Associate Teacher

Associate Teacher

The Philadelphia School (TPS) is seeking a full-time Associate Teacher for our Preschool-4s class. We are a Preschool - Grade 8 progressive, independent school located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with an enrollment of approximately 420 students. Since our founding in 1972, The Philadelphia School has grown in size, complexity, and diversity. This growth has been rooted firmly in the progressive values with which our founders began: immersive learning, responsive pedagogy, and meaningful engagement with the world.

The Philadelphia School seeks educators who possess a deep interest in progressive pedagogy, social justice, and place-based learning and who demonstrate a commitment to personal and professional growth. We hire experienced educators who have excellent classroom management and communication skills, as well as a flexible approach to teaming. All our teachers build respectful and supportive relationships with their students, develop strong home/school partnerships with parents and caregivers, participate in school wide initiatives, and work closely with their supervisor to develop their craft. Our teachers have strong interpersonal and communication skills. They are grounded in the practices of progressive education with a demonstrated commitment to supporting diversity and social justice as well as environmental education. All our teachers bring a rich range of interests and expertise to their work.

Position Summary:

The Associate Teacher for Preschool-4 plays an important and collaborative role in the classroom and works directly with students, classroom teachers, and specialists to plan and support implementation of curricula. The role of the Associate Teacher works with lead teachers and specialists to provide additional support while building their own capacity as an early childhood educator.

Responsibilities:

• Collaborate with the co-teacher, associate teacher, the Learning Resource team, and specialists to meet the needs of diverse learners
• Develop strong supportive and culturally sensitive relationships with students and their families
• Partner with lead teachers to develop an engaging thematic curriculum and interdisciplinary projects as needed
• Support students’ transition into ASEP and lead related activities as outlined by the Auxiliary Programming department
• Participate in weekly off-campus outdoor days in fall and spring
• Participate in the planning, preparation, and delivery of instruction with the mentoring of lead teachers
• Accompany students to specialist subjects and provide student support as needed
• Foster a classroom atmosphere that supports respect and inclusion
• Engage in a range of activities for school-sponsored and individually-sought professional development, including a periodic process of growth-oriented feedback and evaluation

Faculty are encouraged to partner with the Auxiliary Programming team to deliver up to two weeks of summer camp instruction, as well as extra-curricular club facilitation throughout the academic year. Participation in auxiliary programming supports the educational mission and helps sustain resources that benefit the entire TPS community. We value the unique expertise our teachers bring to these programs, and additional compensation is generally provided in recognition of this additional commitment.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field (or equivalent work experience)
• Enrollment in a teacher preparation / certification program
• Experience working with younger learners
• An interest in progressive philosophy and teaching methods
• An ability and commitment to create a warm, nurturing, and supportive classroom for young children
• Strong writing, editing, and communication skills both at the student and family levels
• Familiarity with or interest in outdoor education, Responsive Classroom, the Project Approach, and Reggio Philosophies preferred
• Spanish fluency a plus!

The salary for this position is $40,000 - $45,000 depending on education and applicable experience.

Application Process:

Qualified candidates should visit our website. For full consideration, please provide a cover letter tailored specifically to your interest in and alignment with our school program - including the grade level(s) that you are most interested in teaching, resume, and contact information with three professional references.

The Philadelphia School welcomes and celebrates diversity in our student body and in our faculty and is committed to providing an education for all of our children that instills in them a respect, understanding and appreciation for the many races, cultures, religions, family structures, and ethnicities that make up our complex and diverse world.

Equal Employment Opportunity

The Philadelphia School is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The Philadelphia School provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability or genetics. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)

We comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and other applicable laws to ensure fair treatment of all applicants and employees. If you need assistance or accommodation due to a disability, please contact our Human Resources department at humanresourcesoffice@tpschool.org.