Hospitality & Tourism Pathway Instructor at The SEED Public Charter School of Washington DC – Washington, District of Columbia

About The SEED School of Washington, D.C.

The SEED Foundation (www.seedfoundation.com) was created in 1997 to establish college-preparatory urban boarding schools that prepare secondary students, both academically and socially, for success in college and beyond. In 1998, the Foundation opened The SEED Public Charter School of Washington, D.C. – the nation’s first public college preparatory boarding school. The school currently serves 250 students in grades 9-12. In 2015, 100% of SEED’s seniors were accepted to a four-year college or university.

All SEED students live on campus from Sunday evening through Friday afternoon when they return home for the weekend. The dormitories are organized into small “houses” of an average of 15-18 students per resident advisor for afternoon and evening routines such as academic study hall, house meetings, SPARKS, and other structured activities. We provide a safe and caring 24-hour boarding experience. Our relationship with parents/guardians is essential to the success of their scholar while at SEED.

About The SEED Network:

SEED is the pioneering national network of public, college-preparatory boarding schools, offering a unique 24-hour, 5-day per week learning environment. Our tuition-free schools, the first of their kind in the U.S., are intentionally designed to serve traditionally underserved students. Supported by The SEED Foundation, we operate in Washington, D.C., Baltimore, Miami, and Los Angeles. The Foundation's College Transition & Success (CTS) team provides comprehensive support to SEED graduates from junior year through college graduation. SEED's success has gained recognition from media outlets like 60 Minutes and The New York Times, and former President Obama has lauded it as "a true success story." Learn more at www.seedfoundation.com.

Position Overview

The Hospitality & Tourism Pathway Instructor will design and deliver a rigorous, student-centered Career & Technical Education (CTE) program that prepares scholars for careers in hospitality, tourism, events, and service industries. The role centers experiential, project-based learning culminating in a junior-year capstone and a senior internship/externship. The ideal candidate is dedicated to developing scholars’ customer-service aptitude, operational leadership capacity, and professional readiness for success in hospitality, tourism, and postsecondary pathways.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Instruction & Curriculum Design

• Plan and deliver engaging, standards-aligned instruction in hospitality, tourism, event planning, and service management
• Design experiential, project-based learning (PBL) opportunities that simulate real-world hospitality scenarios
• Develop a coherent pathway from 10th–12th grade aligned to industry standards
• Integrate customer service training, operations management, and event execution into coursework

Student Experience & Outcomes

• Lead students in completing a Junior Capstone Project (e.g., event planning, hospitality business model, tourism experience design)
• Prepare students for and support placement in Senior Internships/Externships
• Develop students’ professional presence, communication, and service-oriented mindset
• Provide ongoing feedback and support to ensure students demonstrate growth and mastery

Partnerships & Industry Engagement

• Build partnerships with hotels, restaurants, event venues, tourism organizations, and local businesses
• Coordinate guest speakers, field experiences, and mentorship opportunities
• Align programming to workforce needs and OSSE CTE expectations
• Collaborate with the CTE Lead to support internship/externship placements, employer communication, and on-site supervision logistics

Program Development

• Collaborate with leadership to design and refine the Hospitality pathway
• Support student recruitment and pathway awareness efforts
• Maintain documentation aligned to OSSE CTE program expectations
• Evaluate program effectiveness using student outcome and employer/partner feedback and implement continuous improvements

Additional Responsibilities

• Attend faculty, department, and CTE meetings; participate in professional development and required trainings.
• Support school events (family nights, exhibitions, portfolio presentations) and occasional evening or weekend activities.
• Adhere to the professional and ethical standards as outlined in the SEED PCS Staff Handbook.
• Perform other duties as assigned by school leadership.

Habits of Mind:

The ideal candidate consistently demonstrates:

• Equity-Centered Mindset – Believes in and actively works to ensure all scholars have access to high-quality, career-connected learning experiences
• Scholar-Centered Orientation – Prioritizes student voice, agency, and ownership of learning
• Commitment to Real-World Relevance – Designs learning that bridges academic content with authentic, meaningful application
• Reflective Practice – Continuously examines and refines instructional practices to improve student outcomes
• Relationship-Driven Leadership – Builds strong, trust-based relationships with students, families, and community partners
• High Expectations with Support – Holds scholars to rigorous standards while providing the structures and encouragement needed for success
• Collaborative Mindset – Works across teams to ensure coherence and alignment in the student experience

Qualifications and Essential Competencies

• Bachelor’s degree required; degree in Hospitality, Tourism, Business, or related field preferred.
• Valid state teaching certification required (CTE/Hospitality or secondary certification) or eligibility for certification.
• Minimum 2 years teaching experience preferred; industry experience (3+ years) in hospitality, tourism, events, or related fields strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to design and facilitate student-centered, project-based learning experiences
• Outstanding communication, interpersonal, and facilitation skills; ability to build rapport and collaborate across disciplines
• Passion for working with young people and commitment to a diverse, inclusive school community
• Strong technology skills and experience integrating digital tools into instruction
• Commitment to The SEED Foundation’s mission and beliefs