Faculty Handbook
Introduction
Enclosed is the Faculty Handbook for High Aspirations School. Every teacher must read this short handbook in its entirety before teaching any courses. We hope that the following pages will answer any questions you may have regarding teaching at this elite online school. Please reach out to us if you have any additional questions or concerns.
Administrators
Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer: Dylan Farrell
Co-Founder and Chief Educational Officer: Stephen Farrell
Co-Founder and Chief Operations Officer: Caitlin Farrell
Teacher Expectations
to create a rigorous course with high academic standards that is designed to challenge students to fully achieve their potential;
to provide a detailed syllabus for each class (see below);
to always be on time for class;
to be well prepared for class;
to demonstrate mastery of the course material in each class;
to convey a passion for their subject matter;
to encourage all students to participate in class and to help students succeed;
to make every effort to get to know their students individually;
to treat each student with respect and compassion;
to identify students who are having difficulties and to communicate these concerns to the school administration;
to keep a record of all student absences;
to report any violations of academic integrity;
to write a class report (see below) on each student's performance at the conclusion of the course;
to meet all school deadlines.
Terms of Employment
Compensation Policy
Teachers will receive 50% of the student tuition ($2,000) for each class. For example, a teacher would receive $5,000 for teaching a class with 5 students, $10,000 for teaching a class of 10 students, and $15,000 for teaching a class of 15 students (the current maximum student load for one of our classes)
Teachers will be paid half of their salary at the halfway point of the course and the other half at its completion. If a teacher fails to reach the halfway point of the course, they will not receive any payment. Similarly, if a teacher leaves after the halfway point but before the end of a course, they will only receive half of their salary.
Teachers may not make individual tutoring arrangements with students that are compensated except through High Aspirations School and with our written approval.
Zoom Etiquette
We expect both teachers and students to treat the Zoom classroom the same way they would an in-person one, i.e., to offer a first-rate online course that provides an enriching educational experience.
We recommend using a blank background or at least one that is not distracting.
We expect both teachers and students to be fully committed to the learning process and in an appropriate environment. For example, no one should be taking or teaching a class on public transportation, at a park, in a cafe, etc.
Students' cameras must always be on, their faces must be fully visible, and they should not be engaged in any other activities while class is being conducted.
We presume most teachers and students will participate in class at home and understand that there may be unexpected disturbances (from a child, pet, etc.), but we hope everyone will try to keep distractions at a minimum.
Course Expectations and Policies
Syllabi
48 hours before the start of a class, teachers must have all of the necessary information uploaded to their course page - syllabus, course materials, homework assignments, etc. Students should also receive an email from their teacher with access to the course page at this time.
If a course requires any hard copy texts or materials, teachers must notify their students at least a week before the course begins. Please note that we are trying to keep any hard copy materials to a minimum. When possible, please use Internet sources.
All classroom policies and expectations of students should be delineated on the syllabus.
Attendance
Students are expected to attend every class, and missing classes may result in students not receiving any credit at the end of the course. Therefore, it is essential that teachers keep an exact record of attendance and communicate these absences to the school. Special circumstances for missed classes will be handled on an individual basis.
Homework
Students should expect a minimum of one hour of homework a night per class (for an elite student), but should understand that more work will be required to prepare for exams or to write papers.
Academic Integrity
No cheating whatsoever should be allowed. If you believe a student has cheated, first have a discussion with them to gather more information. If, after that conversation, you still believe cheating has occurred, please report this to the administration.
Canceling class
Teachers are not allowed to cancel class without written approval from the school.
Teachers may not cancel synchronous classes to schedule conferences with students.
Please let us know as soon as possible if you are unable to teach a class for whatever reason so that we can try to find a substitute.
Extra Help
Extra help should be arranged at a free time that works for both the teacher and student, but teachers should also encourage students to work with one of the tutors offered through the school.
Grading
Each class is pass/fail as we want to emphasize the mastery of the material more than the grade.
The passing grade will be 90 to ensure that passing students have mastered the material.
Students will receive a certificate upon the completion of a course.
Class Reports
Teachers are expected to write an in-depth report on each student once the course has concluded. These reports should include what the student did well, and more importantly, what the student needs to improve upon. As each class is pass/fail, it is very important that the student and their parents receive detailed feedback.
Reports should recognize students as individuals and focus on their understanding and competence. Write reports that are concrete and specific and that indicate you know the student whose work you are evaluating.
Avoid writing reports that contain lengthy course descriptions or a summary of the skills mastered in the course. In short, no copying and pasting.
Please proofread your reports before submitting them to the administration.
Please be honest, but tactful. Any criticism of the student's performance should be constructive, unless you are discussing their attitude and efforts in the class.
Email
Teachers are expected to check their email on a daily basis.
Teachers are expected to respond to all emails within 24 hours of their receipt.
Teacher Evaluations
At the end of every course, we will give students an opportunity to evaluate their teachers and the courses in general.
We will share this feedback with the teachers so that they can improve their teaching and their courses as needed.
Social Media Usage
We understand that social media use is widespread, and we ask that you observe the following guidelines:
Assume all posts are public and not confidential.
Do not post anything confidential about the school online.
Do not disparage the school or the school community online.
Do not use the school's logo or name while creating personal accounts.
Do not interact with/friend/follow any current students or alumni under the age of 18 online.
You are allowed, however, to interact with/friend/follow fellow faculty/staff, peers from other schools, and alumni over the age of 18, but we advise you to proceed prudently.