The application for this summer’s Residency is closed, but we have several other upcoming opportunities to engage and connect coming soon! Join our mailing list to receive updates from Embark!
Why Iterate?
In these times, education has been forced to change. While challenging, it also offers opportunity. Many of us are reflecting on the very core of what it means to meet the needs of all students. Change might be in the air, but the powers that be will try to pull us back to the same systems that have created inequity, marginalization, and conformity.
We believe that the path forward must be led by educators and built on the following values:
Values
Now is the time to build infrastructure and support around ideas that address systemic inequities in education to create lasting change.
When learning environments are built around the learner rather than the institution, humans thrive.
If we value educators as true professionals, surround them with others to cross-pollinate ideas, and then get out of the way, meaningful and impactful actions will emerge.
What is an Iterative Space Residency?
Let’s start with what it is NOT…
It is NOT about our agenda, ideas, or expertise
It is NOT about us teaching, lecturing, or coaching
It is NOT about requiring outcomes or prescribing expectations
What is it…
A five-week educator residency that serves as a design lab and space where motivated educators can build upon their ideas/passions/sparks in proximity to others doing the same.
We will provide a beautifully stocked Space, access to resources, and a stipend of up to $4,500 for your time.
We believe that a Space filled with radical trust, a commitment to your own self-care, and with respect of you as a professional will unlock your ability to iterate on innovative ideas, explorations, and actionable implementation.
What will be expected of me?
First, we ask you to bring your whole self. We believe there is power in proximity and while your idea or project is yours, being in proximity to and forming authentic relationships with others is a key element of the Iterative Space.
To that end, we expect only that you eat, you iterate, and you share.
EAT: We ask that you take a pause each day to share a provided meal, to sit, eat, and engage. That may look like talking about your work, but it also might be talking about politics, or sports or family…it is up to you. Listen, learn, connect, share, and nourish.
ITERATE: We ask that you move your work forward. This might mean cruising forward in a linear fashion, pivoting dramatically, scrapping an idea to collaborate with someone else, or you may take any other path that is resonant to you.
SHARE: We ask that you openly share your insights, discoveries, project, or process to other educators so we all can learn from and be inspired by each other. Ultimately, this may be at a conference, within your school, online or in some other relevant format that seems appropriate to you.
That’s it!
Peppered throughout your time at the Iterative Space and beyond there will be other opportunities you may choose to engage in. This could be a sponsored happy hour, a morning of mindfulness and yoga, support from a graphic designer, executive coach, or a special guest speaker.
How do you define “Educator?”
We don't think of an "educator" as being synonymous or limited to an individual with a formal title of "teacher" or by employment at a school.
We believe an educator is anyone focused on holding supportive Space, guiding self exploration and learning, and inspiring others to grow and engage in what is possible.
The Latin root of education is “educo,” meaning to draw out from within. If you support youth in this way and have an idea that will aid in their growth and learning, then we encourage you to apply.
What's a typical week look like?
Time during the Residency is intentionally left open and without constraints to allow ample room to explore your idea while fostering connections with those around you. That said, a staple component of the Residency is a daily shared meal. We provide a catered, nourishing, and bountiful lunch everyday at noon, including a homemade meal prepared by our in-house Chef once per week.
Wellness offerings are available every Wednesday, including on-site yoga, acudetox, and massages.
We also host a range of different speakers, from education innovators to local artists, in a series of events available both to residents and our wider community.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
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“Trust” is a pretty straightforward concept, though it is rarely applied. We believe that simply approaching this work with trust is unfortunately also “Radical.”
It means that we trust Iterative residents to do great work without oversight or micro-management. It means that we believe that you know how you work best and when to seek advice and support to move your ideas forward. It means that we are flexible, understanding and in awe of the work that you can and will do with freedom and resources.
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We are looking for educators who have something to say, something to build out, or something that will make an impact in a program, a school, a community, or system.
We want:
Educators who approach supporting youth with humility
Educators who center youth voice, including their needs and interests
Educators who are equity focused and forward thinking
Educators who embrace this historic time as an opportunity to reinvent education
Educators who passionately serve the systemically oppressed
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At its core, Liberatory Design is a re-imagination of Design Thinking which centers and promotes equity and accessibility.
It originates out of dSchool from Stanford University and is an invaluable set of tools and resources. If you are unfamiliar with it we strongly encourage you to explore it and apply it to your work.
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YES! The Iterative Space provides a stipend to support you to do this important work but takes no ownership, access, license, or any other rights to the work that is produced by residents who come to iterate.
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Once accepted, you will be asked to fill out a W9 for tax purposes and will be paid within a week of the end of your session at the Iterative Space.
At the end of the year, you will receive a 1099 Income form to include in your tax preparations. If you are unfamiliar with tax implications of 1099 wages, we recommend consulting with an accountant.
Should you be accepted to join the Iterative Space, you will receive a $5000 stipend for 6 weeks of participation.
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No catch. This may seem radical or upside down, but we believe it is essential to approach both education and educators with an elevated set of values.
It is rare that you, as an educator, are given Space and time to develop your craft, and it has never been more important.
It is time to honor educators. You deserve Space to connect with others who are equally passionate whether from different schools, pedagogies, or perspectives.
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The Space itself has a full kitchen, which you are welcome to use. We will provide a catered and healthy meal with gluten free, vegan, and vegetarian options daily.
The fridge is stocked with coffee, tea, snacks, beer, wine, La Croix, and soda, etc.
You will have a dedicated desk as well as access to informal work stations.
We will do what we can to connect you with resources such as leadership coaches, technology consultants, graphic design, online LMS experts, and more.
The Space is peppered with whiteboards, sticky notes, markers and other supplies that you may need to work through your ideas.
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We have seen and been inspired by some institutions doing similar concepts in different areas of work. STIAS (https://stias.ac.za/) in Cape Town SA for instance. But, we are in very interesting times and feel strongly that now is the time to iterate on ideas in education, and have not seen this kind of opportunity for educators.
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We don’t offer any lodging for the residency. The Space is built out only for working. And while you will have access at any time to do your work at the Space, we strongly encourage you to also have balance during this time.
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We welcome applications from Denver, across Colorado and the US. However, we do not offer lodging for the residency. The Space is built out only for working. If your application is accepted and you are coming from outside the Denver area you will need to plan for your own housing during the residency.
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We take your safety very seriously and will be limiting the number of individuals at the Iterative Space to ensure everyone has ample personal Space. We will also have regular cleaning and ask anyone not feeling well to stay home. We will stay up to date on state and local recommendations and adapt accordingly.
That said, we also feel that working in proximity of others and sharing a meal is a vital component of Iterate. If the emerging and evolving recommendations are not in sync with the programmatic elements of Iterative Space, or if we become uncomfortable with our ability to provide a safe setting, we reserve the right to suspend this program.
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We are and will continue to adjust with guidance and recommendations from leading agencies regarding COVID.
That being said, The Iterative Space is designed to have a small group of approximately 15 educators, presenters and/or supporters in the space at any given time and has over 3,500 square feet, so there is ample of room to adhere to appropriate social distancing. Furthermore, there are two outdoor working spaces for residents to use!
We will also have regular sanitation and cleaning of the space per guidelines for businesses and schools.
Finally, we will absolutely encourage those not feeling well to stay home.