5th and 6th Grade Social Studies Position

5th and 6th Grade Social Studies Position

Why Walden School?

Walden is a vibrant learning community that inspires students to think critically and creatively, encourages and supports risk-taking in the classroom, and emphasizes the importance of intellectual curiosity and lifelong learning. Our responsive, dedicated, and compassionate teachers create a classroom environment that leads students to discover and develop their passions and provides them with the tools required to be successful in today’s complex, global society.

Teachers are empowered to engage in curriculum design and execution by bringing their enthusiasm and creativity to the classroom. Walden teachers are given creative agency to build and support our students' various learning styles along with creating trust-based observation through a collaborative learning and teaching approach. Walden focuses on equitable grading and teaching practices as well as shared decision-making on student success. Walden administration and faculty work in partnership to develop supportive classroom management as well as opportunities for continued professional development. Walden School believes in empowering faculty while providing each with classroom resources and community support while building autonomy as knowledgeable and skillful educators.      

Commitment to Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Walden School fosters a community of inclusion that respects, celebrates, and compassionately champions the culture, ethnicity, race, religion, socioeconomic status, sexual orientation, and gender identities of our LGBTQ community, and the personal diversity of each member of the Walden family. Walden strives to promote cultural competency and understanding through its curriculum, instruction, programming, and community outreach.

Position Description

We are currently looking for a Middle School 5th and 6th grade Social Studies  teacher to fill a next year vacancy with an experienced teacher who has a deep knowledge of and appreciation for teaching history including: Analyzing Historical Sources and Evidence, Making Historical Connections, Chronological Reasoning, and Creating and Supporting a Historical Argument. We are looking to fill this position as soon as possible. This position is tasked with implementing Common Core Standards while centering on 21st-century skills, experiential learning, and student-centered pedagogy. We firmly believe at Walden that the most important duty of this position is developing the love of history and the ability to contextualize historical and current events through claim based reasoning, collaborations between colleagues, and student mentorship. As a teacher and advisor, this position will also be tasked with facilitating advisory lessons based on a social/emotional curriculum. Candidates should feel mentoring students is equally as important as teaching content. Walden is a diverse community that draws students and families with a wide variety of ethnic, cultural, and socioeconomic backgrounds. Candidates who have experience with diverse populations are especially encouraged to apply.

Minimum Qualifications

• Experience teaching social studies at the middle school level

• Two years of experience in a classroom setting.

Preferred Qualifications 

• A degree in history or a related discipline, a master’s degree is desirable, but not mandatory.

• Current teaching certification is desirable, but not mandatory.

• Practical experience with Google Apps For Education.

• Strong communication skills, both orally and in writing.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Create daily lesson plans and learning activities for students based on standards in social studies education and research and knowledge of developmental behaviors.

• Deliver high-quality, engaging instruction in the form of discussion, direct teaching, blended learning, demonstrations, and independent practice using a variety of proven methods.

• Evaluate student performance on tasks established by the standards using different methods such as observation, performance-based tasks, or other assessment practices.

• Differentiate lessons when needed to give all students access to the curriculum regardless of learning need. 

• Establish a relationship  with the parent community to ensure that parents are kept well informed about their student’s progress

• Maintain a safe, orderly, and supportive classroom by modeling expected behavior and standards, promoting positive interactions, and quickly addressing behaviors that are not in line with the school discipline plan.

• Improve skills and knowledge in teaching by participating in ongoing professional development and discovering new methods of delivering exciting content to students.

• Collaborate with other teachers and parents to support the positive progress of students. 

• Participate in, and assist with, school events as required.

Benefits

Ongoing professional development opportunities; Progressive health, dental and vision care plans with built-in rewards; Life insurance up to one year’s salary; Retirement match and tuition remission for dependents 70%; Free extended daycare for dependents until 6 pm; Paid paternity, maternity, and medical emergency leave; Daily free lunch and parking.

Application Process

Submit a resume and cover letter to Kelly Von Busch: kvonbusch@walden-school.org 

In your cover letter please describe how your educational philosophy aligns with Walden’s mission statement, your specific experiences teaching diverse populations, and how your strengths as an educator will enhance Walden’s community.   

Non-discrimination Statement

Discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, or gender identity), national origin, disability, age (40 or older), or genetic information (including family medical history) is illegal and will not be tolerated.