Grade 2-3 Language Arts/Social Studies Teacher-Administrator

Walden Center and School seeks a dynamic 2nd/3rd Grade Language Arts and Social Studies Teacher to join our teaching collective in the fall of 2024. If you have a vision of building a close-knit community, of working with kids, parents, and a small committed team of educators, this may be the engaging, invigorating, satisfying job you are looking for.

Walden Center and School has been a leader in progressive elementary education and collective administration for over 65 years. Walden is an independent K-6 school where drama, music, language, and art sit alongside traditional academic subjects as our core curriculum. At Walden, we believe that children learn best when their academic, emotional, physical, and social needs are addressed, and families are an integral part of our community. Teachers take an individualized approach in designing their curricula in order to meet each child where they are developmentally.

We believe that tests and grades are not the best measure of a child’s learning. Instead, teachers are guided by informal assessments, and close observation. We do not give tests or grades.Also, the teachers run the school as a teacher-led collective, which provides them with autonomy, and the right and responsibility to make decisions that affect both their own classrooms and the whole school. We are passionate about working with the diversity of our current community and strive to support an environment that feels inclusive and intentional.

Our approach to learning encourages creativity, collaboration, and critical thinking as a means to help children develop a lifelong love of learning, a strong sense of community, and a powerful sense of self. We believe learning should be personalized, child-centered, and joyful.

Job Description

Middle Group (2nd-3rd Grade) Language Arts and Social Studies Teacher:

This position is for co-teaching the Middle Group, using a self-developed language arts and social studies curriculum in collaboration with the Middle Group Math/Science teacher. Our Middle Group teachers integrate arts and play-based learning in their lessons in a hands-on, meaningful way. Walden teachers practice flexibility, openness, and keen observation to fully engage students and support their joy of learning. This mixed grade class provides opportunities for community-building, leadership, and encourages playful and joyful learning for both 2nd and 3rd grade students.We believe that this approach honors different learning needs and life experiences. We utilize various assessment tools to inform our teaching. We do not administer formal tests or give grades.

Teaching Duties:

Collaborate with the Middle Group team (Math/Science co-teacher and Arts teachers) to develop a cohesive, robust Middle group program.

Create an engaging and developmentally appropriate multisensory language arts and social studies program for the Middle Group.

Prepare hands-on, project-based lessons grounded in constructivist principles

Plan and implement thoughtful language arts, social studies, social-emotional, and anti-bias unit

Conduct informal assessments to track progress, inform teaching and engage learners

Foster a warm, welcoming, safe classroom community

Ability to create a positive learning environment through consistent, fair, and respectful classroom management

Communicate effectively about student learning and behavior with parents and students' other teachers

Contribute to weekly notes home regarding curriculum, special events, and classroom needs

Attend parent-teacher conferences in the fall and spring and as needed throughout the year

Administration (Collective duties)

At Walden, there is no “principal” of the school. We operate as a collective, meaning that the teachers are solely responsible for all matters pertaining to the school's day-to-day operation and leadership functions. In this non-hierarchical structure, all teachers play an equal role in the running of the school, and decisions are made on a consensus model.

For your first two years, your duties as a member of the collective will include the following:

Actively participating in weekly staff meetings

Participating in the planning and executing of school events, including community-wide events and assemblies

Collaborating to ensure the smooth operation of the school, which might include coordinating schedules, making admissions decisions, and communicating with other stakeholders

Implementing and managing school policies and procedures, helping to ensure a safe and supportive learning environment

Participating in at least two school committees

Supporting other administrative needs as they arise

Meeting with a mentor once a week

Typically, in your third year at Walden, your duties will shift as you become a core collective member. This will entail:

Additional time with the other core collective members for sensitive and pressing issues

Leadership positions on school committees

Evaluating, mentoring, and managing fellow employees

Ultimate responsibility for community-wide issues, complaints, problems

Managing the recruitment and hiring of new staff

Other Collective duties

Being on-site from 8:45-3:15p for full teaching days and till 6p on Wednesdays for staff meetings

Supervising students when assigned duty

Covering and teaching other classes as needed

Collaborating with Collective members in consensus building process

Reading and responding to emails regarding school business in a timely manner

Attending and participating in school events

Reflecting on and supporting the school’s vision and mission

Commitment to participate in collectively administering the school using a consensus model

Supporting ongoing school business after hours and on weekends as needed

Supporting administrative goals generated in the meeting by taking on tasks

Summer Duties: admissions support, ongoing committee projects, and other tasks; meeting when needed

Qualifications:

Bachelor’s Degree

3+ years experience teaching at the elementary school level

Knowledge of child development

Experience designing child-centered, age-appropriate, multi-sensory curriculum

Experience implementing anti-bias approaches and curriculum

Robust classroom management skills

Ability to adapt instruction to meet the diverse needs of learners

Familiarity with social-emotional learning curricula and/or anti-bullying programs

Excellent communication skills

Ability to be flexible

Preferred:

Responsive Classroom training and experience

Experience teaching 1st-4th grades

Multiple-Subjects/Elementary Teaching Credential

Trained in Orton Gillingham approach to reading instruction

Desired:

Experience in mission-driven nonprofit work

Skills and experience that will add to our Collective Administration: event planning, finance, marketing, project management, construction, gardening, scheduling, tech skills, social media

Knowledge or experience of collective/worker cooperative model workplaces, non-hierarchical organizations

For more information about Walden, see our website: www.waldencenterschool.org.

Please send a resume and cover letter addressing your philosophy of education and add "MG ELA Teacher Hiring" to the subject line.