About Summer Discovery

Our mission is to provide best-in-class, immersive summer college enrichment experiences that perfectly balance curriculums curated by top subject matter experts in diverse fields of study, with opportunities for students to have fun, travel and explore new places with new friends. 

We support students in their mission to deepen their knowledge of their academic passion and foster college-ready confidence through hands-on learning experiences. We are the industry trailblazers, applying nearly sixty years of learning, refinement and relationship building into what we do each day.  

Simply put, our team is obsessed with summer and determined to help our students excel, building lifelong skills, embracing intellectual curiosity, innovation, and a love of learning. Our team members make a significant impact in the lives of students, and we take great pride in supporting them in every step of the journey – we roll up our sleeves and do what it takes to deliver the very best summer ever!

What’s the job?

As a Summer Institute for the Gifted Instructor this summer, your role is to ensure that students ranging from early elementary through high school are challenged and engaged academically and socially. Each SIG course is crafted to utilize effective teaching methodologies used in gifted education, demanding that you facilitate learning that incites critical thinking, curiosity, data literacy, individual exploration, and collaborative growth. 

In this position, you will receive a partially developed curriculum that includes a course description, an overarching course outline, daily activities, and a capstone project. Instructors are encouraged to hone the curriculum according to your creativity and expertise to bring this framework to life.

The curriculum encourages integration of your unique teaching style while adhering to the Summer Discovery Academic Model, while-allowing you to tailor your approach to meet diverse student learning.  Excelling in this role requires meticulous planning, flexibility, and an ability to respond effectively to the evolving learning needs of gifted students.

This position is available from mid-June to late July, with dates varying by program location. 

Classes are three weeks long, held Monday through Friday the first two weeks and Monday through Thursday the third week, with daily hours between 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM with some variation by campus.

Essential Functions: 

Policy Compliance: Adhere to all policies and procedures detailed in the Onboarding Guide and SIG Instructor Manual, including working with minors' regulations.

• Classroom Instruction: Attend all scheduled days and deliver engaging, collaborative instruction during assigned hours.
• Curriculum Implementation: Conduct a thorough review of the provided curriculum to adapt content and resources according to individual teaching style and meet course objectives, no later than one week before the program starts.
• Adaptive Teaching: Employ differentiated instruction to cater to the unique abilities of each student, creating an individualized and intellectually stimulating academic environment.
• LMS Course Management: Utilize Google Classroom to provide student-facing course details, daily resources, student performance assessments, and communicate with students.
• Learning Objectives: Facilitate the advancement of student learning goals through regular checkpoints to assess development of the culminating Capstone Project.
• Classroom Management: Establish and maintain a respectful and effective classroom management system that accommodates diverse learning styles.
• Safe Learning Environment: Ensure a safe and inclusive classroom environment that supports active student participation and addresses inappropriate behavior.
• Student Support: Apply your expertise in the academic, social, and emotional needs of gifted and talented students utilizing available resources and campus support personnel.
• Daily Communication: Communicate daily with the Academic Dean on student attendance, behavioral and academic issues, course supplies, and curriculum issues.
• Documentation: Maintain detailed records of student concerns and communicate them to the Academic Dean.
• Administrative Responsibilities: Complete all administrative tasks, such as daily course supplies inventory, Student Performance Reviews (SPR), Program Evaluations, and other assigned duties within specified deadlines.
• Student Evaluations: Provide constructive feedback on each student’s Capstone Checkpoints during the session. After final presentations, complete Student Performance Reviews with detailed feedback for each student by the Monday after the course concludes. If student performance reviews are not completed according to expectation, you will receive communication until they are complete post-program.
• Collaboration: Effectively use and collaborate with Teaching Assistants (if applicable) to support classroom activities and lesson execution.
• Pre-Program responsibilities: 
• • Ensure course planning is complete no later than two weeks prior to the program start.
  • Attend asynchronous and synchronous virtual training sessions. 
  • Attend pre-program on-campus staff orientation Saturday before the first class.
  • Create a Google Classroom account prior to virtual training. 

Campuses available: 

• Bryn Mawr College (June 29 - July 17, 2026)
• Cornell University (July 12 - July 31, 2026)
• Fairfield University (July 26 - July 24, 2026)
• University of California, Los Angeles (June 28 - July 17, 2026)
• Yale University (July 5 - July 24, 2026)

Core Competencies:

• Independent Work: Operate autonomously while remaining receptive to constructive feedback and coaching.
• Leadership and Mentoring: Exhibit and encourage positive leadership, teamwork, analytical thinking, and creative problem-solving.
• Professional Conduct: Interact and present yourself in a professional manner at all times.
• Flexibility: Be prepared to manage unexpected situations and contribute to change in operations as needed.

Experience/Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s Degree required; MA, PhD, or terminal degree (or current enrollment) in a relevant field preferred.
• Teaching license in the assigned course grade band preferred. Previous experience working with Gifted and Talented learners.
• Minimum of two years of full-time classroom experience, or a combination of graduate and professional teaching, required.
• Experience in assigned course subject matter and project-based learning.
• Experience in curriculum design.
• Must be available to teach the full 3-week session without conflicts.
• Housing is not provided; instructors must live within a commutable distance and handle their own transportation, parking and other associated costs.
• Must be at least 21 years old and eligible to work in the United States.

Employment is contingent upon a satisfactory background check.

Summer Discovery is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Summer Discovery does not discriminate based on race, religion, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, non-disqualifying physical or mental disability, nation origin, veteran status, or any other basis covered by appropriate law.  All employment is decided based on qualifications, merit, and business needs.