Lower Elementary Lead Teacher

Trinity School is an outstanding elementary day school serving preschool to Grade 5 students. Our school, both literally and figuratively, is in a unique position for an independent school. Across the street from Stanford University on Sand Hill Road and adjacent to downtown Menlo Park and Silicon Valley, we occupy 5.5 acres on both campuses. On our campuses, we sit at the crossroads of innovation and social consciousness. Trinity is a purposefully small school and has partnered with parents for 63 years to grow children, one at a time, into motivated and capable problem solvers with big hearts.

Trinity School is deeply committed to fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion within our learning community. We believe that embracing diverse perspectives enriches the educational experience for all students and prepares them to thrive in a multicultural world. Our curriculum reflects diverse cultures, histories, and perspectives, with an emphasis on promoting empathy, understanding, and respect for differences. We actively recruit and support a diverse faculty and staff to serve as role models and mentors for our students, and we provide ongoing professional development opportunities to promote cultural competency and sensitivity among all members of our community.

Trinity School is excited to announce an opening for a Lower Elementary Lead Teacher for the 2024-2025 school year. This is an exceptional opportunity for a teacher looking to join a team-oriented, inclusive, and professional learning community. The Lead Teacher will be responsible for maintaining a positive and appropriate educational environment in their homeroom and creating a program that meets each child’s intellectual and emotional needs. The successful candidate will work closely with colleagues across grade levels and the school leadership to implement engaging inquiry-based learning experiences for their students. The Lead Teacher is the primary connection a child has for their learning and social-emotional experience at school. Trinity upholds the partnership between home and school with role clarity and transparent communication to ensure the child’s well-being and progress. The Lead Teacher is joined in the classroom by a teaching assistant, whom they supervise.

The main content areas are Language Arts, Mathematics, and Social Studies. The successful teacher will have expertise and command of those subject areas and embrace a philosophy of inquiry-based education. The ability to differentiate instruction and content with students is essential. Students also have specialty classes in Science, Art, Music, Spanish, Library, PE, Drama, Design Thinking, and Religious Studies,

The ideal candidate will possess 3 + years of teaching experience in a lower elementary classroom environment, have a strong ability to collaborate, and be willing to contribute to a diverse, equitable, and inclusive framework. Understanding the unique developmental level of Kindergarten – Grade 2 students is pivotal.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree required. A graduate degree or degree-in-progress related to education is preferred.
• A minimum of 3-5 years of teaching experience in an elementary classroom

Personal characteristics and skills:

• A growth mindset, active sense of humor, warm personality, and excellent organizational and communication skills
• Demonstrated commitment to teaching and learning in a dynamic, 21st-century school community
• Appreciation of the developmental and age characteristics of preschool/elementary-aged students
• Experience utilizing differentiated instruction in an independent school environment.
• Enthusiasm for the mission of the school and for working collaboratively with fellow faculty members
• Warmth and a sense of optimism
• Flexible, creative, and innovative educator
• Demonstrated proficiency in educational technology
• Positive team player with a get-it-done attitude, good judgment, and creative problem-solving
• Commitment to the development of relevant professional knowledge, skills, and abilities
• Knowledge, willingness, and ability to support the canons of the Episcopal Church

Primary Responsibilities:

• Foster a safe and inclusive classroom environment where students feel valued and respected.
• Implement inquiry-based teaching methods to encourage curiosity and critical thinking skills.
• Implement small group instruction strategies to facilitate learning experiences that target specific academic or social-emotional goals for students at varying levels of readiness.
• Integrate social and emotional learning (SEL) into daily lessons, activities, and discussions.
• Build strong relationships with students and families to better understand and support their social and emotional well-being.
• Provide ongoing feedback and encouragement to students to promote a growth mindset and self-confidence.
• Incorporate diverse perspectives and experiences into the curriculum to promote cultural competence and empathy.
• Continuously assess student progress and adjust instruction accordingly to ensure all students are reaching their full potential.
• Engage in professional development to stay informed about best practices in education, especially around DEI, Inquiry, and SEL.
• Collaborate with teacher assistants to ensure they are helping to maximize learning in the classroom.

General Responsibilities:

• Upholds the mission of Trinity School
• Upholds the NAIS and CAIS Principles of Good Practice
• Is attuned to the culture of the School and its surrounding communities
• Supports and actively contributes to the School’s commitments to diversity and sustainability
• Attends trainings and meetings as needed

We hope to hear from you if this description resonates with your interests and goals.

Position Type/Status: This is a full-time/10-month position with a salary range of $70,000 to $95,000 with a generous benefit package

Contact Please send a current resume and a letter of interest to Colette McWilliams, Head of Elementary, cmcwilliams@trinity-mp.org

Tagged as: K-12