Upper School Teacher: Social Studies

Title: Upper School Social Studies Teacher

Department/Location: Upper School, St. Louis

Position Type: Full-Time, 39 weeks

Principia is looking for an Upper School Social Studies Teacher with the passion and skillset to invoke student interest and ownership, incorporate real-life situations where appropriate, and demonstrate an awareness of the needs of the future-ready learner. In this role, you will teach Social Studies in both standalone and interdisciplinary settings, with the potential to include subjects like history, business management, entrepreneurial studies, and economics. You will use a variety of teaching methods to teach for understanding, ensuring students are effectively applying their knowledge and skills. Your enthusiasm for teaching, ability to connect content to real-life contexts, commitment to professional growth, and mentorship mindset will be key to your success. Reporting to the Upper School Principal, you will play a critical role as both an educator and character mentor, helping prepare students to be future-ready learners. You’ll collaborate with colleagues across disciplines to deliver integrated and engaging learning experiences.

At our award-winning Early Childhood through grade 12 Principia School in St. Louis, Missouri, and top-ranked Principia College in Elsah, Illinois, Principia faculty and staff make up a close-knit community of educators, coaches, and professionals taking a distinct approach to education—blending academic excellence with Christian Science-based character education. Principia’s team of over 500 employees supports not only Principia School and Principia College, but also a worldwide network of alumni and friends.

At Principia School, our core value is LOVE. Love and its attributes underpin our foundational beliefs as well as our educational approach. We focus on developing the whole child—intellectually, physically, mentally, socially, and spiritually, preparing students for the next steps in life. We foster a challenging yet supportive environment where character unfolds naturally, and talent is cultivated through boundless opportunities. Character education plays an essential role in every aspect of the student experience, and classroom work is augmented by character trips, leadership development, and real-world, hands-on, project-based learning.

• Ability to teach history not as isolated events but as a continuum that informs current societal, political, and global dynamics.
• Encourages students to draw connections between the past and present, fostering critical thinking about contemporary issues.
• Integrates current events into the classroom to engage students with real-time application of historical and civic knowledge.
• Models and supports media literacy and responsible consumption of information.
• Collaborates across departments (e.g., English, Science, Art, Ethics) to design interdisciplinary projects that deepen student learning. Experience with collaborative/team teaching is important.
• Incorporates elements of economics, geography, civics, and sociology into the curriculum for a holistic understanding of social systems.
• Promotes inquiry-based learning that encourages curiosity, dialogue, and critical reflection.
• Facilitates student-led discussions, debates, and research projects that foster independent thinking and civic engagement.
• Builds a classroom environment that values diverse perspectives and encourages empathy.
• Incorporates a wide range of voices and narratives, particularly those historically underrepresented.
• Utilizes technology to enhance student engagement and access to global perspectives (e.g., digital archives, mapping tools, simulations, etc.).
• Demonstrates commitment to preparing students to be thoughtful, informed, and active citizens.
• Displays a strong interest and love for working with high school students.
• Able to work with a wide range of students, helping them feel successful and to understand their unlimited potential.
• Member of the Social Studies Department, which will involve weekly meetings.
• Provides daily conferences for students who require extra support.
• Handles discipline situations in an effective manner that supports character growth.
• Pursues professional development and looks to apply best educational practices in the classroom; becomes part of a professional learning community where teachers are continually improving teaching and learning.
• Collaborates effectively with colleagues, coaches, parents, houseparents, and administrators.
• Supports mutual curricular/instructional goals with the Upper School Social Studies teachers.
• Organizes work to achieve timeliness and order.
• Supports school activities by chaperoning social events and trips.
• Recognizes that character education is important and should be a natural part of classroom instruction.
• Serves as an advisor to a group of 8-10 Upper School students.

• Positivity: Optimistic, positive, and focused on elevating and bringing out the very best in themselves and others. Faculty and staff are invited to understand teammates’ strengths and how they can complement each other.
• Team players: Ability to collaborate and partner with peers and senior leaders is critical, with an ability to listen, give and receive feedback, and be comfortable exchanging ideas and speaking candidly in a professional and collegial manner
• Relationship Builder: Builds and sustains strong connections with a genuine interest in others
• Inclusion: Demonstrates awareness and respect for cultural differences, actively seeks to understand diverse perspectives, and supports cross-cultural interactions. Fosters an inclusive environment where individuals of all backgrounds feel valued and respected.
• Innovative: Presents a problem-solving mindset that helps our team come up with creative solutions to challenging issues, with a mentality of self-improvement and organizational excellence; meets challenges with resourcefulness; generates suggestions for improving work; develops innovative approaches and ideas
• Technical Skills: Assesses own strengths and weaknesses; pursues training and development opportunities; strives to continuously build knowledge and skills
• Ethical: Treats people with respect; keeps commitments; inspires the trust of others; works with integrity; upholds organizational values
• Planning and Organizing: Prioritizes and plans work activities; uses time efficiently; manages multiple projects and tasks simultaneously

• Student of Christian Science preferred
• Supportive of Principia’s guiding statements as articulated here https://www.principia.edu/about/guiding-statements
• Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s degree preferred (in Education, History or related field)
• Documented experience teaching high school students
• Ability to teach a range of Social Studies, including US Government, American History, and parallel World History events; preferred ability to teach entrepreneurial studies and economics as well
• Ability to relate well with students and adults

We offer a competitive salary range for this position, starting at $53,000 annually for candidates with a Bachelor's degree and no prior teaching experience. Salary is commensurate with degree and years of teaching experience.

In addition to salary, our comprehensive total rewards package includes:

• Generous Employee Tuition Discount: Enjoy a 90% discount on tuition (pro-rated for part-time staff) for your eligible children enrolled from Pre-K3 through College (infant and acorn programs excluded).
• Relocation: Principia provides a relocation imbursement of up to 12% of your annual salary, when moving from outside a radius of more than 50 miles
• Professional Development: Access to learning opportunities, training programs, and career growth support.
• Comprehensive Benefits: Learn more about all our benefits here, including comprehensive health, dental, and vision plans, paid time off, a 403(b) retirement plan with Principia matching, and more.

Principia, a mission-driven institution, believes every person has the right to an equitable and respectful educational environment and workplace. Principia does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, ethnicity, gender (identity or expression), sexual orientation, family status, disability, age, or military or veteran status.