High School English Teacher

Position Summary Canterbury School seeks a dynamic, intellectually serious, and highly skilled English teacher to join the High School faculty beginning August 2026. This role is ideal for an educator who combines a deep love of literature with expert teaching of writing and who thrives in a college-preparatory environment that values seminar-style discussion, authentic student voice, and close faculty-student relationships. The successful candidate will typically teach five sections of English, including at least one core grade-level course plus upper-level electives or seminar-style offerings, depending on departmental need and enrollment. As a mission-driven independent school, Canterbury also seeks a teacher who embraces the full life of the school: advising students, contributing to co-curricular programming, partnering with families, and collaborating actively with colleagues. Canterbury’s portrait of graduates—Artist. Athlete. Scholar.—requires an English classroom where students learn to read with nuance, write with power and clarity, and speak with confidence, empathy, and evidence. It also calls for a faculty culture in which English teachers work across disciplines to help students make meaningful connections among ideas, texts, history, science, the arts, and contemporary questions. The school is especially interested in educators who see cross-curricular collaboration not as an add-on, but as an essential part of innovative and relevant teaching. Core Responsibilities Teaching, Learning Design, and Academic Rigor Teach five sections of English in grades 9–12, typically including: ●at least one core grade-level course; and ●one or more upper-level electives or seminar offerings, depending on departmental assignment. Design and deliver rigorous, engaging instruction that develops students’ abilities to: ●read closely and interpret complex texts across genres; ●write frequently and revisingly in multiple modes (analytical, argumentative, interpretive, and creative where appropriate); and ●speak and listen effectively in discussion-based seminars and presentations. Use disciplined writing pedagogy grounded in evidence-informed practices, including explicit writing strategy instruction and feedback cycles that help students improve over time. Maintain high expectations for academic integrity, source use, and ethical participation in the intellectual life of the classroom. Develop learning experiences that encourage students to make connections across disciplines and contexts, including collaboration with colleagues on interdisciplinary projects, shared themes, or integrated units when appropriate. Advanced Coursework and Seminar Teaching If assigned to advanced coursework, design challenging, discussion-rich classes that prepare students for high-level reading, writing, and independent thinking. Support students in managing the expectations of advanced study through strong course design, clear feedback, and attention to skill progression. Classroom Culture and Student Experience Create a classroom culture that is warm, structured, inclusive, and intellectually demanding—where students are known, challenged, and supported. Foster respectful, evidence-driven discussion that promotes open-minded inquiry and mature engagement with multiple perspectives, consistent with the spirit of a strong college-preparatory classroom. Select texts and design learning experiences that reflect both literary excellence and broad cultural and historical range, supporting students in encountering varied traditions and voices. Assessment, Feedback, and Communication Assess student learning with clarity and consistency through strong rubrics, transparent criteria, and timely feedback. Maintain accurate records related to student performance and communicate proactively with students and families as appropriate to support progress and partnership. Partner with school counselors, learning support personnel, and administrators when student needs extend beyond classroom instruction. Collaboration and Departmental Contribution Collaborate closely with English Department colleagues as part of a professional learning community focused on curriculum quality, common expectations, shared rubrics and skills, and continuous improvement. Work across disciplines with faculty colleagues to support a more connected and innovative student experience, including opportunities for interdisciplinary planning, shared inquiry, and mission-aligned program development. Participate fully in department meetings, faculty meetings, and professional development. Advising and School Life Responsibilities Serve as a student advisor, building close relationships with a small group of students and supporting their academic growth, wellbeing, and connection to school life; when appropriate, communicate with families in partnership with divisional leadership and counselors. Contribute to the broader school community through supervision duties and participation in student life, such as coaching, club sponsorship, committee work, or other programming aligned to school needs and teacher strengths.