Introduction To Complex Problem Solving Faculty

INTRODUCTION TO COMPLEX PROBLEM SOLVING FACULTY

The Opportunity

We are seeking a dynamic, curious, collaborative individual to join the Hawken high school faculty on the Introduction to Complex Problem Solving team for the 2026-27 school year. At the heart of our model is the idea that you learn while doing—so you’ll get coaching and support as you learn how to teach in a very different way at our ungraded, project- and problem-based high school.

While experience working with young people is vital, classroom experience is not a necessity and career-changers are welcome!

The Introduction to Complex Problem Solving (ICPS) Macro is the initial learning experience for Hawken 9th graders diving into our experiential learning opportunities. In your first year, you will apprentice alongside faculty who have designed and led the program previously. In your second year, you will lead your own sections.

About You:

• Wildly enthusiastic about mentoring and coaching adolescents
• Experienced in creative problem‑solving and building things in the real world
• Skilled communicator and listener who enjoys working in a highly collaborative environment
• Intellectually curious, self‑directed and motivated learner with a wide range of interests and skills, academic and otherwise
• Committed to active, ongoing development of intercultural competence
• Able to operate in ambiguity and roll up your sleeves and jump in to do what the team needs

A part of Hawken’s One High School model, this position is based on Hawken’s Upper School campus in Gates Mills and will include time on both high school campuses:

The Upper School campus in Gates Mills, situated on over 300 acres with wooded trails, open spaces, and a blend of modern and historic buildings

The Mastery School of Hawken in University Circle, located near Case Western Reserve University, the Cleveland Clinic, and world‑class arts and cultural institutions

As you onboard with our dynamic teams and learn our methods and approaches, you’ll take increasing responsibility for program elements over your first and second years. You’ll also bring your unique set of strengths to all aspects of school life, in the classroom, in our Wayfinding program, and in co‑curriculars.

Participate in an all-school onboarding experience designed to connect you to colleagues across Hawken and our city

Engage in ongoing onboarding experiences

Within three months, you’ll:

• Design and teach learning experiences in our Introduction to Complex Problem Solving Macro with 9th graders alongside your lead teacher
• Build initial connections with key community partners
• Take leadership of one or more co‑curricular offerings for students
• Gain hands‑on training to support your work in counseling and advising students
• Collaborate closely with colleagues on all aspects of program implementation, jumping in to help as needed
• Engage in collaborative faculty meetings designed to be responsive to what you’ll experience in your first few months

Within the first year, you’ll:

• Engage and reflect with colleagues on an ongoing basis about your learning, growth, and development
• Refine your instructional practice with ongoing coaching from the ICPS teaching team and the Korda Institute for Teaching
• Teach or co‑teach a three‑week Intensive in a topic area of interest for Hawken high school students
• Revise and refine your plans for future learning experiences

Within the second year, you’ll:

• Collaboratively design and independently lead ICPS sections and more!

About Us

Hawken School is a preschool‑12 co‑ed independent day school with four campuses in Cleveland Ohio and founder of the Mastery Transcript Consortium, a national organization aimed at reinventing how students prepare for college, careers, and life. In August 2020, we launched the Mastery School of Hawken, a new project‑and‑problem‑based ungraded high school in the University Circle neighborhood of Cleveland.

We designed the The Mastery School of Hawken around three core principles:

Learning experiences are organized around real‑world problem‑solving, where students learn while working on challenges with community partners.

We use new methods of teaching designed around individual growth,…