Website Woodland School
Position Overview
Woodland School seeks an inspiring science teacher who develops students’ curiosity about the world and supports them in growing and applying their science skills. Teachers are encouraged to immerse students in collaborative learning experiences, critical thinking, evidence-based reasoning, and experimentation. The science department aims to engage students in real-world problems, and asks them to explore, explain, elaborate, and evaluate their findings as they go.
Science has evolved from a content-based field to a performance-based one where students acquire content through inquiry, experimentation, discussion, activities, and projects. Woodland school teachers facilitate student-centered learning by directing their authentic scientific scholarship towards complex, intriguing, and pertinent real-world challenges.
The position requires: maintaining a full teaching load for students in grades 7 and 8; serving as an advisor to ten to twelve students; and chaperoning and similar duties, such as Outdoor Education and school dances. Teachers are expected to help three times a week at recess and lunch duty.
Overview of the Department
The graduating Woodland student has a deep understanding of major concepts in science (e.g., patterns, change, cause and effect, structure, function, systems) and the skills to analyze the world scientifically. Woodland School also understands that responsible global citizens need the capacities not only to explain and explore scientific phenomena, but also to think critically and evaluate large amounts of data and information. With a shift in our society’s ability to gather data, students will need these skills in order to be responsible global citizens. Science students recognize that their ideas are integral to class learning and are expected to challenge their own and others’ understandings together.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
We seek a dynamic teacher who inspires students to ask questions and examine the world around them. This individual should embrace working collaboratively and creatively with colleagues in shaping various curricular areas and divisions. Candidates should be passionate about teaching and have a love of science and middle school-aged students, and have a desire to share and collaborate with colleagues across subject areas. They will:
– Hold a bachelor’s degree in science or science-related field. Advanced degree preferred but not required.
– Have a teaching certificate or credential, or equivalent professional experience that translates to successful classroom teaching.
– Possess excellent verbal and written communication skills.
– Collaborate well with colleagues of diverse backgrounds on pedagogical approaches, curricular alignment and instructional strategies. Applicants will be required to create integrated units of study with faculty members of other disciplines in an ongoing effort to deepen student learning and model real-world connections.
– Be prepared to lead several sections of 7th and 8th grade science, including assessment and evaluation of student work.
– Encourage collaborative teamwork in the classroom, teaching students to communicate effectively and thoughtfully, justify their reasoning and to consider multiple perspectives when solving problems.
– Invest in the life of the school by guiding a mixed-grade advisory program.
– Our advisory program focuses on social and emotional learning and establishing a collaborative community culture at Woodland School.
– Participate in weekly department meetings and multidisciplinary team meetings, anti-bias training, and all aspects that support the student experience.
– Demonstrate professional behavior, including discretion, judgment, and integrity.
– Effectively interact with a diverse population of students and faculty.
– Be able to clear a background check, LiveScan fingerprinting and TB screening.
Overview of Woodland School
Located just west of Stanford University, Woodland is an independent day school that offers a joyful approach to learning in a diverse, respectful, and inclusive environment for approximately 300 students in early childhood through eighth grade. There are two sections of each grade level K-8 with class sizes that average between 14-18 students.
Woodland School specializes in education that inspires students by nurturing each individual’s voice, intellect, and character. With rich content and an emphasis on inquiry-based and student-driven projects, students are empowered and encouraged to be active and engaged learners. Our students’ innate sense of wonder is the foundation of learning at Woodland School. Teachers craft meaningful, multi-sensory learning experiences that enable creativity, ingenuity, and deep interdisciplinary connections. Students explore and develop complex understandings that engender a sense of self and purpose in the world.
Woodland School’s faculty create a school environment that is as supportive and nurturing as it is challenging, and they embody the core values of the school—respect, integrity, curiosity, resilience, equity, and stewardship. Our teachers are themselves learners, constantly searching for ways to improve their practice. A robust professional development program supports our faculty by connecting them to the best practices in pedagogy, curriculum development, educational technology, and student assessment.
Physical Demands and Work Environment
The position can be physically demanding. Reasonable accommodations may be made if requested in advance.
Salary
The salary range for this position is $75,000-$105,000, depending on qualifications and experience.
This job description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by the employee(s) incumbent in this position. Employees will be required to follow any other job-related instructions and to perform any other job-related duties requested by any person authorized to give instructions or assignments. All duties and responsibilities are essential functions and requirements and are subject to possible modification to reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities. To perform this job successfully, the incumbents will possess the skills, aptitudes, and abilities to perform each duty proficiently. Some requirements may exclude individuals who pose a direct threat or significant risk to the health or safety of themselves or others. The requirements listed in this document are the minimum levels of knowledge, skills, or abilities. This document does not create an employment contract, implied or otherwise, other than an “at will” relationship.
Woodland School does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or national origin in the administration of its educational or admission policies, financial aid distribution, or other school programs. Woodland School is dedicated to the goal of building a culturally diverse and pluralistic faculty committed to teaching and working in a multicultural environment and strongly encourages applications from candidates who reflect such diversity.
