NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS
We’re looking for a guide, not a teacher.
At The Northwood, guides don’t lecture - they ask questions, set the conditions for discovery, and trust children to lead their own learning. If that sentence excites you more than it worries you, read on.
Sept. 2026
opening
K-8
age range
~7-15
learners, year one
THE ROLE
This is not a traditional teaching job.
A guide’s role is to protect the learning environment, ask Socratic questions, and resist the urge to rescue learners from productive struggle. You’ll work within the Acton Academy model - a proven framework you’ll be trained on - while co-creating a culture with real children in a real community.
You don’t need a teaching license. You need a genuine belief that children are capable of more than most adults expect.
WHO THRIVES HERE
Believes children learn best by doing, not being told
Comfortable with ambiguity and productive disorder
Coachable and genuinely curious about the Acton model
Able to hold high expectations with warmth, not control
WHO STRUGGLES HERE
Wants to stand at the front of a classroom and lecture
Needs external systems to tell them what to do each hour
Uncomfortable letting learners struggle before stepping in
GUIDE APPLICATION
Tell us about yourself.
This takes about 10-15 minutes. There are no trick questions - we’re looking for honest reflection, not polished answers. Qualified applicants will be invited to a short discovery conversation.