What are the responsibilities and job description for the Apprentice Teacher, Lower School position at Park City Day School?
Position Overview: Park City Day School, a small, independent PS-Grade 8 school located in Park City, UT, seeks a passionate, creative, and energetic educator to join our team for the 2026-27 school year as an Apprentice Teacher in an elementary classroom.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
- Secondary Classroom Instructor
- Assist a Lead Teacher with all aspects of a Lower School classroom;
- Instruct small groups in Fundations Literacy and Eureka Squared Math lessons.
- Support the development of weekly lesson plans including instructional objectives, learning activities, collaborative integration with specialist teachers, assessment, and use of resources
- Support the lead teacher when implementing effective classroom management procedures aligned with the PCDS “Strive for Five” values to create a classroom environment that promotes learning, nurtures age-appropriate development of social-emotional skills, and establishes a welcoming classroom culture consistent with our school’s mission;
- Support students by attending specialist classes
- Ability and willingness to be flexible and work in variety of scenarios, including outside play, rest/quiet time, leading the classroom when necessary, participating in Specialist classes in the arts and wellness;
- Participate in the school community including collaboration meetings, weekly faculty meetings, professional development sessions, and special events;
- Adhere to Park City Day School policies and procedures as a professional educator.
Requirements:
- Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
- Experience working with groups of children in an organized setting.
- Demonstrated understanding of child development.
- Demonstrated willingness to be creative and bring in new activities for the group.
- Evidence of strong organizational skills, oral communication, and interpersonal skills.
- Personal and professional qualities: The successful candidate should possess the following personal qualities:
- Educational Expertise: PCDS teachers evidence a successful academic background and a mindset for lifelong learning and continuous professional improvement.
- Rapport with Children: PCDS teachers instruct in a broad range of curricular and co-curricular areas; however, the true subject of a PCDS education is children. PCDS teachers’ ability to connect, both individually and collectively, with children is critical to their success.
- Collegiality: Although the self-confidence and autonomy to plan and lead classes is essential, PCDS teachers collaborate with colleagues and share ideas to ensure that the whole is more than the sum of its parts. In peer groups, successful Park City Day School teachers serve both as contributing followers and respectful leaders.
- Engagement: As invested citizens of a school community and world network, PCDS teachers model the active intellectual and moral engagement necessary for a successful, sustainable society.
- Adaptability: To set a high standard in a world characterized by constant and rapid changes, PCDS teachers adapt creatively.
- "Strive for Five" School Values: Our teachers daily model our five School Values - Integrity, Responsibility, Respect, Teamwork, and Compassion - and actively integrate them into the fabric of our school community through reflective opportunities and other daily “teachable moments.”
- General Qualifications:
- A college bachelor’s degree is preferred.
- Three years of experience working with children is strongly preferred.
- Desire to pursue a career in education