2025-2026 Fourth Grade Teacher

Rockwern Academy, Cincinnati’s pluralistic Jewish Day School, is looking for a fourth grade Teacher for the 2025 - 2026 school year.

Who are we?

Our mission is to expand minds, celebrate Judaism, nurture community, and commit to building a better world. An exceptional student-teacher ratio allows us to value each student as a true individual, discovering what gives them their inner spark. The school serves toddlers through eighth graders.

Qualified applicants will have a bachelor’s degree (MA preferred), relevant teaching credentials (or be eligible to receive credentials), and teaching experience in the elementary grades.

Knowledge of Judaism is not required, and candidates of all backgrounds are encouraged to apply. All candidates should be eligible to work in the United States.

Who are you?

You are an educator who can teach core academic subjects (math, ELA, social studies, science) while inspiring a love of learning. In this position, you will focus on ELA and social studies this year. You create a classroom environment that is nurturing, playful, and focused on academic success as well as social-emotional development. Your passion is providing direct and differentiated instruction according to best practices. You see the value of maintaining open lines of communication with parents, administrators, and colleagues. And, you act as a professional who is committed to the success of Rockwern Academy and its students.

Reporting relationship

The position is responsible to the Principal.

Responsibilities

Instruction

• 
  Create and maintain a safe, organized, fair, effective, and inviting classroom that reflects the teacher’s awareness of students’ physical, social, and intellectual development and needs

• Prepare, submit, and follow weekly lesson plans that mirror the curriculum and support desired learning, adapting as appropriate

• Manage classroom behavior in a positive and supportive manner

• Present curricular material in a clear, fresh, and relevant manner, using a variety of media, activities, and groupings

• Actively seek ways to integrate curricula across disciplines

• Prepare and maintain materials and supplies that enhance learning

• Design realistic and age-appropriate units and long-term assignments that support the curriculum and enhance students’ development and learning

• Individualize instruction to meet students’ needs:

• Learn students’ preferred learning modalities, current understandings, and skill level

• Actively seek ways to implement Responsive Classroom components of Morning Meeting, Guided Discovery, and Academic Choice*

• Work to close gaps in learning

• Seek additional resources

• Encourage students to help one another

• Create time to work individually with children

• Design assessments that are reasonable and valid measures of student progress and understanding

• Demonstrate consistency in grading and return graded materials promptly

• Use assessment results to improve/refine instructional practice

Communication

• Post relevant, accurate, and timely information to Rockwern’s Learning Management System

• Provide bi-weekly communication to parents that highlights subject area content

• Contribute, when asked, to the weekly school e-newsletter or other communication or marketing vehicles

Professionalism

• Suggest improvements in curriculum, assessment, policies, practices, etc.

• Attend required events and other extra-curricular activities and PTO functions when possible

• Assume responsibility for personal professional development, exhibiting commitment to lifelong learning

• Use an Individualized Professional Development Plan to communicate goals and objectives

• Seek out and attend workshops, seminars, etc. that contribute to professional goals and enhance practice

• Maintain all pertinent documentation relevant to Rockwern Academy’s required eight hours of professional development yearly and for state licensure, if applicable

• Demonstrate commitment to teamwork and collegiality by helping others and accepting suggestions for improvement

• Teachers are expected to base their practice on the principles of Responsive Classroom. However, it is understood that new staff will need training in order to meet this responsibility.

Benefits

We are proud to offer a half-day of paid flex time weekly in this position, wherein teachers can be off campus for one morning or afternoon (designated by the school). Other benefits include paid time off (sick, personal, and holiday); employer-paid life, accidental death & dismemberment, and long-term disability insurance; employer-subsidized medical/prescription plans (including HSA/FSA/DFSA options); dental and vision plans; additional compensation beginning in the second year of service; and tuition reduction plans for employees who send their children to Rockwern. Other voluntary health and financial insurance options, legal and identity protection plans, and access to a group 403(b) retirement plan are also available.