SY 6th Grade Classroom Teacher

Job Description:

6th Grade Classroom Teacher – Thornton Academy Middle School (TAMS).

Classroom teachers are overseen by the Associate Head, and report directly to either the Principal (middle school) or the Assistant Head for Faculty and Academic Affairs (upper school) in fulfilling all responsibilities.

Working individually and collaboratively, Thornton Academy classroom teachers develop and provide appropriate, meaningful, and coherent learning experiences that match, challenge, and extend students’ knowledge and skills; assess student progress regularly through a range of methods; incorporate digital age tools and resources to apply learning to authentic, real‑world problems; and utilize best practices and assessment data in planning and delivering curriculum and instruction.

• Have and/or develop a high level of expertise and knowledge in terms of content, curriculum development, and pedagogy.
• Be professionally reflective and growth-oriented: recognize strengths, address limitations, accept and act upon constructive guidance, pursue professional development opportunities, participate in school improvement efforts.
• Demonstrate the genuine patience, flexibility, and enthusiasm necessary for working with adolescents.
• Recognize the need for appropriate boundaries with students, establishing positive, helpful, and supportive relationships while avoiding becoming a friend, confidant, or counselor to individual students.
• Adhere to the highest professional standards in all interactions and communications with fellow members of the Thornton Academy community (faculty, students, and colleagues).

• Plan and prepare thoroughly to use traditional and contemporary tools and resources to:
  • Facilitate and inspire student learning.
  • Promote, support, and model creative thinking.
  • Engage students in exploring real‑world issues and solving authentic problems.
• Establish and administer an effective and appropriate classroom management system that teaches, promotes, and models attributes of good citizenship and societal responsibility in both personal (face‑to‑face) and digital forums.
• Plan and provide purposeful academic instruction that is clear, coherent, and appropriately differentiated, and that demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and work processes representative of an innovative professional.
• Design and utilize digital age assessments in order to monitor, evaluate, follow up, and track student progress.
• Communicate regularly, honestly, respectfully, and promptly with parents/guardians and colleagues.
• Be thoroughly familiar with safety and emergency protocols and procedures, and be able to follow those procedures reliably as required.
• Work continuously to improve practice, act collegially, and exhibit leadership within the Thornton Academy professional community.
• Accept and meet professional responsibilities within the school as a whole by knowing and accepting job obligations outlined in the faculty/staff handbook and/or assigned by the Headmaster.

• Letter of interest.
• Current resume.
• Completed application form (available for download here).
• Three letters of reference, including contact information for each individual.
• Copies of all post‑secondary transcripts (unofficial/student‑issued transcripts are acceptable for initial application; official transcripts may be requested later).
• Evidence of a current criminal history records check (CHRC) certificate, required by state law.

All materials should be submitted electronically to lisa.estabrook.

Thornton Academy is an independent town academy located in Saco, ME, serving a range of students including both publicly funded local students as well as private day students from towns across the region as well as an international boarding program.

The Thornton Academy Board of Trustees has adopted a non‑discrimination policy. Thornton Academy considers all applicants without regard to race, age, color, ancestry or national origin, religion, gender, gender identification, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, marital, veteran, or any other legally protected status.