Vivo Missouri

At Vivo Missouri, we are building something different. Vivo Missouri is a nonprofit, private school network building innovative, recovery-focused high schools designed for young people desiring a substance-free lifestyle and ready to define success on their own terms. Our students are bright, capable, and resilient. They deserve schools built on deep relationships, meaningful work, and real-world learning.

At Vivo Missouri – a small innovative high school in partnership with the Big Picture Learning network – learning is personal, project-based, and rooted in internships, mentorship, and purpose. We hold high expectations and believe transformation happens when students are known well. Our schools align with Big Picture Learning's Ten Distinguishers, and our core values for Vivo staff and students are collective impact, unique autonomy, learning together, and transparent insight.

We are seeking high-energy, insightful, and relationship-driven educators who are excited to build something meaningful and ready to rethink what “school” can look like. If you believe rigor and humanity belong in the same classroom, we'd love to meet you.

Employment Status

This is a full-time, exempt, at-will position. Advisors report directly to the School Leader.

Position Overview

At Vivo, Humanities teachers are called “Advisors” – because your role goes beyond content delivery. Each Advisor serves a small group of approximately 15-20 students. You are their teacher, advocate, project manager, academic counselor, and steady adult presence. You stay with your advisory across the year, building trust and helping students design individualized pathways grounded in their interests and strengths.

In addition to designing learning experiences in the Humanities (English and Social Sciences), you will work with your group of students to identify their interests and passions, help them secure internship opportunities in those areas, and build their individualized learning plan around those experiences. We seek educators who value " rigor, relevance, and relationships " in their professional practice, and who can engage families and community members as partners in the education of Vivo students.

This is not a traditional teaching role. It is relational, entrepreneurial, and deeply impactful.

Key Responsibilities

• Plan an individualized program of instruction that is challenging and meets the individual needs, interests, and abilities of each student, centered around authentic, project-based learning experiences
• Articulate each student's progress, educationally and socially, through marking period narratives, phone calls and meetings with parents, and weekly student meetings
• Facilitate the creation of and monitor meaningful internships using phone calls, shadow days, information interviews, site visits, and other available means
• Establish clear objectives for each student and employ a variety of educational techniques in pursuit of rigorous, integrated academic experiences and habits of work
• Collaborate with a group of passionate educators in creating and nurturing a school that meets the needs of students looking for a more individualized program
• Build strong relationships within the school community and support restorative justice practices
• Maintain patience and a sense of humor, and celebrate the successes of students and the school community

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree or higher
• Certified in Language Arts or Social Studies, with the ability to become certified in the other content area over time (Acceptable certifications: Trad, ACP, TAC, or ABCTE)
• (Preferred) At least two years of teaching experience, ideally in a competency-based, Big Picture Learning, Deeper Learning, project-based, or other similar environment
• Fingerprint background check clearance; current eligibility to work in the U.S.

Salary and Benefits:

• Salary: $55-70K
• Participation in the health benefits package
• Eligible for participation in the 401K and Roth plans (eligible for rollover from PSRS/PEERS/KCPSRS)
• Paid time off / Paid sick leave / FMLA
• Approximately 7-8 weeks of summer vacation; approximately 5 weeks of school holidays and vacation throughout the school year

Equal Employment Opportunity / Non-Discrimination Statement:

Vivo Missouri is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to providing a workplace free of discrimination and harassment based on race, color, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, national origin, ancestry, disability, pregnancy, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. All employment decisions—including hiring, promotion, compensation, benefits, training, discipline, and termination—are made without regard to these protected characteristics.