The Valley School of Seattle Hiring for Fifth Grade Lead Teacher Full Time

Position Title: Lead Teacher

Position Type: Full Time, Exempt

Term: August 2023 through June 2024

Benefits: Eligible

The Valley School is a co-educational elementary school, serving students in grades pre-kindergarten through the fifth grade. Founded in 1985, The Valley School offers a high-quality academic foundation in a small school setting, rich with opportunities for creativity, exploration, and play. We celebrate childhood. Our learning program is a mixture of playful work and purposeful play and is designed to be developmentally appropriate at each grade. Social emotional learning and skill development form an important pillar of our program, in addition to academics, specialist classes, and dynamic playground spaces designed to offer myriad opportunities for students to learn and grow. At Valley, we are committed to helping students learn to advocate for environmental justice in elementary school and beyond.

The Valley School Mission

At The Valley School, we ignite children’s natural passion for learning. Our students develop an academic foundation and become joyful learners through playful work, purposeful play, and the practice of community.

Our Values include: celebration of childhood, collaboration, creativity, equity and inclusion, kindness, and respect for individuality.

Diversity, Equity, Belonging, and Justice (DEBJ) Statement

The Valley School honors diversity, practices inclusion, and invites courageous conversations. We strive to create a community where each individual is valued, respected, and included. Though the journey can be muddy—much like our playground—we aim to give every child the tools necessary to flourish.

Essential Functions

Consistent with the Valley School’s Standards of Effective Teaching, the ideal candidate will:

Model and respect the School’s Mission and Values

Demonstrate a belief that all children can learn and recognize the different developmental stages, cultural backgrounds, learning styles, and passions that influence a child’s educational experience

Use a variety of teaching strategies to meet the learning, social, and emotional needs of a wide range of diverse learners

Design a clear, well-organized, well-balanced, and flexible curriculum that is responsive to the learning of each class and each child

Create and effectively manage a positive and respectful classroom environment that promotes student learning while fostering kindness, self-expression, creativity, and respect for differences

Set clear goals for student learning and use a variety of assessment tools to inform instruction and to provide frequent feedback to students about their progress

Communicate with parents and colleagues about student growth in a clear, professional, and timely way

Actively support colleagues and collaborate with other teachers and specialists to meet each student’s needs and to ensure the overall quality of education

Engage regularly in opportunities for professional growth and model a growth mindset

Participate actively in the life of The Valley School

In addition, the fifth grade teacher is responsible for helping students and families in the application process for middle school admission.

Qualifications

In experience and skills, the ideal candidate will have:

A Bachelor’s Degree in education, preferably in early childhood and elementary education; Master’s and Washington State teaching certificate preferred

Three years of experience as a classroom teacher

Experience in developing and writing curriculum

Experience in assessing student learning, using a variety of measurements and tools

Flexibility and adaptability to meet the needs of a wide range of learners

Experience in working with a diverse group of students and families

Strong communication skills, in both writing and speaking

Ability to work collaboratively with colleagues and families

Compensation

The Valley School offers salaries that are competitive with comparable schools in the Seattle area and are commensurate with experience and credentials. Salaries for lead teachers range from $49,000 to $86,000. We also offer an excellent benefits package that includes medical, dental, vision, life and disability insurance, and Paid Time Off, plus frequent opportunities for professional development.

Application

To apply, please email a cover letter, a current resume, and contact information for three references to Alice Baggett, Director of Teaching and Learning, at aliceb at thevalleyschool.org

Subject Line: The Valley School Fifth Grade Teacher

The Valley School does not discriminate against any person on the basis of age, sex, marital status, sexual orientation (including gender expression or identity), race, creed, color, national origin, honorably discharged veteran or military status, or the presence of any sensory, mental or physical disability.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $49,000.00 – $86,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Professional development assistance
• Retirement plan
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• 8 hour shift
• Monday to Friday

Ability to commute/relocate:

• Seattle, WA 98112: Reliably commute or planning to relocate before starting work (Required)

Experience:

• Teaching: 3 years (Preferred)

Work Location: One location