Kindergarten Teacher

Description

Kindergarten Teacher

The German International School Boston (GISB) is an independent, bilingual school that educates students from preschool through 12th grade. Our kindergarten serves children from diverse cultural backgrounds and places great emphasis on social and emotional development as well as German language acquisition. 

Our curriculum is based on the German kindergarten system, where kindergarten is designed to prepare children thoughtfully and sensitively for their future school life. This includes learning to navigate a group setting, developing motor skills essential for writing, practicing sitting still, listening, and speaking, as well as receiving basic road safety education and much more. The goal is to reduce fears of the unknown while fostering joy and enthusiasm for learning and school.

The Kindergarten teacher partners with two other teachers under the guidance of the Head of Early Childhood Education, contributing to the creation of an inspiring and supportive learning environment for kindergarten-aged children. In this role, responsibilities are divided according to the strengths of the teachers: one teaches German, another teaches Mathematics, and the third teaches General Studies. All three work as a team, and coordinate tasks. Decisions are made collectively, parental involvement is managed together, and regular team meetings ensure close collaboration.

Your Responsibilities

Classroom

• Create a warm, loving, and stimulating learning environment where children feel safe, valued, and encouraged to develop socially and emotionally
• Collaborate closely and appreciatively within the team to coordinate teaching and care effectively, ensuring a smooth and harmonious learning atmosphere
• Support the acquisition of the German language through creative and playful activities that enhance letter recognition, vocabulary expansion, and conversational skills
• Introduce mathematical concepts through interactive and hands-on experiences with numbers, shapes, and spatial thinking
• Encourage creativity and curiosity by implementing interdisciplinary projects in environmental studies, art, and music
• Work closely with parents through open and constructive communication, as well as regular discussions to support children's individual development

Organizational

• Conduct three parent-teacher conferences throughout the school year, during which one-on-one meetings are held with parents to discuss and review the child's development in social-emotional, cognitive, and language areas
• Share responsibility for lesson planning and child development, with all decisions made collectively as a team
• Build and maintain trusting and appreciative relationships with children, parents, and team members to foster a strong sense of community
• Complete regular recess and standby duties
• Semester plans
• Conceptualize, organize and supervise field trips 
• Attend Set Up Week and Back to School Week in August

Innovation and School Development

• Demonstrate flexibility and dedication in supporting school events, including on weekends, to strengthen the sense of community and welcome new families
• Contribute to the continuous development of the school's educational approach and participate in training days to enhance teaching methods

Qualifications

Your Profile

• Completed studies or training in elementary pedagogy, or a comparable qualification is required
• At least two years of experience as a teacher is required, ideally in a bilingual kindergarten setting
• Excellent German language skills (C2) and strong English skills (C1), based on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) is required
• Passion for working with young children and the ability to support their development with patience, creativity, and enthusiasm
• A high level of teamwork skills, strong communication abilities, and openness to close, cooperative collaboration
• Intercultural competence to ensure an adaptable and respectful work environment
• High level of motivation, dedication, and innovation in designing impactful learning experiences
• Strong sense of responsibility, reliability, and commitment to the school's values and community

What We Offer

• An inspiring, multicultural work environment with motivated colleagues and engaged families from around the world
• A collaborative and supportive team that values autonomy, independence, creative thinking, and pedagogical excellence
• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance
• A 401(k) retirement savings plan with employer matching contributions
• Opportunities for professional development and lifelong learning
• Assistance with settling into Boston and opportunities for meaningful intercultural exchange
• A full-time position (40 hours per week), with 30 hours dedicated to working directly with children and 10 hours allocated for planning, school development, and administrative time as a classroom teacher
• Paid substitution hours
• Working hours are 8:00 am to 4:00 pm with flexibility to work from home for non-student facing activities
• The academic year is 180 days running from August 1 to June 30. Teachers are paid over 12 months
• Generous vacation (October, December/January, February, April and July breaks)

This position begins August 1, 2025.