Maternity Leave Replacement for Seventh and Eighth Grade Literate Writer (English) Teacher

www.townschool.com

Town School for Boys seeks maternity leave replacement for a 7th and 8th English Teacher and Advisor from December 2018 to June 2019.

Located in San Francisco, Town School for Boys is a K-8 independent day school. Since its founding in 1939, Town School is committed to providing a dynamic and engaging environment that suits the developmental learning needs of boys. An intensive academic program is supplemented by fine arts offerings and outdoor education trips that take advantage of the school’s Bay Area coastal location. Our teaching balances traditional methods with key student-centered approaches including inquiry and project-based learning. Town School values academic excellence, respect for self and others, diversity and inclusivity, community service, and social-emotional development. Town places a high value on maintaining a collegial atmosphere among faculty members. There is an expectation of continuous growth and improvement for all faculty and strong support for a wide range of professional development opportunities.

Specific Responsibilities: The position involves teaching two sections of seventh grade and two sections of eighth grade, with twelve students each, as well as serving as an advisor to twelve 8th grade boys. There are weekly faculty meetings, regular department meetings, and weekly lunch and recess duty obligations. Seventh and eighth grade faculty offer a weekly elective class based on their interests. This position works with eighth grade faculty to mentor students and supports their research during the eighth grade capstone/inquiry project. As an advisor, the applicant will lead a daily morning meeting, support students in a study hall period, supervise a snack period, and facilitate student-led parent conferences in the spring.

Desired Qualifications and Skills: The ideal candidate will have a minimum of two years of teaching experience and experience working with students in grades 7-8. A credential or master’s degree is preferred, though not required. The candidate will have a deep knowledge of writing, English and literature, experience working in collaboration with a partner teacher, and a passion for working with middle school students. The position involves working closely with humanities, history, and English teachers as well as the Upper School Head. Candidates should be strong in their use of technology tools for teaching. Collaboration with the librarians and educational technologists is also expected. In addition, all students have individual computers, and students’ use of online resources should be integrated into classroom instruction. Instructional approaches and course content should be differentiated to suit different learning styles and reflect a diversity of perspectives and backgrounds. Faculty should frequently communicate with other faculty and with parents about student progress. Regular online posting of homework, as well as other online communication, should be kept up to date. Other responsibilities could include contributing to committee work, chaperoning field trips, and attending student performances and athletic events.

Non-Discrimination Policy: Town School for Boys admits students of any race, color, religion, or national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. The school does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sexual orientation, or national and ethnic origin in the administration of its educational policies, scholarship programs, athletic and other school-administered programs. Town School for Boys is an equal opportunity employer. Salary and benefits are commensurate with our peer schools in the San Francisco Bay Area and with like NAIS schools.

To apply for this position, please email a cover letter and resume to: Nick Malick at employment@townschool.com.

Mission At Town School learning is prized, love of school is essential, and boyhood is celebrated. Philosophy As an all boys’ school, Town provides a rich, challenging and rigorous educational experience that addresses the distinctive energy levels and developmental styles of boys. Town values being a diverse community that nurtures integrity, sensitivity and respect in its boys, and prepares them to become productive and contributing members of an ever-changing world. Core Values ● We value learning and academic excellence. We support and encourage each boy to do his best while helping him discover his strengths and talents.

● We value programs that balance academic effort, social interaction, physical activity and artistic expression while embracing character education.

● We value respect for ourselves and others. We model integrity, honesty and kindness in our daily lives and we take responsibility for our own actions.

● We value diversity, which brings the variety of perspectives that are integral to an excellent education and a dynamic community. We believe it is essential that every member of the community is equally valued and included in the life of the school.

● We value commitment to community service. We seek opportunities to improve our greater community through volunteer activities sponsored by the school as part of our role as good citizens.

Statement of Teaching Philosophy Our goal is for each boy to be engaged in an environment that weaves together collaboration, critical thinking, integrity, empathy, and creativity. These broad skills, as well as a firm grounding in core academic competencies, offer boys an excellent preparation for their further education. We promote social and emotional learning as a foundation of academic excellence and self-discovery. We prepare students to meet challenges in the world by helping them develop an appreciation for a variety of perspectives from the local to the global. We celebrate diversity by fostering a community of learners built on mutual respect. Learning experiences are inclusive, relevant, flexible, innovative, and adapted to reflect the needs of all kinds of learners. In our joyful, active, and collaborative school, boys flourish. We achieve these goals through an authentic curriculum that originates in the classroom, travels through the halls, and extends into the world. Our teaching balances traditional methods with key student-centered approaches including inquiry, project-based learning, and teaching for understanding. We stay relevant and current through our testing of innovative, research-based approaches. We model a commitment to lifelong learning, and we hone our craft by pursuing professional development and sharing knowledge with one another.

Commitment to Diversity Diversity, inclusion, and equity are essential core values of Town School. The best education for our students requires a diverse experience because a broad spectrum of ideas is essential for understanding different perspectives, challenging assumptions, and inspiring curiosity to support critical and complex thinking. We are committed to creating an inclusive and welcoming environment where each boy is free to be himself, and where boys are confident and secure in their own identities. We equip each boy with the tools to explore differences in experiences, background, beliefs, and ideas. We seek to provide each student with the support and resources he needs to succeed and thrive at Town School. A diverse and vibrant community is essential. To build and sustain such a community, we reach out to enroll students and families from a broad range of socioeconomic backgrounds, cultures, races, religions, and sexual orientations, and we recruit and retain faculty, staff and administrators from the same broad range of backgrounds. We cultivate an environment where every member of the Town community senses he or she matters as a significant part of the life of the school. Only when each person feels valued and is engaged may the school and the individual achieve their full potential.