Educator
About Catalyst
Catalyst is an online school for students aged 11–18, where classroom learning comes to life in immersive, real-world scenarios. Instead of learning content in isolation, our students step into roles, make decisions, and tackle real challenges—applying math, science, social studies, and English in ways that matter.We take all the rigor of a standard curriculum, accelerate the pace, and transform it into missions that demand problem-solving, leadership, and applied knowledge.
We are building a school that feels less like school—and more like a lab for thinkers, doers, and builders of tomorrow.
The Role
As a Founding Educator, you will be more than a teacher—you will be a co-architect of our learning model. You’ll help design and deliver mission-based learning experiences that integrate multiple subjects into real-world scenarios like Apollo 13’s return to Earth, designing national AI policy, or engineering a new sustainable city.
You will coach students like a simulation leader, not a lecturer—guiding them to connect the dots, make trade-offs, defend their reasoning, and own their learning journey.
You’ll also work closely with the founding team to refine our pedagogy, pilot missions, and gather insights that will shape the future of Catalyst.
What You’ll Do- Design & Deliver Missions
- Collaborate with the team to design 4–6 week, multi-disciplinary missions where students apply textbook knowledge in realistic contexts.
- Facilitate live sessions that feel like simulations, debates, or strategic briefings rather than traditional lectures.
- Coach, Don’t Just Teach
- Guide students through decision-making, problem-solving, and applied projects.
- Ask better questions, not just provide answers—fostering independence and critical thinking.
- Curriculum Integration
- Ensure missions align with core learning standards (math, science, social studies, English) while keeping them engaging and practical.
- Help accelerate the curriculum without sacrificing depth or mastery.
- Founding Team Contribution
- Work side-by-side with leadership to shape school culture, systems, and teaching frameworks.
- Contribute feedback and insights from pilot missions to improve the model.
- Student Outcomes & Tracking
- Track student progress not just in grades, but in skills like reasoning, collaboration, and leadership.
- Help refine our mastery-based approach and progression pathways.
- A builder at heart—excited by the challenge of creating something new from the ground up.
- A learning designer who sees education as an applied, real-world skill set—not just content delivery.
- Comfortable teaching multiple subjects at a middle/high school level (or integrating them into experiences).
- Experienced in leading discussions, simulations, debates, or scenario-based learning.
- Excited to work in a fast-moving, iterative startup environment where feedback is frequent and pivots are part of the process.
- An excellent communicator, able to frame complex ideas in accessible, engaging ways.
- 3+ years teaching experience or equivalent in coaching, training, or instructional design.
- Experience designing interdisciplinary projects, simulations, or experiential learning activities.
- Familiarity with online/hybrid learning environments.
- Comfort with technology and AI tools for learning.
- A portfolio of innovative lesson plans, student projects, or curriculum work is a plus.
- Founding Seat – Help build Catalyst from the ground up; your voice shapes our DNA.
- Innovative Model – Work in a school where students don’t just learn—they apply.
- Creative Freedom – Design missions that merge storytelling, real-world problems, and academic rigor.
- High Impact – Your work will redefine what middle and high school can be.