Temporary Lower School Homeroom Teacher

JOB SUMMARY:

Miami Country Day School is seeking a dynamic, passionate educator to join our Lower School team as a Temporary Lower School Homeroom Teacher. This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced elementary educator to join a supportive, world-class independent school community.

• Duration: This position is planned as a 4-month temporary appointment, with the potential for extension based on school operational needs.

• Impact: You will play a vital role in ensuring uninterrupted excellence, consistency, and a joyful learning environment for our young learners during a planned teacher leave.

The Lower School Program at Miami Country Day School is well-respected both locally and nationally. Developmentally sound practices along with personalized learning experiences characterize our approach to instruction. We nurture a passion for lifelong learning, self-confidence, and leadership while striving to make education relevant, giving our students the foundation they need for success far beyond their years at Miami Country Day School.

Miami Country Day School empowers every student, every day, everywhere to learn with vigor, explore with purpose, strive for excellence, and serve with honor, respect, and compassion as global citizens. We accomplish this in a warm, inclusive community where every student is known and valued by engaging the whole child, both in and out of the classroom, as they discover their full potential.

We are accredited by FCIS and SACS; active membership is maintained in SACAC, NACAC, NAIS, SAIS, CASE, CRIS, ERB, ALA, and the College Board.

The Lower School Homeroom Teacher brings an innovative, joyful, and highly collaborative approach to leading, nurturing, and teaching their homeroom class. A successful candidate is deeply committed to student-centered learning, designs curriculum experiences that build connections across subjects, fosters a true sense of belonging for all learners, and supports each student in reaching their highest academic and personal potential.

Communication and partnership are central to interactions with our students, families, and faculty across all areas of school life. The Lower School Homeroom Teacher embodies our mission and core values in all they do and say in support of empowering every student to become a compassionate global citizen.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS AND TASKS:

• Execute the core responsibilities inherent in being a lead teacher for lower school students, especially regarding personalized and developmentally appropriate curriculum, as well as the fostering of social skills and values.
• Nurture an optimal classroom learning environment that focuses on creating belonging and equity.
• Build a warm and inclusive classroom environment by implementing the practices of Responsive Classroom.
• Display a genuine disposition for engaging children’s curiosity in learning that honors the whole child and their developmental stages.
• Understand the needs of diverse constituencies within the school community, possessing the skills and attitude necessary to deliver an exemplary experience equitably to all students.
• Be an integral part of the dynamic learning community, demonstrating a commitment to ongoing professional learning.
• Demonstrate a desire for feedback and a dedication to excellence.
• Collaborate with other teachers to plan and teach units based on the Understanding by Design model of instruction that encompass hands-on exploration, inquiry process skills, and the development of students' conceptual frameworks.
• Collaborate with homeroom and specialist teachers to develop and teach interdisciplinary units of study.
• Demonstrate expertise in a variety of teaching models that support different learning styles and purposefully generate opportunities for students to interact and share ideas with their peers.
• Develop meaningful formative and summative assessments that provide timely feedback to support student growth and success.
• Work with LS Administration to build and evolve a curriculum continuum.
• Consistently demonstrate a high degree of professionalism, including accountable conversations that promote the school’s core values.
• Facilitate a strong home-school connection for families by communicating successes and goals via emails, conferences, and phone calls.
• Perform supervisory duties as assigned.
• Establish and maintain cooperative, trusting, and effective working relationships with all members of the school community.
• Maintain a good sense of humor, enthusiasm, and a strong work ethic.
• Communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.
• Demonstrate knowledge and implementation of relevant technology for teaching and learning.
• Demonstrate enthusiasm for Miami Country Day School and its mission. 

SCHEDULE:

• Monday - Friday 7:40am - 4pm
• Ability to attend required meetings and professional trainings, including those scheduled outside standard operating hours.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree (BA or BS) in Elementary Education or Early Childhood Education required.
• Completed or in-progress master’s degree in Education preferred; applicants with demonstrated, successful teaching experience are highly encouraged to apply.
• Three (3) or more years of lead teaching experience preferred.
• Proven record of consistent, punctual, and reliable attendance.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment while managing diverse challenges, firm timelines, and a broad array of school community contacts.
• Flexibility to perform related duties as assigned to support the goals and objectives of the overall school program.
• Demonstrated proficiency in implementing relevant educational technology and using computers and digital tools for daily communication and instruction.
• Regularly required to sit, stand, walk, talk, hear, reach with hands and arms, and operate standard office equipment, computers, and hand-held educational devices.
• Ability to regularly lift 20 pounds and occasionally lift up to 50 pounds.
• Ability to perform outdoor supervisory duties in varied outdoor weather conditions, including South Florida heat and humidity.