Lower School Classroom Teacher - Maternity Leave

Description

University School of Nashville

Lower School Classroom Teacher - Maternity Leave

(beginning March 2025)

University School of Nashville invites candidates to apply for the role of long-term substitute Classroom Teacher providing maternity leave coverage in one of our kindergarten classrooms. This temporary appointment is scheduled to begin in mid-March, and will conclude in May.

Lower School kindergarten teachers have responsibility for self-contained classrooms of 16 students and work as part of a grade level team to ensure that the fundamental skills of the kindergarten curriculum are presented in a thoughtful sequence and practiced in engaging contexts.

Individual planning responsibilities also include differentiating the curriculum so that each child has the opportunity to do work that is appropriately challenging. Careful attention is given to a social- emotional curriculum in which students learn to care for themselves and their classmates as they practice skills of empathy, responsibility, and self-control.

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. 

We seek experienced candidates who honor individual learning styles, are able to work effectively on a team, have advanced communication skills, and creatively use the latest educational research. Applicants must have a degree in elementary education, either at the undergraduate or graduate level.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with other teachers at grade level for planning purposes 
• Differentiate instruction to meet the needs of various learning styles and needs of students at appropriately challenging levels
• Create classroom community using Responsive Classroom
• Coordinate with Learning Specialist and Counselor to meet needs of students who require extra support or intervention
• Participate in grade-level division, committee and all-school meetings 
• Demonstrate the ability to work well with others, think creatively and flexibly, and incorporate best practices into a growth-oriented teaching style
• Communicate with parents through email, phone calls, progress reports, and conferences in a professional, positive, and timely manner
• Participate in professional growth opportunities, set goals for improvement, and engage in teaching that is innovative and dynamic 
• Build rapport with students and parents that is positive and caring
• Support the mission of University School
• Perform other duties as determined by the Head of Lower School and the Director

Qualifications and Experience

• Bachelor's degree in elementary education; graduate degree preferred
• Experience with a diverse school community

Skills and Abilities

• Serve as lead teacher for a self-contained classroom of 16 kindergarten students
• Understand and support the mission and philosophy of the school
• Work collaboratively with colleagues and students
• Communicate thoroughly, accurately, and concisely, both in speech and in writing
• Maintain a positive and professional demeanor
• Demonstrate integrity and confidentiality

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