Lower School Assistant Teacher

Collegiate School seeks an energetic and committed educator to serve as an Assistant Teacher for the 2026-2027 school year. This is a part-time, non-benefited faculty position. The hours for the position are 8:00 am to 1:35 pm daily. Attendance at full in-service days, conference days, faculty meetings, evening parent meetings, and other events outside of assigned hours as requested. 

This is a 10-month position reporting to the Head of Lower School. 

General responsibilities will include:

• Supports the Lead Teacher in upholding a developmentally appropriate, learner‑centered curriculum that nurtures inquisitive thinkers, responsible citizens, and compassionate leaders.
• Assists Lead Teacher in maintaining routines, transitions, and expectations that create a safe, orderly, and inclusive classroom community where all students feel respected, valued, and supported in their social, emotional, and physical well‑being.
• Collaborates effectively under the guidance and leadership of the Lead Teacher while contributing to a cohesive, student-centered classroom environment rooted in shared purpose.
• Provides small‑group and one‑on‑one instructional support that reinforces lessons, responds to diverse learning needs, and upholds high expectations for every student.
• Monitors student behavior, engagement, and progress, sharing observations with the Lead Teacher that help inform responsive instructional decisions and meaningful assessments of understanding.
• Applies current best practices in elementary instruction, inquiry-based learning, and social-emotional development, with the ability to implement curricular approaches including language and literacy development and Responsive Classroom practices.
• Understands age appropriate developmental benchmarks and apply them to instructional planning and responsive teaching.
• Applies strategies that integrate social-emotional learning with academics, using positive teacher language, interactive modeling, logical consequences, and community-building routines
• Builds strong, collaborative relationships across the Collegiate community including faculty, staff, students, parents, and applicants through consistent, professional communication that fosters trust and partnership and reflects shared values.
• Performs routine classroom clerical tasks that contribute to a well‑organized, efficient, and student centered learning environment.
• Takes initiative to engage in academic instruction that aligns with and advances the Lead Teacher’s plans
• Participates in all required School events, including those occasionally held outside regular school hours, as an engaged member of the Collegiate community.
• Participates in Admission Open Houses and serves as a positive ambassador for Collegiate, sharing the school’s values, traditions, and commitment to student learning with prospective families.
• Supervises students during assigned duties with attentiveness and care, ensuring student safety while nurturing respectful interactions and healthy behavior patterns.

Successful candidates will possess the following qualifications and competencies:

• Holds a bachelor’s degree in early childhood or Elementary Education (required); a Master’s degree and/or Virginia teaching certification is preferred
• Responsive Classroom training preferred
• Demonstrated elementary teaching experience

It is critical that candidates demonstrate a commitment to the School’s Core Values and Mission 

HONOR 

Personal integrity and devotion to the truth, which make one trustworthy, forthright, responsible and fair.

LOVE OF LEARNING

A creative spirit that promotes intellectual and personal growth through exploration, inquiry and openness to change.

EXCELLENCE

A sustained commitment to meeting high standards of character, achievement and personal accountability.

RESPECT 

Fundamental regard for the dignity and worth of each individual.

COMMUNITY

A commitment to responsive and compassionate citizenship and service on campus, in the local community and in the broader world.  

Required Competencies:

• Excellent communication skills with the ability to communicate the School’s shared purpose; builds trust among colleagues; is accountable; lives up to commitments.
• Proven cross cultural competency skills demonstrating self awareness, awareness of others and the ability to adopt inclusive perspectives, attitudes and behaviors to drive inclusion and belonging in the ongoing development and maintenance of an inclusive campus community.
• Demonstrates a strong commitment to a servant leadership model focusing on the growth and development of the team to successfully fulfill shared goals.
• Understands the big picture and handles areas of responsibility in a manner consistent with the School’s mission and values.  Offers assistance within the office especially during busy times.
• Relates to the Collegiate community including faculty, staff, students, parents and applicants in a cooperative manner.
• Meets deadlines, demonstrates effective use of time and handles multiple assignments simultaneously.
• Understands the need for growth and is receptive to constructive feedback.
• Maintains confidentiality at all times.

Who we are

Collegiate School is a co-educational, independent day school located in Henrico County, within 20 minutes of downtown Richmond, Virginia, for students in Junior Kindergarten through 12th grade. For more than 100 years, Collegiate has nurtured inquisitive thinkers, responsible citizens, and compassionate leaders. Grounded in the values that have sustained it over the course of more than a century, Collegiate provides its nearly 1,700 students with an engaging academic environment dedicated to preparing them for a globally connected and changing world.

The essence of Collegiate School is the richness of relationships among students, faculty, parents, administrators, and alumni in a dynamic learning community with high personal and academic expectations. This exceptional educational environment enables students to develop their potential for intellectual growth, leadership, and service.

Why Collegiate?  

Collegiate School is well-regarded for developing students into citizens who lead, serve and shape the world. We do so with the help of a caring faculty and staff who also have opportunities to lead, serve and shape the world, through the young lives they touch.

Below are just a few examples of some of the great advantages of working at Collegiate:

• Excellent professional development opportunities for faculty and staff
• Collaborative working environment
• A rich employee benefits package (which includes free lunch!)
• Opportunities for growth and leadership
• An environment that fosters creative and innovative instruction

The School is committed to a policy of non-discrimination and equal opportunity for all employees and qualified applicants without regard to race, color, gender (including pregnancy), age, religion, national origin, ancestry, sexual orientation, disability, veteran or military status, marital status, genetic information, or any other status protected by applicable law. Employment decisions at the School are based on merit, qualifications and skills.