Employment

Westside School is seeking a dynamic teacher to join our community school as a Middle School Humanities/Social Studies Teacher. A solid understanding of inquiry-based teaching is essential, as is the capacity for teaching in a standards-based environment. We are looking for a colleague who is committed to collaboration, interdisciplinary approaches and using technology seamlessly to enhance learning. The person we seek will personalize the experiences for their students and foster a sense of agency for the learners in their care. The learning environment will be co-constructed with their students and be a place where inquiry, success, resilience and agency are nurtured and celebrated.

We are seeking colleagues who are driven by:

• a strong belief in Westside’s mission, vision and values
• student-centered pedagogies
• a love of middle school learners
• a focus on trust, relationships and community

Our learning environment is characterized as:

• inquiry-based learning
• fostering agency in our learners
• service-oriented
• personalized
• joyful, nurturing and challenging
• diverse, safe and inclusive

Qualifications and Experience

Required

• At least two years of full-time classroom experience teaching in an accredited school
• At least a bachelor’s degree

Preferred

• A Secondary license or certification for teaching
• An advanced degree in education
• Recent and relevant professional development in teaching and learning

Professional Skills/Qualities

• Successful experience teaching standards-based curriculum and deep knowledge of inquiry-based learning
• Proven commitment to participate in and establish collaborative structures.
• Ability to provide differentiated instruction for students with varying levels of ability.
• Committed to utilizing data to make informed instructional decisions.
• Experience utilizing technology tools to enhance student learning.
• Proven ability to work successfully in a diverse and inclusive environment.
• Ability to communicate effectively with students, parents, teachers and others.

Teaching and Learning Responsibilities

Instruction

• Facilitates the instruction of middle school humanities classes.
• Establishes a well-managed learning environment where active, individual learning and progress for all students is the norm.
• Collaboratively develops unit plans by employing a backwards planning model that utilizes the identified scope and sequence and content standards.
• Utilizes data from varied sources (diagnostic, formative, summative, standardized, etc) to inform instruction and develop differentiated learning opportunities for students.
• Provides timely feedback to students that is actionable and relevant to their learning.
• Monitors, advises, and assists in the pastoral care of students utilizing our Advisory program resources.
• Effectively embeds intentional learning experiences focused on developing a child’s approach to their learning and offers ongoing reflective opportunities for our students.

School Community

• Understands and supports the diversity of the school community and students’ family backgrounds.
• Works in a positive, cooperative, and supportive way with students, parents, co-workers and other stakeholders.
• Communicates regularly with parents on matters of school business.
• Engages in and supports activities that help promote school spirit and sense of community.
• Promotes opportunities for developing community involvement throughout the wider community.
• Recognizes the importance of service learning to our community and promotes this with students and the wider community.

School Organization

• Actively participates in meetings they are invited to attend.
• Participates in professional development opportunities.
• Sets and engages in professional goal setting that is aligned to mission and vision of the school; engages thoughtfully in the evaluation process.
• Reads all staff bulletins for the whole school and their own division; checks and responds to emails within 24 hours.
• Conducts school business at all times in a professional and ethical manner.
• Safeguards the loss/damage of the school equipment and materials.
• Assists the administration and subject colleagues in covering classes and duties - 5 per school year.

Compensation & Benefits

This is a full-time position. The annual salary range is $61,000 - $90,000. Westside School offers a generous benefits package to full-time employees.

• 403b upon eligibility
• Medical and Dental insurance
• Life, AD&D, and Long-term Disability insurance
• Various voluntary insurance benefits including vision insurance, short-term disability, term life insurance, and many more
• 3 Days of Personal Time Off per year
• 7 Days of Sick Time Off per year
• Seattle Sick Time accrual
• 11 paid holidays throughout the year

Application Process

Interested candidates should send an application to: employment@westsideschool.org. The review of files will begin immediately upon receipt.

The application should include:

• Cover letter of application.
• Resume
• Educational philosophy
• A list of references (at least 3), including names, positions, current employment and contact email addresses. One of those should be the current supervisor.