About Imago Dei Middle School:

Imago Dei Middle School is a tuition-free, Episcopal middle school serving economically disadvantaged children and families in Tucson, Arizona. Imago Dei is committed to helping break cycles of poverty by providing a comprehensive academic, social, physical, and spiritual experience. Students find community and begin to realize their dreams in small classes with a 10:1 student/teacher ratio during an extended day and year. At Imago Dei we welcome children and families of all faith traditions and no particular faith tradition, and the only admission criteria is qualification for the federal free/or reduced lunch program.

Commitment to Beloved Community:

Imago Dei Middle School is committed to partnering with others to dismantle systemic racism and to build antiracist multicultural diversity within our school community and

beyond. We are committed to moving forward together, with love for one another. Through teaching a more complete and non-biased history, Imago Dei will equip students, graduates, families, and employees with the tools and knowledge to better engage complex issues like systemic racism and privilege, and to challenge them rather than contribute to injustice.

Chaplaincy and Religious Education Overview:

Imago Dei endeavors to nurture the spiritual gifts of students, families, faculty and staff. Keeping in mind its name, the Imago Dei community values the divine birthright of every child – created in God’s image and deserving of the honor and respect that comes with that. We seek and serve the presence of God in each other. As an Episcopal community, we are committed to living out the values and principles of our Episcopal identity in all areas of our common life together. At the heart of our identity is the dedication to be an inclusive community, welcoming all individuals, regardless of religious background, into shared experiences of prayer, worship, reflection and study.

Prayer & Worship

At Imago Dei, we believe prayer is an opportunity for those gathered to recognize God’s presence in our lives and the lives of others. It is a time for individuals to share their concerns, hopes and dreams. It is a time for community members to give thanks and express gratitude for the blessings and challenges of our lives. Prayer offers the community a path to anchoring itself beyond what we can do, and toward realizing who we were created to be.

All students participate in morning chapel & weekly Eucharist. The communal services of prayer and worship follow the prescribed format of The Book of Common Prayer 1979, alongside other approved supplemental liturgies. These services are rooted in the reading of scripture, praying of psalms, sharing of prayers, the core values of the school, seasonal and cultural celebrations, and times of remembrance. The Eucharist is offered to all those in attendance, and the prayers and readings reflect the diverse faiths and beliefs among our community members. The Student Vestry provides opportunities for students to take active leadership through reading, preaching, singing,

ushering and actively planning and participating in the service.

Study & Reflection

The religious studies curriculum at Imago Dei aims to provide general knowledge of the world’s major faith traditions, while assisting students in deepening their own understanding of their own faith and their own spiritual life. Students explore the nature of God, principles of religion, personal identity and the religious traditions of their own families. Like any area of study, religious studies has a unique vocabulary and approach to information and knowledge. We aim to assist students in developing a robust sense of literacy with religious language and understanding. With the assistance of the Chaplain students bring their own traditions and experiences into dialogue with the ideas and topics explored in class.

Position Overview:

The Chaplain is called to animate and support the religious life of the Imago Dei community. Of incredible importance is the pastoral care of our scholars, their families, and the faculty, staff, and friends of Imago Dei. To that end, the successful candidate will work alongside our founding

Chaplain for up to one year, in order to develop an intimate understanding of this unique community and its history. This intentional transition will help to provide the necessary footing and context in order for the Chaplaincy to forge ahead into the future, grow alongside the school community, and meet the needs of tomorrow’s leaders and the community supporting them. A successful candidate will have a love of middle-school aged children, a love of life- long learning, some teaching experience, sensitivity to and appreciation of cultural and faith diversity, an understanding and commitment to Episcopal/Anglican spirituality, theology and ethos, a passion for justice, and a willingness to work toward becoming Beloved Community.

The Chaplain is charged with overseeing all aspects of the spiritual life of Imago Dei, including the following essential functions:

Essential Functions:

• Foster and cultivate the Episcopal identity of the school
• Oversee the care and scheduling of the school chapel
• Plan worship services, including collaboration with themusic department, and student/community leadership
• Planning of special services
• Train and oversee student vestry

• Participate in regular outreach to local parishes and partner organizations
• Maintain a pastoral presence for all members of the Imago Dei community
• Work alongside the Family Services team to understand and support individual, family, and community needs
• Teach courses in Religion and other subjects as needed (based on applicant’s experience)
• Build relationships with students, families, faculty and staff to nurture and support the community
• Meet other faculty commitments (student enrichments, field trips, guardian meetings, facilitate service learning, etc.)
• Promote Imago Dei Middle School and its mission at all timesPosition Qualifications

• Ordained Episcopal priest (or on ordination track)
• Teaching experience at the middle school levelpreferred, but not expressly required
• Experience working with pre-teens, teenagers andyoung adults
• English and Spanish language fluency stronglypreferred
• Experience in interfaith settings
• Ability to manage multiple priorities within expecteddeadlines

• Ability to regularly work flexible hours to support the community with emergent and urgent issues and meet deadlines; position will require some non-traditional work hours, including occasional nights and weekends
• Must successfully complete background screening and fingerprint verificationEmployee Compensation and Benefits:

• Very Competitive Compensation – including stipend/ Housing Allowance package
• Health insurance coverage through the Medical Trust (inc. Prescription/Dental/Mental Health/Eye Care)
• Church Pension Fund clergy assessment in the sum of total annual cash salary, inclusive of housing allowance, if applicable
• Life Insurance package through the Church Life Insurance Corporation
• Available Professional Development and Continuing Education funds
• 5 Weeks Paid Vacation, in addition to normal school holidays and days off
• Free lunch benefit available daily as part of Imago Dei’s school-wide community lunch program

Application Requirements:

Qualified candidates should send a resume or OTM profile and cover letter for consideration to: c.taylor@imagodeischool.org

Equal Opportunity Employer:

Imago Dei Middle School is an equal opportunity employer and makes employment decisions on the basis of merit. Imago Dei Middle School seeks to have the best available person in every job. Imago Dei Middle School policy prohibits discrimination based on race, color, creed, sex, marital status, age, national origin, physical or mental disability, medical condition, ancestry, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other consideration made unlawful by federal, state, or local law, ordinance, or regulation. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including hiring, training, promotion, discipline, compensation, benefits, and termination of employment. All unlawful discrimination is expressly prohibited.