At Clapham, teaching is a vocation and a craft. Since our teachers are the key to what makes Clapham so unique, our administrative team is highly selective in the people they hire to fill the crucial faculty roles in our school. So, what goes into that process? This episode of the Clapham Podcast features Head of School Mr. Atchison and Academic Dean Dr. Egan discussing the characteristics, content, and competencies that comprise the role of a Clapham faculty member, as well as the culture and atmosphere that exists among and for these individuals.
Clapham faculty share certain characteristics: a love for Jesus and his church, for learning, and for the next generation. Temperamentally, they are enthusiastic, humble, and motivated to learn new things. They treasure the Liberal Arts tradition and understand the heritage of the Great Conversation. They tend to have a wide variety of interests and enjoy new challenges. A hobby they all share? A love of reading.
William WordsworthWhat we have loved, others will love, and we will teach them how.
At Clapham, our teachers truly are a “faculty of friends,” as colleagues gather to share ideas, life, and fun in and outside of school walls. As a team, they are mutually dedicated to the best interests of their students in view of Christ’s Kingdom: longing to see the next generation equipped to love and serve Jesus for a lifetime, using all the resources God has given to each one of them individually.
As new faculty join Clapham, they take up the task of getting to know the distinctive aspects of teaching in a Charlotte Mason, Christian classical environment. Our summer basecamp provides a significant time of orientation for these new hires, as they are immersed in the philosophical aspects of classical education and virtue formation and introduced to the mechanics and benefits of particular pedagogical tools such as narration, Singapore math (for Lower School), and other facets of the Clapham curriculum.
Throughout the year, teachers undergo valuable professional development through Institute Days, led by Expert Faculty who possess several years of experience in the craft of teaching. Each Institute Day begins with extended time in Bible study and prayer, followed by an intentional combination of philosophy and practical pedagogy, designed to reinforce and cultivate the culture of excellence, discipleship, servant leadership, and joyful discovery that truly permeates our classrooms.
Interested in learning more about what it means to be a teacher at Clapham? Listen to the episode for details on the best way to prepare for the call to teach in a Christian, classical environment.
