Summer Philosophy Educator

Summer Program Dates: June 22nd - July 10th

Course: The Big Questions Lab

Description

Geffen Academy Educators approach teaching as an intellectual profession of the highest order, one in which knowledge is not only transmitted but created. Geffen Academy Educators possess a sophisticated and reflective understanding of their discipline and a record of achievement which demonstrates their ability to utilize and contribute to the robust connections we have with UCLA, a world-class research institution. Educators' innovation is guided by our school's mission to prioritize proven educational practices while also recognizing that teaching is a complex intellectual endeavor that defies rigid codification. We are committed to a humane working environment and also recognize that teaching goes beyond the life of the mind. Geffen Academy Educators seek to create trusting and caring relationships with their students and with their larger community.

Summary

Fairness, truth, and responsibility shape everyday choices-at school, online, and in the wider world. In The Big Questions Lab, students explore enduring philosophical and ethical questions, such as what makes an action right or wrong, when rules should matter more than outcomes, and whether moral standards are universal or culturally shaped. Using real-world dilemmas and public issues, students examine everyday moral instincts alongside core ethical approaches, including judging actions by their consequences, following principles that could apply to everyone, and developing character and responsibility.

Rather than prioritizing "right answers," the course emphasizes stronger thinking habits: listening closely, identifying assumptions, testing reasons, and supporting claims with sound evidence. Through structured discussion, collaborative activities, and brief readings, students practice expressing clear positions while remaining open to revising their views. The course is designed to be developmentally responsive for either middle school or upper school students; specific texts, prompts, and pacing will be selected to match the enrolled grade band. By the end of the course, students will strengthen reasoning, communication, and confidence navigating ethical disagreement and decision-making beyond the classroom.

Under the direction of the Summer Program Director at Geffen Academy at UCLA, the Educator will design and deliver high-quality, in-person summer instruction. The primary teaching responsibility will be The Big Questions Lab; depending on program enrollment and scheduling needs, the Educator may also have the opportunity to teach additional, thematically related summer courses. Courses meet daily for up to 90 minutes over the three-week program. Final teaching assignments and instructional responsibilities will be determined based on enrollment and overall programmatic considerations. The courses are taught in-person on Geffen Academy's Campus.

Job Duties

• Consistent with program goals, design and deliver a three-week course that builds students' ethical reasoning, critical thinking, and discussion skills for either middle school or upper school learners, depending on enrollment.
• Create a developmentally responsive curriculum that supports adolescent learners through scaffolded questioning, accessible texts, and structured dialogue routines.
• Facilitate structured, student-centered discussions that teach students to listen actively, identify assumptions, test reasons, and revise claims when warranted.
• Use real-world dilemmas and public issues to help students evaluate competing values such as fairness, truth, and responsibility, including issues relevant to school life and online communities.
• Teach students practical tools for argument quality, including claim-reason-evidence, counterargument and rebuttal, counterexample testing, and distinguishing rules/principles from outcomes.
• Select brief, accessible readings and prompts that introduce core ethical frameworks (e.g., consequence-based reasoning, principle-based reasoning, and character/responsibility-based reasoning) and connect them to students' everyday experiences.
• Design brief writing and reflection tasks (e.g., position statements, short analyses, argument maps) that build clarity, structure, and revision habits.
• Provide timely, constructive feedback and support through conferencing and workshop-style revision sessions.
• Establish and reinforce discussion norms that support respectful disagreement, equity of voice, and psychological safety.
• Maintain a safe, inclusive classroom environment that encourages intellectual risk-taking, curiosity, and thoughtful self-reflection.
• Collaborate with Summer Program leadership and fellow educators to ensure program coherence and a positive student experience.
• Perform other duties as assigned.
• This list of duties is not exhaustive.

School: https://www.geffenacademy.ucla.edu

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required (Master's degree preferred) in philosophy, education, humanities, social sciences, or a related field.
• Demonstrated success teaching middle and/or high school students, including the ability to lead structured discussion and support varied learners.
• Ability to translate complex ideas into accessible, engaging instruction for adolescents without oversimplifying intellectual rigor.
• Familiarity with evidence-informed, inquiry-based instruction and discussion protocols (e.g., seminar formats, collaborative reasoning structures).
• Strong curriculum design skills, including planning for daily lessons over an intensive three-week schedule.
• Comfort using educational platforms and tools such as Google Classroom and Zoom (and willingness to learn program systems as needed).
• Unquestionable personal integrity, excellent judgment, patience, diplomacy, and a strong work ethic.
• Excellent interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills with students, families, and colleagues.
• Collegial, collaborative approach; enthusiastic team member; comfortable in a fast-paced summer program environment.
• Demonstrated ability to facilitate productive dialogue across disagreement and to support discussion of sensitive or controversial topics in a developmentally appropriate manner.
• Commitment to Geffen Academy's mission, values, and educational philosophy.
• Strong classroom facilitation skills, including routines that support participation, equitable discussion, and constructive peer response.

• 3-5 required (contact information only)

References will be checked before an offer is made.

As a University employee, you will be required to comply with all applicable University policies and/or collective bargaining agreements, as may be amended from time to time. Federal, state, or local government directives may impose additional requirements.

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected status under state or federal law.

As a condition of employment, the finalist will be required to disclose if they are subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct.

• "Misconduct" means any violation of the policies or laws governing conduct at the applicant's previous place of employment, including, but not limited to, violations of policies or laws prohibiting sexual harassment, sexual assault, or other forms of harassment, discrimination, dishonesty, or unethical conduct, as defined by the employer.
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  UC Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment Policy
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  UC Anti-Discrimination Policy for Employees, Students and Third Parties
• APM - 035: Affirmative Action and Nondiscrimination in Employment