ISD Certificated Staff Lisa Hechtman, Executive Director of Human Resources

MEMORANDUM
TO:
ISD Certificated Staff
FROM: Lisa Hechtman, Executive Director of Human Resources
SUBJECT: 2015-16 CORE TEAM FOR GIBSON EK HIGH SCHOOL
DATE: October 21, 2015
Per the IEA-ISD Collective Bargaining Agreement Article 7, Section 11 Opening a New School, please consider this the
invitation to apply for the Core Team for Gibson Ek High School, expected to open Fall 2016.
Statement of Direction: The staff of Gibson Ek High School will reimagine school in the
Issaquah School District with the opening of a small innovative high school where
students’ interests, passions, and talents drive the learning. The school will include
interest-based learning and authentic internships guided by teachers in a vibrant and
supportive community. The school will be developed with an emphasis on the following:
• Consistency with the standards at all ISD schools
• Integration of best practices around interest-based and project based learning
• One-student-at-a-time personalization
• Mentorships aligned with career interests and post-high-school planning
• Competency based assessment
• The engagement of students disconnected from school
The District is looking for certificated staff committed to the development, planning, and implementation of the
Statement of Direction for the school. Specifically, staff will need to:
• Value Community and enjoy being a part of a collaborative, supportive, and nurturing community in the
implementation of an innovative school model;
• Trust a 4-year process by organizing and managing a 4-year learning process for students in their advisory;
• Center on Student Learning by believing that all students can and should thrive and achieve in high school
through a personalized approach to learning;
• Be Passionate Educators, sharing their learning, interests, and talents with others; and
• Think Creatively by continuing to innovate and have the courage to learn alongside others.
Composition of Team: The Core Team will serve as founding staff members of Gibson Ek High School, formally
reassigned during the spring assignment process to begin the 2016-17 school year. The Core Team is anticipated to be
made up of 8 Staff Members, 7 high school certificated teachers and 1 school counselor, who are selected by Planning
Principal Julia Bamba, Executive Director of High School Education Paula Phelps, and 2 staff named by Doug Jones, IEA
President: Josh Moore, Educational Technology TOSA, and Matt Harvey, Dean of Students at Echo Glen. Community
members will also be part of the Core Team.
Compensation: Each certificated Core Team Member will receive a stipend of $1800 for work done from inception
through August 31, 2016. Further, each Core staff member may be released up to 5 days for planning purposes or
compensated for up to 5 days at the discretion of the Principal.
Minimal qualifications: To apply staff must have:
• two(2) years of satisfactory teaching experience in the ISD as defined in Articles 6a, 6b, and 6c; and
• demonstrated leadership in previous building(s) that includes, but is not limited to: working on District, building
grade level or department committees and involvement in IEA.
Email application: Human Resources will accept electronic applications addressed to Bethany Rogers from November 1
through no later than 4:00 p.m., November 15 with “GEHS Application” in the email subject line.
A complete application includes the following:
• in the body of the email to HR
o Name
o Current Building
o The requested teaching assignment: Certificated Teacher at Gibson Ek
• An attached resume that includes
o Teaching experiences that pertain to the building’s Statement of Direction
o Leadership experiences that may include, but are not limited to, district, building, community, cocurricular, and association activities
• An attached cover letter that includes:
o A statement of why the applicant wants to be a Core Team Member
o An idea that the applicant would like to see implemented in the new building
o What contribution the applicant will make to the new school
Interviews: Interviews by the selection team are anticipated to begin November 23, 2015.
Expected Timeline:
• Core Team electronic application due no later than 4:00 pm, November 15
• The District anticipates announcing the Gibson Ek Core Team prior to Winter Break
• Core Team work begins upon return in January
• Core Team reports to GEHS for August Back to Work
• School begins with students in September