Name of School: Acton Academy West Austin in Westlake

Do you want to change the world? Do you want to contribute something meaningful to the people around you? Do you crave working hard with a mission-driven, world-class team of entrepreneurs changing the vision of school? Acton Academy West is a private school with a learner-driven community whose mission is that each person who enters its doors finds a calling and changes the world. We combine elements of Montessori with Socratic guiding, hands-on experiential quests, and interactive technology. Underlying our method is an application of the Hero’s Journey, creating a lively learning environment that feels more like an adventure than school.

About Our Elementary Studio

Our Elementary Studio serves learners roughly ages 6–12 in a mixed-age, self-paced community—no grade levels, no worksheets, no report cards. Learners set weekly goals, track their own progress, and hold each other accountable through a self-governed community with real contracts and real consequences. Real-world-oriented quests culminate in a public exhibition of learning rather than a test. In every corner of Acton life, our students are empowered to be in the driver’s seat of their own education.

What Makes This Role Special

As an Elementary Guide, you won’t be a traditional teacher standing at the front of a classroom. You’ll be a Socratic guide and a gamemaker—asking powerful questions instead of giving answers, designing quests instead of lectures, and trusting children to struggle, fail, and find their own way forward. You’ll help build a self-governed community where children learn as much from each other as they do from any adult.

What We’re Looking For

Preferred Experience and Skills:

Managing mixed-age groups of children or young adults
Planning and implementing games, quests, or projects
Coaching or mentoring experience a plus
A passion for disruptive education opportunities
Deeply curious and ready to learn and work hard
Excellent writing and interpersonal communication skills
Entrepreneurial thinker
A deep heart for children, and trust and respect for their ability to learn and grow without heavy adult intervention
Kind-hearted and tough-minded; an independent worker
Calm demeanor

Your Superpowers Should Include:

A deep belief that children are capable, curious, and naturally driven to learn
Strong understanding of Socratic questioning and the Hero’s Journey framework
Ability to guide without rescuing—letting children learn from natural consequences
Comfort holding high expectations for both academics and character
Excellent communication skills with both children and families
A growth mindset and love of continuous learning

What You’ll Do

Design and facilitate real-world quests that make learning irresistible
Use Socratic questioning to deepen learners’ thinking rather than supplying answers
Support learners in setting goals, managing their own time, and reflecting on their progress
Help learners build and govern a fair, self-directed community with real accountability
Guide preparation for public exhibitions where learners showcase their work to parents and the community
Partner with families to celebrate each child’s unique Hero’s Journey

What We Offer

The opportunity to work inside an innovative educational model that is genuinely changing the vision of school
A supportive community of families and colleagues who share your values
Professional development and growth opportunities within the Acton network
Competitive pay, commensurate with experience
The joy of watching young heroes discover their gifts and build the confidence to change the world

Our Core Beliefs

Each child has a unique gift that can change the world.
Learning to be, learning to learn, and learning to do are equally important.
Children are capable of far more than adults expect when given real freedom and real responsibility.
Character development happens through loving boundaries and natural consequences.
Parents are the primary educators; we support and complement their efforts.

Compensation: Competitive pay, commensurate with experience. This is a full-time position.

Start Date: ASAP

How to Apply: Sound Exciting?

Please submit your resume along with a cover letter sharing why you’re passionate about child-led learning and how your experience aligns with our mission. Submit to josephbynum+resume@gmail.com.
Follow the instructions in this document: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Io4ieoBn5GOhcqDFQKuR-sywIpdyBpiZgBe8u3wfItc/edit?tab=t.0

Contact Information: josephbynum+resume@gmail.com