Lower School Grade 4 Teacher

Description

About Us

The Fessenden School is an all-boys independent day and boarding school serving 540 students in Pre-Kindergarten through Grade 9 in West Newton, MA. Our mission is to cultivate each boy’s talents and develop in balance his character, mind, and body in an inclusive and joyful community. For over 100 years, The Fessenden School has offered state-of-the-art facilities, a dynamic curriculum, and programs specifically designed to meet the educational and developmental needs of boys.

Position Summary

The Fessenden School seeks an enthusiastic, innovative, and collaborative Grade 4 Teacher to join our Lower School faculty team. Teachers in our Lower School (Pre-K to Grade 4) create a nurturing, student-centered learning environment that inspires young boys to build foundational skills, develop curiosity, and foster a love of learning.

Candidates should demonstrate a strong commitment to character education and model the school’s core values of honesty, compassion, and respect in their teaching philosophy and daily interactions with the community. Teachers are responsible for delivering a developmentally appropriate and academically rigorous curriculum while creating an inclusive and joyful classroom culture.

Position: Grade 4 Teacher

Status: Full-Time, Benefits-Eligible, Exempt

Department: Lower School

Reports to: Head of Lower School 

Schedule: Monday-Friday 7:30-3:00 pm; Dates: Orientation on August 18 and 19, 2025; School year August 25, 2025 - June 9, 2026

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Teach and Inspire: Design and implement engaging lessons across core subjects (math, reading, writing, social studies) that foster critical thinking, creativity, problem solving, and a lifelong love of learning.
• Build Relationships: Cultivate and maintain consistent connections and communication with students, families, and colleagues to create a supportive and collaborative community.
• Integrate Core Values: Actively teach and model the school’s core values of honesty, compassion, and respect to support the character development of students.
• Innovate and Collaborate: Incorporate hands-on learning opportunities, purposeful use of educational technology, and differentiated instruction to meet the needs of diverse learners. Partner with colleagues, including specialists, to ensure a cohesive and enriching educational experience.
• Promote Inclusion: Foster a culturally responsive classroom environment where all students feel valued and supported. Integrate diverse perspectives and practices into daily teaching.
• Support Social-Emotional Growth: Embed social-emotional learning into the curriculum and classroom routines to nurture empathy, self-awareness, and resilience in young learners.
• Outdoor Play: Actively monitor and support outdoor recess throughout the year, using this time to encourage play that builds boys’ social-emotional skills, including cooperation, conflict resolution, and resilience.
• Contribute to Community: Actively participate in the life of the school by attending meetings, leading or assisting with activities, and supporting school events.
• Professional Development: Stay current with best teaching practices through school-provided opportunities and external professional development experiences.

Qualifications and Characteristics

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in education or a related field.
• Experience teaching in an elementary classroom.
• Demonstrated ability to create a student-centered classroom that fosters engagement, growth, and positive relationships.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills to connect with boys, families, and colleagues.
• Commitment to justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion in teaching practices.
• Successful criminal background check.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in education or a related field.
• Knowledge of boys’ developmental needs and prior experience in an all-boys school environment.
• Familiarity with hands-on learning and educational technology.
• Ability to provide various instructional practices to meet the learning needs of diverse learners.

Why Join Us?

The Fessenden School offers:

• A supportive, inclusive, and mission-driven community.
• A robust professional development budget that provides for school support professional growth and collaboration opportunities.
• A focus on educating the whole boy—academically, socially, emotionally, and physically—through dynamic programming and an emphasis on character development.
• Access to state-of-the-art facilities: Pallotta Athletic Center, Sacerdote Science Center, Congoli Center for Innovation, and the Elfers Center for the Arts.
• Delicious daily lunch options for faculty.
• Class sizes of 15-16 students.
• Diverse representation in Senior Leadership positions.

To Apply

Submit an application through Fessenden’s Career Site. Please include a cover letter, resume, and contact information for three professional references.

The Fessenden School encourages applications from candidates with diverse or minority backgrounds.

Equal Opportunity Employer

The Fessenden School believes that each individual is entitled to equal employment opportunity without regard to race, color, religion, gender, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, sexual orientation, ancestry, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected under federal, state, or local anti-discrimination laws.

We are interested in every qualified candidate who is eligible to work in the United States. However, we are not able to sponsor visas.

Qualifications