Social Studies Guide

Middle & High School

Starting September 1, 2026  ·  Jelsa, Croatia  ·  Ongoing

About The Field School of Hvar

The Field School of Hvar is an independent enrichment program located in Jelsa, on the island of Hvar, Croatia. We bring together children ages 3 through 15 from around the world for a year-round academic program grounded in experiential learning, close reading, and deep engagement with literature, history, and the natural world. Small groups, meaningful work, and genuine community are at the heart of everything we do.

Our curriculum is organized based on a chronological story of Western human development. In the 2026-27 academic year, we will be centered in pre-history, Ancient Greece, and Rome. All of these civilizations had significant presences on island Hvar and left vibrant traces of their culture. In year two, we will inhabit the Middle Ages and early Renaissance; in year three, the Modern era; and in year four, the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries.

About the Role

The Social Studies Guide will lead labs for our two oldest groups: 12 children ages 11–12 (middle school) and 14 children ages 13–15 (secondary). You will meet with each group twice per week for three hours per session. Sessions will generally take place outside, weather and other practicalities permitting.

Each session begins with a read-aloud from a narrative history, followed by student discussion. The second part of the lesson is hands-on, student-led group work: exploring the discipline of historical anthropology through a study of ancient dress. Ultimately, learners will use what they glean from ancient civilizations to reimagine their own apparel through our Zero-Kilometer Schoolwear project. You will have help with the craft element of this project from a specialist Fellow. Your role is to anchor the session in historical context and to teach skills related to research, dialogue, and critical thinking.

Social Studies Program

The Central Question

The overarching inquiry in social studies across ages groups is: what is beauty? How have human beings across history used personal appearance to navigate social belonging? Students trace this question from 10,000 BCE through 500 CE, developing historical knowledge while building critical perspective on contemporary culture — including the global apparel industry.

Session Structure

Each three-hour afternoon session follows a consistent rhythm, with companion activities calibrated by age level:

• 30 minutes: Read-aloud key passages from history texts while students take notes.

• 30 minutes: Student discussion

• 60 minutes: Critical Thinking — research and design thinking related to schoolwear project

• 60 minutes: Craft/Experiential — developing prototypes using techniques (sewing, natural dyes, simple construction) based on historical practices

Primary Texts

• Susan Wise Bauer, Story of the World or The History of the Ancient World (primary spine text, full year)

• M.I. Finley, The World of Odysseus (fall supplement)

• Mary Beard, SPQR (spring supplement)

Schedule and Responsibilities

Teaching Days

The school day runs 9:00am–4:00pm. Science and Social Studies take place in the afternoon, from 1:00pm–4:00pm, followed by a faculty hour from 4:00–5:00pm. During the faculty hour, teachers manage assessment documentation, communicate with the administrative team, and prepare materials for the following day.

On Fridays, you will help students prepare and present a brief summary of the week’s work for parents. This is a valued part of how we keep families connected to their children’s learning.

Non-Teaching Day

One day each week (equivalent to one day in five) is reserved for non-teaching work, divided among three activities:

• Planning and administration — curriculum preparation, collaboration with other guides and specialist fellows, and coordination with the administrative team

• Workshop for local children — a free or low-cost offering for children from the Jelsa community who are enrolled in Croatian public school and cannot participate in the full program

• Workshop for community adults — open to Field School parents and local adults, connecting the school’s activities to a wider audience

Assessment and Documentation

There is little formal grading. Instead, you will be expected to:

• Maintain ongoing observational notes on each student’s development

• Issue a brief weekly summary of work covered with each group

• Contribute to ongoing program assessment — what’s working, what needs adjustment

The administrative team manages parent communication, disciplinary matters, and family concerns. Teachers are not expected to interface with parents beyond the Friday presentations, community workshops, and everyday pleasantries. Our communication policies are described in detail in the staff handbook.

Annual Calendar

• Fall program: September 7 – November 28

• Winter: December through mid-March — equivalent to summer break at most schools. Teachers take their 20 days of mandated leave during this period; the remainder is used for planning, curriculum development, and preparation for spring.

• Spring program: March 13 – June 5

• Summer: Teachers work through the summer in support of the school’s summer programming and ongoing operations

About You

We are looking for someone who brings several of the following:

• Historical training — ideally in the ancient Mediterranean world, but broad historical curiosity matters more than specialization

• Experience leading discussion-based learning with middle or high school-age students

• Experience in non-traditional learning environments, such as museums and archaeological sites

• Comfort maintaining a long arc of inquiry across a full academic year, connecting daily sessions to larger questions

• Interest in interdisciplinary, project-based work — including working alongside a specialist collaborator on the hands-on components

• Warmth and adaptability within a small, close-knit school community

Fluency in English is required. Croatian is not required but warmly welcomed.

Position Details

• Start date: September 1, 2026

• Duration: permanent (neodređeno) or from September 7 - November 28, if the candidate prefers a seasonal contract

• Location: Jelsa, Hvar, Croatia (in-person)

• Groups: 12 children ages 11–12; 14 children ages 13–15

• Schedule: Part-time — 2 teaching sessions per week per group, 180 minutes each, plus one non-teaching day per week. Can be combined with other part-time roles at the school (math or language)

• Hours: 1:00pm–5:00pm on teaching days

• Salary: €1,500 per month gross (bruto) plus 20% tuition discount

• Leave: 20 days, taken during the winter period (December – mid-March)

• Employment: Through FSHvar, Ltd. (Croatian entity)