SABBATICAL SCIENCE TEACHER

Position Description

Shady Side Academy Senior School is seeking a full-time Science Teacher starting on January 5th, 2026 and concluding May 30th. The Science teacher would teach three sections of Physics I, the first Science class for incoming 9th graders, and take on additional duties as assigned by the Senior School Head. Shady Side’s teachers cultivate academic skill development and support students’ social-emotional growth. This applicant will work collaboratively with members of the Science Department, Deans Office, Heads Office, and other Senior School colleagues to create and deliver student-focused and developmentally appropriate lessons. 

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.
• Cultivates an emotionally safe educational environment for their students.
• Teaches Physics I classes in grade 9
• Performs two additional duties, which will be assigned by the Head and may include after-school responsibilities.
• Utilizes instructional strategies that are engaging, research-supported, and meet students’ individual needs.
• Successfully implements formative and summative assessments to inform instructional decisions and to monitor student progress.
• Attends events such as assemblies, field trips, and other community events.
• Can care for the safety of the students by participating in fire, evacuation, and other safety drills. 
• Attends all faculty meetings, in-service days, and teacher team meetings.
• Writes report cards once a semester and will meet with, email or call families as needed to communicate student progress.
• Completes other responsibilities as deemed necessary by the Head of School  

A successful candidate will have:

• a commitment to a high level of academic rigor
• a growth mindset
• a strong practice in social and emotional learning
• a passion for working with and teaching adolescents
• a flexible, proactive, and team-oriented approach
• a commitment to culturally responsive teaching
• an appreciation of developmental differences in a school setting
• excellent written and oral communication skills
• superior interpersonal skills
• skill in facilitating student-led investigations and promoting hypothesis-driven exploration
• ability to develop conceptual understanding through modeling, real-world applications, and scientific reasoning
• comfort with lab equipment and digital tools for simulation and data collection (e.g., Vernier, PhET)

Requirements

A bachelor’s degree in a STEM field is required and a master’s degree in science or education is strongly preferred. Ideal candidates will have at least three to five years of secondary school teaching experience and/or experience working with high school age children.  Candidates should have a flexible and team-oriented approach, strong written and oral communication skills, exceptional organizational skills, superior interpersonal skills, and a sense of humor. 

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.