Summer Academy Lead Teacher; Grades 1-5

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Summer Academy Lead Teacher (Grades 1-5) Summer Academy Lead Teacher (Grades 1-5) – DC Metro Area Description Overview

Horizons Greater Washington is seeking dedicated and effective candidates with a penchant for cultivating students’ lifelong joy of learning for the role of Grades 1-5 Lead Teacher in our five‑week summer program.

In the application, candidates will be asked to share their preference for the following locations:

3000 Cathedral Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20008

St. Patrick’s Episcopal Day School
4700 Whitehaven Parkway NW
Washington, DC 20007

Norwood School
8821 River Road
Bethesda, MD 20817

The typical daily schedule will be Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. For staff members who are riding the bus for bus duty, your schedule will adjust accordingly, based on bus schedules.

Staff Orientation: 06/23/2026-06/26/2025

Summer Program: 06/29/2026-07/31/2026

* There will be no program on Friday, July 3rd in observance of Independence Day on July 4th.

Horizons Greater Washington (HGW), an affiliate of Horizons National, is a dedicated leader in advancing educational opportunities by creating long‑term partnerships with students, families, communities, and schools to create enriching out‑of‑school experiences that ignite the joy of learning for our students.

HGW supports over 400 students across grades 1–9 with robust year‑round programming. Our approach is centered on whole‑child development, specifically focusing on building problem‑solving skills, fostering a strong sense of community responsibility, and instilling respect for self and others. By maintaining this multi‑year commitment from the first to the ninth grade, HGW cultivates meaningful, long‑term connections between diverse learners and dedicated, supportive staff.

Our program design and staff practices utilize a Positive Youth Development framework, prioritizing engagement, interaction, support, and a safe environment to effectively meet the needs of our youth.

The cornerstone of our work is the five‑week Summer Academy, which expertly blends high‑quality academics—with a specific focus on math, humanities, literacy, and STEAM—with comprehensive social‑emotional learning, arts instruction, swimming, and confidence‑building opportunities.

HGW is seeking experienced and effective Grades 1‑5 Lead Teachers to foster a lifelong love of learning. The role involves delivering an engaging, inquiry‑based curriculum in small classes (max 20 students). Teachers are fully supported by a Program Support Staff, Reading Specialist, and administrative team. We require expertise in project‑based learning, behavior management, and differentiation. Ideal candidates are flexible, creative, and passionate about advancing educational equity in the DC region.

• Implement Horizons’ high‑quality, culturally responsive, project‑based curriculum with effective teaching strategies to bolster student progress throughout our five‑week summer enrichment program.
• Engage approximately 15‑20 students in daily lessons that promote active, student‑centered learning in math and reading and project time.
• Analyze student assessment data to inform decision‑making and improve instruction, consulting with the Site Director and Reading Specialists as necessary.
• Collaborate and plan with the Reading Specialist to provide one‑on‑one and small‑group instruction for students who need more intensive support and/or enrichment activities.
• Lead already planned experiential learning experiences and accompany students on field trips.
• Collaborate with program support staff and other Horizons staff members to deliver lessons and activities.

• Establish and maintain a classroom environment conducive to learning. HGW’s programs adhere to the Pyramid of Program Quality designed by the David Weikart Center for Youth Program Quality. All HGW staff strive to support the domains of Engagement, Interaction, Supportive Environment, and Safe Environment to support the needs of youth.
• Maintain daily attendance…