Kite’s Nest is a center for liberatory education in Hudson, NY. It is our mission to build the collective capacity of young people in our community to bring about healing, personal transformation, social connection, and systemic change. We work in a deeply collaborative environment that is committed to embodying the values that we seek to foster in the world. Everyone who joins our staff is part of a family of educators, activists, thinkers and artists who are committed both to our work with young people and to nurturing a healthy and supportive organizational culture.
Note: Kite’s Nest is an equal opportunity employer and strongly encourages Black, Indigenous, and people of color, people identifying as LGBTQIA+, people with disabilities, formerly incarcerated people, immigrants, and people with working class backgrounds to apply. If you’re excited about a role, but not sure if you meet all the qualifications, apply anyway! We look forward to learning about you.
We are currently hiring for the following positions:
Lead Educator for Fall Afterschool Programs: Seeking an experienced educator to lead our Roots & Rebels and Arts Under the Sun afterschool programs, with a focus this season on learning about, designing, and making materials that will be utilized in Kite’s Nest new building, breaking ground in October 2025.
Co Educator for Fall Daytime Program: Seeking an experienced educator to collaboratively design a creative and hands-on daytime class thematically focused around light, for students ages 8-14 this Fall.
If you’re interested in volunteering with us, please fill out our volunteer application form and we’ll be in touch as volunteer opportunities arise. We also have several paid teen employment positions open each season, which you can learn about here. Join our mailing list to be the first to know about future opportunities. Coming to community events is a great way to build relationship and get to know us.
lead educator for fall Afterschool Programs
Position: Lead Educator for Fall Afterschool Programs
Program: Afterschool
Location: Kite’s Nest
Duration: Fall 2025 (September 1st - end of November)
Compensation and Hours: Estimated Seasonal Flat Rate: $5,400. This is a Seasonal Contracted Position leading two afterschool programs. Approximately 200 hours* for 9 weeks of programming in addition to preparation and close-out before and after the semester.
Applications Due: Applications received by August 1 will be prioritized
*This may vary based on any changes in weekly schedules and hours based on each week’s activities.
Our Afterschool Programming includes two classes on Tuesdays and Wednesdays providing transformative learning experiences in our River City Garden, where youth engage in creative expression and critical inquiry within a safe, supportive, and loving context. These after school classes serve a wide range of local youth (ages 7-13) and teen Teaching Assistants (ages 15-18), inviting them to engage in a wide-range of art and nature based activities. While our programs range in theme, all of our after school classes prioritize healthy relationships, social emotional development, healing-centered engagement, collective culture-building, and joy. Programs run for a 9-week session in the Fall, and a 10-week session in the Spring.
Kite’s Nest is seeking a Lead Educator for our Afterschool Program for our Fall 2025 Season. The Lead Educator will collaborate with co-teachers to lead creative afterschool classes on a range of topics and themes that shift from season to season. We are looking for a candidate who is comfortable working in a collaborative teaching environment; open to working across subject areas as a teacher and co-learner; able to work with a diverse community of children; and will bring imagination and creativity to this role.
For the Fall Semester, our after school programs “Arts Under the Sun” and “Roots + Rebels” will participate in learning about, designing, and creating materials that will be utilized in Kite’s Nest new building, breaking ground in October 2025. The Lead Educator, with the support of a co-educator and guest educators, will guide youth in art builds for items like pillow cushions, tiles, planter pots, switch plates and furniture knobs.
Responsibilities include:
Working with Kite’s Nest Co Executive Director of Liberatory Education and co-teachers to design creative and hands-on afterschool classes for students ages 7-14.
Working as co-teacher in a small and creative afterschool classroom environment 2 days a week, 3pm-7pm, from September to November (Fall Semester).
Attending and co-facilitating prep and planning meetings with Co Executive Director of Liberatory Education and co-educators at least once a week during the semester and for approximately 20 hours in preparation for the semester.
Creating a positive group learning environment, with an emphasis on healthy relationships, social-emotional development, collective culture-building, and joy.
Collaborating with contract artists and educators and creating a clear and supportive environment for all collaborators.
Attending all staff trainings.
Compensation: This is a Seasonal Contracted Position. Seasonal Flat Rate: $5,400.00, based on an estimated 200 hours comprised of the following, to be coordinated with contractor. This role includes an estimated 15-20 hours per week.
18 class sessions (2 per week for 9 weeks)
Weekly prep
Pre-semester training
Pre-semester planning
Semester close-out
Ideal Candidates have:
A deep respect for children and an approach to working with youth that aligns with Kite’s Nest’s mission, pedagogy, and work.
Familiarity with experiential education and curriculum design.
A trauma-informed and healing-centered lens on working with youth, and a passion for transformative approaches to learning and education.
Classroom management experience, and a commitment to non-punitive forms of discipline, accountability, and trust-building with youth.
The ability to work with openness across subjects and media as a co-learner and to collaborate with a range of educators and practitioners.
The ability to work in a multi-age classroom, simultaneously supporting a range of developmental levels.
