Junior Kindergarten Teacher; Leave Replacement

Grace Church School is a JK–12, independent school located on two nearby campuses in downtown New York City. An Episcopal school, welcoming children of all faiths and of none, Grace believes in the inherent, precious dignity of every individual and seeks to provide an outstanding education worthy of our common humanity. Successful candidates will demonstrate a commitment to the Episcopal values of dignity and belonging.

Grace is a school of big ideas, and our structured curriculum promotes academic excellence through a pedagogy of joy: an approach that reflects our belief that joy is the fuel of academic achievement, and that students learn best when motivated by delight, wonder, curiosity, and purpose. We work hard to nurture a culture of dignity and belonging, and we seek to foster in each student skills of intellectual excellence and habits of ethical virtue.

Grounded in tradition, the school remains ever open to innovation, looking to the best research on the science of learning and the craft of teaching to advance the timeless values and aspirations of our mission.

Grace Church School seeks a nurturing and collaborative individual to join our Junior Kindergarten (4/5s) teaching team on December 7th as a Head Teacher leave replacement for the remainder of the  school year. Reporting to the Director of Early Childhood, Early Childhood Head Teachers collaborate with grade level colleagues, specialists, and administrators to deliver instruction that is responsive to the needs of individual students and grounded in best practices.

The Junior Kindergarten is a shared classroom space where all of the teachers work closely together. An element of this position will be to uphold and build off of the routines and practices that have already been established by the current Head Teacher. Working closely together with the current Head Teacher for 2 weeks in December to learn about the environment and remaining scope of the school year will be an important and helpful beginning to the role.

Qualified candidates must display strong classroom management skills, a proven commitment to professional growth, and an eagerness to partner with families in a mutually supportive relationship. In addition, ideal candidates must demonstrate an ability to bring joy and energy to their daily interactions with children as well as the cultural competency needed to work and communicate effectively with individuals from diverse backgrounds.

Candidates should also possess a positive attitude and outlook along with flexibility.

• Cultivate a warm and inviting classroom community that promotes a positive and productive learning environment
• Guide, train, mentor, and support a Junior Kindergarten Associate Teacher
• Develop, plan, and teach all disciplines related to homeroom curriculum
• Experience with strategy-based literacy and math instruction preferred, including, but not limited to:
• Bridges in Mathematics, Amplify CKLA, Sounds in Motion
• Implement responsive, equitable, and positive classroom management strategies
• Collaborate with grade-level team members to enhance the curriculum with commitment to addressing social justice, diversity, equity, and anti-bias education, and demonstrate competence in antiracist pedagogy
• Utilize technology where appropriate when teaching and planning lessons
• Work with grade-level team members and the Director of Early Childhood
• Identify and respond to individual student’s academic and social-emotional needs in collaboration with the Director of Early Childhood, the Learning Specialist, the Literacy Specialist and the JK-4 School Counselor
• Communicate effectively with families on a regular basis through meetings, phone calls, emails,…