26-27 Lower School Science Teacher

POSITION DESCRIPTION 

St. Catherine's School is an Episcopal day school in Richmond, Virginia, founded in 1890 enrolling roughly 950 girls age 3 through grade 12. Located on a 16-acre campus in the western part of the city, St. Catherine's core values include pursuing academic excellence, developing character, nurturing spiritual growth, celebrating individuals, and building community. 

St. Catherine's School provides a rigorous education that prepares girls with diverse perspectives for a lifetime of learning, leadership, and service in a global community.

POSITION OVERVIEW

The Lower School Science teacher must be able to create a flexible program and a class environment designed to cultivate each student’s learning and personal growth, especially in STEM. This teacher needs to establish effective rapport with students and motivate and guide students to develop skills, attitudes and knowledge needed for a foundation for lifelong learning and responsible global citizenship in STEM fields. The Lower School teacher is expected to stay current with best practices in elementary education, particularly with girls’ education. Establishing and maintaining positive relationships with parents and other faculty/staff members is essential. The Lower School Science teacher is expected to collaborate effectively with other faculty/staff members and be the Lower School Science Department Coordinator, as well as support the school’s mission and core values.

Supervisor: Head of Lower School and Early Childhood

Position Status:  Salaried, exempt, full-time, 9-month schedule

Hours of Work:  Standard work week.  Evening and weekend work may be required. 

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES

Specific duties of this job include, but are not limited to:

• Developing and teaching a science curriculum whose objectives are based on current national standards in science education and research and knowledge of developmental skills

• Providing individualized and small group instruction using a variety of instruction strategies, such as inquiry, group discussion and discovery in order to adapt the curriculum to the needs of each student

• Documenting children’s social-emotional and academic progress, as well as process thinking and learning through anecdotal notes, work samples, digital portfolio creation, and report cards
• Identifying student needs and collaborating with other faculty/staff members/support personnel (e.g., classroom/enrichment teachers, learning support services, therapists, counselors, etc.) in assessing and supporting students with regard to health, attitude and learning needs
• Establishing and maintaining positive relationships with families by communicating through narrative report card comments, emails, and/or phone calls as needed 
• Maintaining an inventory of instructional materials, aids and equipment 
• Participating actively and contributing meaningfully as Lower School coordinator at Science Department meetings
• Contributing positively to the School’s culture and community by adhering to the professional standards outlined by the School 

PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORK ENVIRONMENT

While performing the duties of this position, the employee is required to sit; stand; walk; use hands to finger, handle and feel objects, tools, or controls; reach with hands and arms; climb stairs; balance; stoop, kneel, crouch and crawl; talk and hear; engage in moderately strenuous physical activity both indoors and out; and smell. The employee may occasionally lift or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this position include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.  Ability to become CPR and First Aid Certified.

TRAVEL

Travel is not a requirement for this role.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY STATEMENT

St. Catherine’s School does not discriminate on the basis of race, gender, sexual orientation, or national and ethnic origin in the administration of its hiring practices. St. Catherine’s School is committed to providing an inclusive educational environment. We actively engage students, families, faculty and staff from diverse backgrounds and experiences. Our School community respects the differences in ethnicity, race, religion, sexual orientation and socioeconomic status. Consistent with the School’s mission, St. Catherine’s fosters in our students, and experts from all others, respect for the dignity and wholeness of every person. For more information on St. Catherine’s Access, Equity and Belonging please follow this link https://www.st.catherines.org/about/access-equity-and-belonging

CONDITIONAL OFFERS

An offer of employment for this position is contingent upon the applicant’s right to work in the United States, authorization for and completion of successful background checks as may be requested by the school or required by law.

BENEFITS
St. Catherine’s School offers a highly competitive compensation package for this full-time position with benefits to include excellent health plan options, retirement benefits, exhaustive professional development and networking opportunities as well as state-of-the art facilities.

Note:  This position description has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work to be performed by employees within this classification.  This position description should not be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties and responsibilities required or assigned to an employee in this position.  Nothing contained in this position description restricts St. Catherine’s School’s right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this position at any time.

REQUIREMENTS AND QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree in science or related field from an accredited university
• Experience is preferred but not required
• Demonstrate adaptability to new and evolving technology, and the ability to show innovation and vision related to the efficient processing of information related to this role 
• Demonstrate proficiency with oral and written communication