Lower School Spanish Teacher

Position Information

Job Classification Faculty, Exempt, Salaried

FT/PT Status Regular Full-Time

Work Schedule Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., Wednesday until 4:30 p.m. for meetings. Occasional evenings are required for school events.

Department Lower School

Location Winchester Thurston School, Pittsburgh (Shadyside), PA

Position Summary

The Lower School Spanish Teacher provides instruction and supervision for students in grades Pre-Kindergarten through 5. The individual in this position teaches and serves in a manner that advances and upholds the mission and philosophy of Winchester Thurston School.

The Lower School Spanish Teacher performs under the general direction of the Head of School and under the daily supervision of the Lower School Director. They will handle most duties and responsibilities independently, though in accordance with established procedures and policies, and will seek direction from the Lower School Division Director when necessary. The individual in this position will work closely with the Director of Lower School, Department Chair, and members of the World Language and Cultures Department, and other lower school faculty members, students, and parents.

Lower School Faculty Members are responsible for planning lessons, teaching assigned classes, and maintaining classroom order and discipline. The Lower School Faculty Member will model ethical and professional development, enforce school rules, and be able to maintain confidentiality.

The Lower School Spanish Teacher is responsible for the following tasks:

• Teach PreK-5 Spanish classes, managing the curriculum, discipline, and classroom community and environment
• Plan and execute lessons, using varied methods of instruction and assessment, that are in accord with divisional curriculum and the school's educational philosophy
• Work as a team member with teaching colleagues and administrators by attending all school-wide meetings, department meetings, Lower School faculty meetings, and in-service days, and serving on committees as needed
• Demonstrate enthusiasm for and commitment to the School's City as Our Campus initiative by actively seeking meaningful community connections for experiential learning opportunities within and outside the classroom
• Create and maintain an appropriate and organized classroom environment with an emphasis on child safety and well-being
• Work on curriculum mapping, curriculum revision, and program development with other teachers in the World Languages department, academic department colleagues, and the Lower School Division Director
• Commit to ongoing professional growth through professional development opportunities and participating in faculty evaluation and growth processes.
• Communicate regularly with parents in an effective and timely manner through a variety of means, including email, telephone, and student progress reports.
• Assist the admission process by meeting with prospective families, attending admission events, and helping screen prospective candidates for admission
• Complete student assessment reports (e.g., report cards, pre-conference notes, etc.) in accordance with school guidelines and the deadlines established by the Lower School Division Director
• Fulfill duties that are connected with non-academic responsibilities, including but not limited to, taking attendance, lunch and recess duties, chaperoning field trips, after-school events or grade-level trips, and other assigned duties
• Perform other duties as assigned
  
  

Requirements

• Bachelor's Degree in Spanish or Education plus 3-5 years of teaching Spanish (required)
• A strong command of the Spanish language, appropriate pedagogy related to language acquisition (required)
• Experience teaching in an elementary setting (preferred)
• Excellent communication, organizational, and problem solving skills
• Collaborative approach to working
• Ability to interact effectively with parents, students, colleagues and other stakeholders
• Ability to utilize technology in the classroom
  
  

Supervisory Responsibility

None

Organizational Chart

Head of School; Assistant Head of School for Teaching and Learning; Director of Lower School; Lower School Spanish Teacher

Requirements

• Bachelor's Degree in Spanish or Education plus 3-5 years of teaching Spanish (required)
• A strong command of the Spanish language, appropriate pedagogy related to language acquisition (required)
• Experience teaching in an elementary setting (preferred)