Job Posting - Teacher - VISST

About Our School

Launched in 2022, the Vancouver Independent School for Science and Technology (VISST) is a not-for-profit independent school and Vancouver’s first dedicated STEM high school. Students at VISST experience an accelerated and enriched STEM curriculum, real-world applications, project-based learning, and the opportunity to participate in governance of the school. Our unique philanthropy-backed sliding-scale tuition model allows for great socioeconomic diversity within the school. Our school hours are 10am-4pm Monday-Friday. The best way to learn more about VISST is by visiting our website at visst.ca. 


Teaching Areas

This is a multi-disciplinary position. We are seeking a teacher to take the lead on Career Education at VISST. Unlike more traditional subjects, Career Education isn’t something teachers typically train in. Therefore, a specific background in teaching Career Education is not expected. What matters is that you are intrigued and excited to unleash your creativity working with us on a Career Ed program at VISST. This is a broad mandate to prepare students for life beyond just the academic subjects. The sky is the limit!

In addition, candidates should be able to teach in one or more additional subject areas such as Humanities or ADST. The position will include teaching both in Career Education and other subject(s).

Timeline

We are hiring a full-time teacher with an expected start date of August 15, 2025.


Expected Qualifications

We will evaluate teacher candidates in the following four areas:

  1. Pedagogical mastery. Teaching is a craft that brings together a wide range of skills including communication, organization, charisma, and the ability to see new perspectives. In addition to these skills we seek teachers who are continuously reflecting on and improving their teaching. 

  2. Subject matter knowledge. We expect teachers to possess deep knowledge in their area of specialization. Possessing an advanced degree in this area is a plus, but is not expected. Our ideal teacher is intellectually curious and models this curiosity for our students.

  3. Ability to connect with students. An ideal teacher forms connections with students, is curious about students, can be vulnerable with students, earns the respect of students, and serves as a positive role model in students’ lives. We seek teachers who are not only interested in their subject areas and in teaching, but also in students and their success.

  4. Ability to work with others. We are more than a collection of individual teachers: we are a teaching team. It is critical that all our teachers contribute positively to our work environment. We seek teachers who possess warmth, generosity, humility and openness to feedback.

Beyond the above, we also love working with teachers who possess a bit of a rebellious spirit and perhaps some dissatisfaction with the status quo in education. VISST is a chance to do something different, and we hope that you are likewise excited about making the most of the freedom and opportunity this exciting situation provides.

Teachers at VISST must be certified to teach in BC. If you are not a certified teacher but possess an undergraduate degree in your subject area, you can apply online for a Subject Restricted Certificate that would qualify you to teach at VISST.


Salary Range

Our teacher salaries are roughly in line with the Vancouver School Board. Depending on a teacher’s experience level and academic qualifications, the annual salary ranges from $60,000 to $110,000.


Why VISST?

At the top of the VISST website you will find our commitment statement to teachers:

To support you in doing work you are proud of, understanding that this will sometimes be with support and resources, and at other times with trust and autonomy.

At VISST, we recognize that teachers are a critically important stakeholder group. VISST was not founded only to be a great place for students, but also to be a great place for teachers. This mission is manifested in a variety of ways, perhaps most notably in the significant increase in prep time at VISST compared to other schools. Working at VISST also provides teachers with the freedom to shape the curriculum and culture of a new school. For more detail on how we strive to make VISST the ideal workplace for educators, and specifically the prep time allotment, see our blog post On finding great teachers.

VISST also offers the opportunity to work with keen students who are excited to be at school and to learn. VISST is a place where teachers and students really get to know each other. Our classes are small, at approximately 20 students. Due to the small size of the school overall, teachers will also encounter the same students over the years, building important bonds over time. To get to know our students a bit more, see our student perspectives video.


How to Apply

Please send your resume and cover letter to careers@visst.ca. Please also attach your BC teacher certification or, if this is not yet available, a brief note in the email with the anticipated timeline of your certificate. Applications received by Jan 31, 2025 will be given priority.