEM education is delivered. This takes time.
Technical and Innovative
We look for people that know their field. Depending on the position you are applying to, you may be asked to write some code or explain the relationship between temperature and volume when holding pressure constant or how the outcome of World War I influenced World War II or to explain the chemical bases of DNA. But it's not just the knowledge, it's being able to take that knowledge and innovate new ways to impart that knowledge on children in a hands-on and engaging way that gets them excited about it.
There are many different options in education and each district and even each school is very different. If you are a self-starter, like to be challenged, like having the freedom to explore, you are creative and quirky, and you love working with children who will wow you, we'd love to talk with you about a career at Ideaventions Academy.
We are looking for creative, high achievers who want to change the way education is delivered to children and who understand and thrive in working with gifted children. We are looking for smart and talented individuals who thrive on a challenge and like to have fun. We think there is a better way to teach STEM to children using small groups, quality curriculum, and engaging teachers that bring passion to every class. Read on to learn more about the qualities that make someone successful at Ideaventions Academy. In short, this defines our culture.
Entrepreneurial Leadership
Great companies are built on people and the diversity of ideas that they bring to the table and their drive to see those ideas come to fruition. We want to change how STEM education is delivered so that today's kids grow up to become tomorrow's leaders - Leaders who can problem solve, leaders who have the courage to try out a new idea and leaders who have the determination to continue experimenting again and again and again after many set backs. In order to influence the kids we touch, we need to be leaders ourselves.
Flexibility
We are looking for people that are able to thrive with change. People who see a gap and jump at the opportunity. People who are two steps ahead and are chomping at the bit to prototype a new class or lesson, then draw up a plan without being asked are entrepreneurial leaders. It can be as small as seeing that the way that a lesson was written does not fit the group of students you are teaching because they all already know it or they are so tired by the end of the day that they need to get the wiggles out before getting started. On a larger scale, educational changes, incorporating a new technology into one of our classes. Each child is different and Ideaventions Academy will grow. People who see these changes as opportunities (as opposed to barriers in the way) have the flexibility to lead through change.
Energetic and Enthusiastic
We work with kids. Bouncy kids. Intelligent kids. Wiggly kids. Happy kids. Excited kids. Sweet kids. We look for people that have more energy than the kids. Your enthusiasm when you are with them is contagious. The moment you see a child, the first thing they should see is the smile on your face because you are that excited to see them.
Passionate
Gifted Education... Science... Technology... Engineering... Mathematics... When someone mentions one or more of these words, do your eyes light up? Do ideas start running through your mind? Do you get excited about getting a Van de Graff generator and immediately start thinking about what kinds of experiments you can run? Do you start thinking about that field experience you can take your class to? When a high-school student asks you about your major in college, do you want to share all of your experiences with them? When you see kids pretending to be scientists while they play, do you clap your hands together and do a little jump? That's passion.
Respectful
Our single-word rule at the beginning of each class that we review with all kids is RESPECT. We respect each other, we respect our teacher, we respect our materials. The same applies to the adults. We respect the kids by showing up with our whole-self. We respect our peers by valuing their ideas and their time. We respect the parents of our students by really listening to what they have to say. We respect our leaders by owning their decision as our own even if it is not what I recommended. And most importantly, we respect ourselves by continuing to grow intellectually and professionally.
Growth Mind-Set
We're looking for the "I can do this!" or put another way, "I can work at this until I get it" type of person. A positive attitude can move mountains.
Humility
While we all are very smart and can do things very well, humility is key in what we do. We work with many intelligent children who will stump us with their questions. We have to be willing to say "I don't know." There is always someone out there who knows more than you. We have to be humble to listen to that person when they show up. We have to be humble to know that we don't have all of the answers and we can't always be right. We have to be humble to continue to learn.
Long-Term Focus
We are willing to struggle in the short-term if there is long-term potential. We are looking for people that want to grow and build a career with us. We are looking for people who are looking to impact children's lives and for people who are looking to change gifted education and how STEM education is delivered. This takes time.
Technical and Innovative
We look for people that know their field. Depending on the position you are applying to, you may be asked to write some code or explain the relationship between temperature and volume when holding pressure constant or how the outcome of World War I influenced World War II or to explain the chemical bases of DNA. But it's not just the knowledge, it's being able to take that knowledge and innovate new ways to impart that knowledge on children in a hands-on and engaging way that gets them excited about it.
