Lower School Homeroom Teacher

Start Date: August, 2025

The Opportunity:

Carolina Friends School seeks a passionate, motivated, and experienced Lower School homeroom teacher for 4th Year (4th Grade) students to join our staff for the 2025-2026 school year. This teacher will integrate learning across disciplines, connect to real-world experiences, and create experiential, hands-on opportunities for students within and beyond the classroom. They will join a Lower School staff of skilled, dedicated teachers committed to the growth of the whole child and will work collaboratively to develop a student-centered, mission-driven curriculum.

As a member of a classroom team of teachers, this teacher will be responsible for teaching both in small groups and with the whole class, planning a developmentally appropriate curriculum, maintaining close communication with parents/guardians, and writing in-depth narrative assessments of students. In addition, this teacher will serve on school-wide committees, participate in our new staff mentoring program, and participate in school-wide staff development.

Collaboration, effective communication, and experience with curriculum development are essential skills for this position, as well as a deep understanding and appreciation of the developmental needs of students in this age group.

The Lower School:

The Lower School, strongly rooted in Quaker philosophy and student-centered practice, nurtures the intellectual, social, emotional, spiritual, and physical growth of the whole child. The School focuses on the unique worth of the individual, recognizing that each child grows in different dimensions and at different rates. The Lower School also recognizes that children learn best by doing and being engaged in activity; learning is enhanced by engaging their senses and interacting with their environment. As they experiment and explore, answering questions of real relevance, children develop skills of inquiry, reasoning, problem-solving, and communication.

Located on the main campus of Carolina Friends School, rooms in the Lower School are open, colorful, and designed for maximum flexibility, providing space for independent study, group learning, and play. The large playground invites various creative play activities, while the School's creek and wooded, rural setting offer an ideal environment for exploration and nature study. One of the greatest strengths of the Lower School is its community of talented, dedicated, and collegial teachers. The School is fortunate to attract outstanding educators who see teaching as a calling, as an art, and as an opportunity to nurture the whole child. CFS staff possess strong academic backgrounds and enthusiastically embrace the habit of lifelong learning. They are self-directed thinkers, always considering how to best meet the needs of their students. If our educational goals, Quaker values, and the School's mission speak to you, we invite you to consider joining our community.

Strong candidates will demonstrate:

Core Responsibilities:

• Designing, planning, and implementing instruction for 4th Year students across all subject areas, including literacy, mathematics, science, social studies, and social-emotional learning
• Guiding the learning of a Skills Group of about 10 students in particular and being the first point of contact for the grown-ups and caregivers of these Skills Group students
• Assessing, documenting, and communicating effectively about student growth and development throughout the school year
• Using a rich repertoire of teaching strategies and multiple approaches to instruction based on student need, differentiating tasks, and implementing accommodations for individual students
• Partnering with co-teachers, the Lower School Head Teacher, learning support staff, and specialists in support of the student learning experience
• Writing progress reports to document student learning and growth
• Meeting with families for conferences about academic progress and social-emotional development and on an as-needed basis throughout the year

Desired Qualities and Qualifications:

• Demonstrate an understanding of and strong affinity for Quaker philosophy and the School's mission
• Strong understanding of child development and a passion for working with students in the Lower School years
• In-depth knowledge of elementary curricula and best practices for research-based teaching and learning
• The ability to develop positive working relationships with all constituencies, including students, families, and staff
• High emotional intelligence and exceptional organizational and interpersonal skills
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Experience with engaging students in class discussions, fostering empathy, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills
• Commitment to professional development as a lifelong learner with a growth mindset
• Proficiency with digital communication and tools, and the ability to integrate technology effectively in the classroom
• Be willing to understand how power and inequality, influenced by factors such as race, class, gender, sexuality, and learning and physical disabilities, impact our students, families, and colleagues
• Ability to provide educational experiences that include diverse cultures and backgrounds and to create community and learning with students through a culturally responsive lens.
• An orientation toward taking initiative and self-direction
• Desire to work in a dynamic independent school as a team player and ability to meet varied demands with integrity, enthusiasm, creativity, and flexibility
• Bachelor's Degree and a minimum of three years of lead classroom teaching experience

How to Apply:

Interested candidates should submit, in one complete PDF file, the following to jobopenings@cfsnc.org, with Lower School Teacher indicated in the subject line:

• Cover Letter
• Resume
• Statement of Educational Philosophy
• Names and contact information for three references

Review of resumes will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. CFS reserves the right to close the recruitment at any time. Candidates are encouraged to apply as soon as all materials can be compiled.

APPLICANTS: Please review the Who We Are, Commitment to Diversity and Inclusivity, and Important Information for All Applicants sections on the CFS employment opportunities page.

Carolina Friends School actively strives to be a community of staff, students, and families of diverse backgrounds. CFS does not discriminate based on age, race, color, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, disability, socio-economic background, family structure, national or ethnic origin, genetic information, or military service in the administration of its policies and program.