What are the responsibilities and job description for the Lower School Associate Teacher position at Convent of the Sacred Heart?
Convent of the Sacred Heart is New York City's oldest independent school for girls. As an independent, Catholic school, educating students in Pre-K through 12, we are part of an international network of 160 schools. We are committed to a set of principles shared by all Sacred Heart Schools. Known as the "Goals and Criteria," these principles articulate the core components of a Sacred Heart education and charge our community with a unified educational mission.
At the heart of our philosophy is the belief that each child possesses unique gifts. Our job is to unearth those gifts, nurture them, and empower each child of the Sacred Heart to share those gifts with the global community. Convent of the Sacred Heart is committed to building a community that is anti-racist, anti-bias, fair, inclusive, and welcoming to everyone and seeks candidates who connect to our Mission and Goals.
At the heart of our philosophy is the belief that each child possesses unique gifts. Our job is to unearth those gifts, nurture them, and empower each child of the Sacred Heart to share those gifts with the global community. Convent of the Sacred Heart is committed to building a community that is anti-racist, anti-bias, fair, inclusive, and welcoming to everyone and seeks candidates who connect to our Mission and Goals.
Lower School Associate Teacher
Full time
Beginning August, 2025
Position: Lower School Associate Teacher
Reports to: Lower School Division Head
FLSA: Exempt, full-time
Salary Range: $55,000 - $60,000
Convent of the Sacred Heart seeks an Associate Teacher to begin in August 2025.
The Lower School Associate Teacher Program is a two-year teacher-training program in one grade level designed for college graduates with a Bachelor’s degree who are pursuing a career in Early Childhood or Elementary Education. Applicants should be enrolled in a Master’s program or beginning the application process for one. Associate Teachers have the option to apply for a third year in a different grade level.
In addition to the responsibilities listed below, Associate Teachers will also participate in the CSH Mentoring Program in which Associate Teachers regularly meet with the Co-Directors of the Mentoring Program and the Associate Teacher cohort. The vision of the program is for Associate Teachers to collaborate with their Head Teachers, so together they can create a space where every child can achieve her greatest potential, and Associate Teachers can further develop their teaching practice. Associate Teachers, Head Teachers, and the Co-Directors will work together to set professional goals at the beginning of the year. Through teaching observations, feedback conversations, and on-going coaching Associate Teachers will work towards their goals. In their second (and optional third) year, Associate Teachers may be given more classroom responsibility at the discretion of the Head Teacher. Associate Teachers may also develop and teach a complete unit in math, reading, writing, or social studies to be evaluated by the Head Teacher and the Co-Directors of the Mentoring Program. Through this program, Associate Teachers may gain the skills, experience, and confidence necessary to succeed in the next step of their teaching career.
Requirements:
- Bachelor’s Degree, as well as enrolled in or beginning the application process for a Master’s degree program in Early Childhood or Elementary Education
- Experience working with children, ideally elementary school-age
- Solid understanding of child development, including cognitive, social, and emotional development
- Knowledge of, appreciation for, and demonstrated commitment to anti-racist, anti-bias education, multicultural teaching, and culturally responsive pedagogy
- Effective and professional oral communication skills in meetings, on the phone, and on Zoom
- Effective and professional written communication skills when writing reports, emails, and newsletters
- Strong interpersonal, collaboration, and problem-solving skills
- Extremely detail-oriented with systems for personal organization and time management
- Experience in teaching with technology, especially Google, Zoom, and Smartboard preferred
- Ability and willingness to adapt to changing circumstances (comfortability with occasionally supporting in coverage across grade levels)
- Experience with Learning for Justice, Singapore Math, Fundations, Fountas & Pinnell, and Writer’s Workshop preferred
- Maintain congruence between the school and the mission as articulated in the Goals and Criteria of Sacred Heart schools
- Provide a warm and inviting classroom community that promotes a positive and productive learning environment in which each student feels a sense of belonging
- Commit to addressing social justice, diversity, equity, and anti-racist, anti-bias education in the curriculum through lessons, actions, and discussions, as well as programs such as Learning for Justice
- Assist the Head Teacher by participating in all aspects of classroom life, including but not limited to classroom management, curriculum design, planning meetings, special events, and lesson and project preparation and instruction
- Differentiate instruction to support group and individual learning, and provide additional support and enrichment to students in small groups and one-to-one as needed
- Select and utilize texts, posters, resources, and language that represent a wide range of identities in daily lessons
- Support Head Teachers in preparing for and conducting parent conferences and reviewing progress reports, as well as reporting on the growth, learning style, and behavior of the students
- Identify and respond to each individual student’s academic and social-emotional needs in collaboration with the Head Teacher and the Support Services Team, and support in monitoring student progress to determine the effectiveness of interventions
- Collaborate effectively with grade-level team members, learning specialists, specialty teachers, and administrators by meeting regularly, sharing resources, and maintaining clear communication in order to support students and to enhance the curriculum, update curriculum maps, and plan and integrate thematic units of study across the curriculum
- Perform assigned, ongoing scheduled responsibilities with care (morning duty, roof duty, lunch duty, dismissal, late duty, bus duty dismissal, escorting students to and from specialty classes, etc.)
- Attend and participate actively in grade-level, division, and whole school faculty meetings
- Assume the role of Head Teacher if the Head Teacher is absent for any reason
- Attend in-house professional development specific to the needs of Associate Teachers
It is the policy of Sacred Heart to provide equal employment opportunity to all employees and applicants. This means that all employees and applicants will be treated on an equal basis without regard to race, religion, color, creed, gender, gender identity or expression, transgender status, national and ethnic origin, ancestry, disability, age, military or veteran status, marital and partnership status, citizenship status, caregiver status, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, sexual and reproductive health decisions, height or weight, predisposing genetic characteristics, criminal history, actual or perceived domestic violence victim status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable state, federal or local law (collectively referred to herein as “Protected Classifications”).
In addition to the Protected Classifications set forth in this EEO Policy, the School also prohibits any form of discrimination or harassment based on being a certified medical marijuana patient, pre-employment marijuana testing, unemployment status, sexual and reproductive health decisions, salary history, arrest or conviction, or domestic violence victim status in accordance with state law.
This policy applies to all terms, conditions and privileges of employment, including but not limited to: hiring, training, faculty development, transfers, promotion, compensation, benefits, educational assistance, employee facilities, termination, and retirement.
Salary : $55,000 - $60,000
