High School Teacher of Spanish (Interim)

Description

High School Teacher of Spanish (Interim)

January 2025

Classification: In-service to In-service (i2i), 1.0 FTE, exempt

Reports to: Head of High School

Course Load: AP Spanish, Spanish Literature, Accelerated Spanish

University School of Nashville is seeking a high school Spanish teacher with experience and expertise in teaching upper level Spanish courses. This is an interim position for the spring semester, with the potential for a contract extension for the following school year. We highly recommend candidates with at least one year of AP Spanish experience apply.  Colleagues at USN are asked to actively participate in the life of the high school in ways that showcase their talents, gifts, and identities.

USN has a deep commitment to equitable and just community spaces.  Candidates should be knowledgeable of research on how implicit biases in race, ethnicity, gender identity and socioeconomic class can shape curricula and pedagogy, classroom culture, and student outcomes.  Candidates should be able to translate that knowledge into demonstrable actions that promote equitable and just teaching and learning.  

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree or post graduate work in subject matter
• At least one  year of teaching AP Spanish experience, highly preferred but not required
• Excellent verbal and written communications skills

General Overall Responsibilities:  

Classroom teachers are expected to work from 7:30 p.m to 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, carrying out the duties and responsibilities outlined below.  Teachers must have regular and predictable attendance at school; be on time each day; be focused and responsible for independent supervision of a class of 20 or more students; be able to communicate positively and productively with students, parents, and colleagues; and handle routine administrative duties, such as hall and cafeteria duty, car pool and dismissal duty (AM and PM), taking attendance, filling out reports, ordering new materials, and cooperating with requests made by the administration.  

Specific Teaching Responsibilities:

• Comprehensive knowledge of curriculum and instruction within the appropriate content area and/or grade level
• Effective organizational skills including but not limited to lesson planning, implementing units of study, differentiating instruction, designing and implementing assessments
• Maintains student attention
  • Maximize time on task
  • Use activities that are developmentally appropriate to foster attention
• Communicates expectations to students
  • Set high expectations for achievement, effort and attitude
  • Provide students with clear expectations for performance and learning with a positive expectancy
  • Give prompt and appropriate feedback
• Plans and delivers structured, multi-modal lessons that engage different learning styles (auditory, visual, and kinesthetic) and clearly communicate objectives, checking for understanding throughout.
• Creates a supportive, well-organized classroom environment that maximizes space, showcases student work, and encourages student participation and responsibility in the learning community.

• Evaluates student progress
  • Check student progress through observations, work samples, assessments, conferences, and student evaluation
  • Create a range of assessments that accurately reflect material taught
  • Provide quick and constructive feedback in a discrete manner
  • Maintain well-organized records
• Seek assistance and guidance from available resources including administrators, mentors, department chairs, grade level deans, counselors, learning specialists, health room staff, and technology department

• Demonstrate ability to function positively as a contributing member of a team
• Communicate effectively and appropriately with parents, including written communications sent home, at parent education meetings, during parent conferences, and at the numerous points of contact among teachers, parents, and community members. 

Physical Requirements and Work Environment

• Works in a highly stressful environment dealing with a wide variety of challenges, deadlines and a varied and diverse array of contacts.
• May work at a desk and computer for extended periods of time.
• Be able to occasionally lift up to 30 lbs. 
• Work primarily in a traditional climate controlled office environment.  
• Work intermittently in outside weather conditions, including extreme heat and cold.

The School

University School of Nashville is an independent, non-sectarian, co-educational day school with enrollment of over 1,000 students in kindergarten through twelfth grade. In 1915, the George Peabody College for Teachers opened Peabody Demonstration School, USN’s predecessor, which earned acclaim for its curriculum and faculty. In 1974, Peabody College announced plans to close PDS, and a group of parents, alumni, students, and teachers reconstituted and re-chartered the school as University School of Nashville. 

USN’s midtown location adjacent to Vanderbilt University and its Peabody College for Teachers reminds us each day of our beginnings over 108 years ago in the demonstration school culture of innovation and educational best practices. It’s a vibrant educational community for both students and teachers in the midst of a dynamic city.

In the USN community, students expect much of each other, and faculty benefit from that high standard. We seek educators who are enthusiastic about their own learning to complement their work and we offer many opportunities for professional growth. USN is committed to creating an institutional environment that mirrors the cultural and ethnic composition of greater Nashville. USN encourages a diverse applicant pool and provides equal employment opportunities for employees and job applicants.

Please be prepared to upload the following items through USN's online application for this position:

1. Cover Letter

2. Resume