Experience working in collaborative environments: ability to plan and lead classes with co-teacher, and a commitment to supporting healthy communication.
The ideal candidate has experience leading hands-on creative arts projects including projects related to the semester theme of community build projects for our future building. However, a strong and experienced educator and classroom manager without these skills could still be a good fit; must have experience collaborating with working artists and other contract educators.
For the right candidate, there is potential for this to become a part-time staff position in the future.
HOW TO APPLY: Please complete this form. The form will ask you to upload a cover letter and resume in a PDF format, and to provide a sample class plan outline and/or a sample of your work relevant to the position. If you have any questions, contact Sam at hello@kitesnest.org
APPLICATION DEADLINE: Applications received by August 1 will be prioritized.
educator for fall daytime Program
Position: Part Time Daytime Program Educator
Program: Daytime Program: Light It Up!
Location: Kite’s Nest
Duration: Fall 2025 (September 1st - end of November)
Compensation and Hours: Estimated Seasonal Flat Rate: $3,890. This is a Seasonal Contracted Position. 9 weeks of programming in addition to preparation and close-out before and after the semester. Compensated as outlined below.
$250 for completing approximately 10 hrs of training prior to the beginning of the semester, including:
3 hour mandated reporter training (certificate of completion to be submitted)
1 hour sexual harassment training (certificate of completion to be submitted)
Two in-person training sessions at Kite’s Nest on dates TBD
$440 for approximately 20 hours of pre-semester prep + planning with Lead Educator and Co Executive Director of Liberatory Education
$300 per Spring Daytime session (includes 3 hours/week for prep & reflection with co-teacher) x 8 sessions, totaling $2700.00
$200 for possible Fall Community event, Nourishing Fire. Prep and facilitation, mid-semester (exact schedule TBD)
$300 for post-semester Clean Up, Reflection and Celebration (15 hrs Mon-Wed during the week of November 24)
Applications Due: Applications received by August 6 will be prioritized
Our Daytime Program currently includes one class this semester, taught on Thursdays providing transformative learning experiences on our campus (and possibly other local sites), where youth engage in creative expression and critical inquiry within a safe, supportive, and loving context.
We serve a wide range of home-school youth (ages 8-13), inviting them to engage in a 9 week series of classes exploring the world of light. Through hands-on projects and critical inquiry, students will explore light from scientific, artistic, and societal perspectives. We will delve into concepts such as shadow and illumination, the impact of light pollution, the role of lighting in city planning and safety, and the connection between light and self-care/neurodiversity support. Students will engage in designing and creating various light fixtures, including lampshades, sconces, and pendant lights, with opportunities to contribute to the furnishings of Kite's Nest's new building. This class fosters creativity, critical thinking, and a deeper understanding of light's pervasive influence in our world.
Kite’s Nest is seeking a Co Educator for our Daytime Program for our Fall 2025 Season. The Co Educator will collaborate with the Lead Educator and other guest educators to lead this class of 12-15 youth. We are looking for a candidate who is comfortable working in a collaborative teaching environment; open to working across subject areas as a teacher and co-learner; able to work with a diverse community of children; and will bring imagination and creativity to this role.
Responsibilities include:
Working with Kite’s Nest Co Executive Director of Liberatory Education and co-teachers to design creative and hands-on daytime classes for students ages 8-14.
Working as co-teacher in a small and creative daytime classroom environment for home school youth 1x a week on Thursdays, 10am- 3pm, from September to November (Fall Semester).
Attending and co-facilitating prep and planning meetings with Co Executive Director of Liberatory Education and co-educators at least once a week during the semester and for approximately 20 hours in preparation for the semester.
Creating a positive group learning environment, with an emphasis on healthy relationships, social-emotional development, collective culture-building, and joy.
Collaborating with contract artists and educators and creating a clear and supportive environment for all collaborators.
Attending all staff trainings.
Ideal Candidates have:
A deep respect for children and an approach to working with youth that aligns with Kite’s Nest’s mission, pedagogy, and work.
Familiarity with experiential education and curriculum design.
A trauma-informed and healing-centered lens on working with youth, and a passion for transformative approaches to learning and education.
Classroom management experience, and a commitment to non-punitive forms of discipline, accountability, and trust-building with youth.
The ability to work with openness across subjects and media as a co-learner and to collaborate with a range of educators and practitioners.
The ability to work in a multi-age classroom, simultaneously supporting a range of developmental levels.
Experience working in collaborative environments: ability to plan and lead classes with co-teacher, and a commitment to supporting healthy communication.
The ideal candidate has experience leading hands-on creative arts projects including projects related to the semester theme of community build projects for our future building. However, a strong and experienced educator and classroom manager without these skills could still be a good fit; must have experience collaborating with working artists and other contract educators.
HOW TO APPLY: Please complete this form. The form will ask you to upload a cover letter and resume in a PDF format, and to provide a sample class plan outline and/or a sample of your work relevant to the position. If you have any questions, contact Sam at hello@kitesnest.org
APPLICATION DEADLINE: Applications received by August 6 will be prioritized