FOURTH GRADE TEACHER - JS

Shady Side Academy Junior School is seeking a full-time 4th grade teacher for the 2026-2027 school year. A successful fourth grade teacher engages students in meaningful learning experiences that meet their students’ needs and gives them the confidence to take risks. Shady Side’s teachers cultivate academic skill development and support students’ social-emotional growth. This applicant will work collaboratively within a team of child-focused educators and has a deep commitment to this important time in a student’s educational journey. 

A successful candidate will have:

• A depth of knowledge and understanding of child development
• A passion for working with children and developing high quality educational experiences
• A desire to participate in continued professional development
• A desire to meet the needs of a diverse community of learners
• A depth of knowledge and understanding of children
• Good organization skills
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Sensitivity to diverse communities of learners and an appreciation of developmental differences in a school setting

Primary Responsibilities

• Keeps students at the center of their decision making and instructional practice
• Collaborates with colleagues and supports endeavors that benefit the larger community
• Cultivates positive partnerships with parents through consistent and transparent communication about their child’s progress
• Utilizes the responsive classroom approach and desires to cultivate an emotionally safe educational environment for their students
• Implements the Math in Focus: A Singapore Approach curriculum to teach mathematics
• Implements the Fountas and Pinnell Classroom curriculum to teach reading
• Implements the Simplify Writing curriculum to teach writing
• Challenges students to engage in literary analysis of books through one-on-one, book club, small group, or a whole group format
• Will read aloud to students to model comprehension strategies and engage in discourse about literature
• Support students in crafting a written analysis of what they read 
• Support students in developing social studies skills such as: reading maps, categorizing information, analyzing artifacts and primary resources, comparing and contrasting ideas, and summarizing main ideas.
• Utilizes instructional strategies that are engaging, research supported, and meet students’ individual needs
• Integrates technology, STEAM, design thinking, and other innovative strategies into classroom instruction
• Successfully implements formative and summative assessments to inform instructional decisions and monitor student progress
• Will collaborate with colleagues to continually improve instruction and to ensure instructional consistency across grade levels
• Performs extra duties such as recess, lunch, arrival/dismissal duties and field trips as needed
• Attends all faculty meetings, in-service days, and teacher team meetings
• Completes other responsibilities as deemed necessary by the Head and/or Assistant Head of the Junior School

Requirements

A bachelor’s degree in elementary education is required. Ideal candidates have some experience working with elementary school students, a flexible and team-oriented approach, excellent written and oral communication skills, exceptional organizational skills and attention to detail, superior interpersonal skills, a sense of humor, positive demeanor.

Compensation 

Salary is competitive with area independent schools and commensurate with experience. Excellent health and retirement benefits are part of the employment package. Funding exists to support continuing education and professional development. Financial benefits include tuition remission for children of full-time employees, discounts on summer programs, and after-school programs. There may be free on campus housing opportunities available through participation in our Senior School Residential Life program.