First Grade Homeroom Teacher

Overview

K-6 Homeroom Teacher
Position Title: K-6 Homeroom Teacher (Teacher)
Location: Main Campus (Mt. Vista)
Job Type: Salaried Exempt (Teacher)
Reports To: Head of School
FTE: Full time, 1.0 FTE

Gardner School is seeking a dynamic, experienced, highly skilled classroom teacher to join our community as our First Grade Homeroom Teacher. This is an exciting opportunity to collaborate with school leadership and faculty on growing and developing Gardner’s elementary school program and advancing the school’s impact in the SW Washington and Portland metro area. We are looking for a compelling classroom teacher who is committed to progressive education, inspired to innovate, and able to add value to our outstanding school.

Our Elementary Homeroom Teachers work together with parents, students, other staff, and administration to create a learning environment that supports student growth in both academics and social-emotional skills. Importantly, an Elementary Homeroom teacher at Gardner brings curiosity, creativity, joy, and humor to our community, demonstrating an appreciation for the same qualities in our students. The ideal candidate is someone who sees value in being part of a team, and who wants to create and innovate in their classroom curriculum approach.

Play and experiential learning, both on our campus and beyond, are important aspects of our learning community. The ideal teacher can differentiate and individualize instruction in ways that maximize student engagement and achievement, and guide their class through long-range thematic learning experiences and culminating projects and presentations.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Teach classes as assigned, providing effective and professional classroom instruction, assessment, and management. Incorporate tenets of progressive education, including experiential learning, and a whole-child approach. Help to maintain school policies, regulations, and expectations, and complete required forms and assessments in a timely manner.
• Collaborate with colleagues on curriculum development, coordination of thematic projects across subjects, and enhancing instructional practices and strategies. Integrate experiences and projects between homeroom classroom and specialist classrooms.
• Exhibit a growth mindset about teaching practices and work toward professional goals and development.
• Establish effective communications and relationships with students and parents.
• Develop and maintain professional, collaborative, and collegial relationships with faculty and staff, as well as with community partners.
• Provide effective supervision of students to promote a safe and healthy environment and school experience, both on campus and off campus. Teachers are expected (but not required) to travel with students on various experiential activities throughout the year, including potential trips out-of-state and overnights. Gardner does not have school-provided transportation, so duties may include transporting students or riding with parents and chaperones in personal vehicles.
• Opportunities to teach summer camps (not required) for additional pay beyond the 10 month salary.
• Participate in and assist with creating events outside of regular school hours, including community events, the Back to School picnic, curriculum nights, an annual Book Swap, our annual Auction fundraising event, and the Snow Ball dance.
• Assist with planning and participate in non-classroom activities, including field trips, Gardner Market, supervision of students during parent-teacher conference times, Field Days, and Wheels in School.
• Provide effective supervision of students to promote a safe and healthy environment and school experience.
• Represent the school at community or public events.
• Fulfill other responsibilities as assigned respective to faculty member’s status as a Gardner community member.

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Help to maintain school policies, regulations, and expectations.
• Exhibit a growth mindset about teaching practices and work toward professional goals and development.
• Develop and maintain professional, collaborative, and collegial relationships with faculty and staff, as well as with community partners to the benefit of…