Elementary Guide (Grades 1–5)

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Location:
Live Oak Academy of the Lowcountry | Hilton Head Island, SC

Start Date: July 27, 2026

Description, Responsibilities, & Duties

Inquiry & Learning Design

Co-construct emergent, long-term projects grounded in children’s authentic questions and Reggio Emilia principles.
Craft standards-aligned curriculum (SC Academic Standards) woven seamlessly into meaningful, real-world inquiry.
Design differentiated learning experiences that honor diverse needs, strengths, and learning profiles.
Facilitate small-group and individual work that deepens understanding and supports each child’s unique growth trajectory.
Lead approximately 1.5 hours weekly of a related arts course for elementary and middle school students.

Environment & Documentation

Curate an intentional, aesthetically rich classroom environment that invites exploration and reflects children’s thinking.
Develop and display pedagogical documentation—learning stories, panels, and portfolios—that honor and make visible the learning process.
Maintain reflective journals and observational notes as a tool for deepening your understanding of each learner.
Create rituals and routines that promote student ownership, self-direction, and a sense of belonging.

Community & Partnership

Communicate regularly and thoughtfully with families, treating them as co-educators and essential partners.
Orchestrate meaningful field experiences that connect learning to the living classroom of Hilton Head Island and the Lowcountry.
Collaborate with the teaching team to align pedagogy, share documentation, and support all learners across the school community.
Contribute generously to school-wide events, initiatives, and the warm culture of Live Oak Academy.

Minimum Qualifications/Requirements

Required

Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education or a related field.
Demonstrated success teaching elementary-aged students.
South Carolina teaching certification (or eligibility to obtain).
Strong relationship-building and classroom community skills.
Excellent written and verbal communication with families and colleagues.
Genuine commitment to professional growth, reflective practice, and collaboration.

Preferred

Direct training or experience in the Reggio Emilia approach.
Experience with multi-age, project-based, or experiential learning environments.
Background in documentation practices, learning stories, or portfolio assessment.
Comfort with nature-based and place-based learning.
Familiarity with arts integration across the curriculum.

Salary & Benefits

A warm, deeply collaborative, and mission-aligned teaching community.
Small class sizes that make meaningful relationships possible.
Genuine autonomy to design and deliver your own inquiry-rich program.
Robust professional development, including ongoing mentorship and classroom observations.
A school that values your whole self—early Fridays, no homework, phone-free environment.
The extraordinary living classroom of Hilton Head Island: marshes, maritime forests, beaches, and a vibrant arts and cultural community.
Competitive compensation commensurate with experience. ($50,000 – $65,000/year)

Application Procedures

We would love to hear your story. Please submit the following to:
admin@liveoakacademyofthelowcountry.org
A cover letter that shares your teaching philosophy and your relationship with the Reggio Emilia approach.

Program Description

At Live Oak Academy of the Lowcountry, we believe education is not one-size-fits-all. Like the namesake live oak tree, our students grow strong from the roots up—nurtured by curiosity, community, and a deep respect for each child’s unique voice. Following a unanimous Board of Trustees decision, we have made a full commitment to the Reggio Emilia pedagogy across our entire program, and we are looking for a Guide who is ready to embrace this philosophy wholeheartedly.

This is not a traditional teaching position. It is an invitation to be a co-learner, a careful listener, and a joyful presence in the lives of children ages 6–11. If you believe that a child’s question is as valuable as any answer, and that a classroom should hum with wonder—you belong here.

Contact Info

John Dogger, Head of School
Tiffany Fish, Executive Director
admin@liveoakacademyofthelowcountry.org
https://www.liveoakacademyofthelowcountry.org
Instagram: live.oak.academy.hhi

Job Opportunity