Carolina Friends School Looking for Lower School Teaching Fellow at Durham, NC Full Time

The Opportunity:

(Position to Start August 2022)

Carolina Friends School (CFS) is excited to offer the opportunity for a teaching fellow to work with master teachers in the Lower School in a supported teaching/learning experience! This position provides a hands-on teaching experience, combining rich professional development and mentoring with daily opportunities for practical application in the classroom. The teaching fellow will learn from a Lower School staff of skilled, dedicated teachers committed to the growth of the whole child and student-centered, mission-driven curriculum. This position is for individuals who are interested in developing their teaching and leadership skills in a progressive independent school committed to making its community members feel seen, heard, and valued.

As a member of a collaborative classroom team, the teaching fellow will benefit from the support of team teachers in their development in teaching children as well as a growing knowledge of curriculum and instructional planning. The teaching fellow will be responsible for working closely with their team and will provide support for their teaching team’s instructional and administrative needs. In addition, the teaching fellow will serve on school-wide committees, participate in our new staff mentoring program, and participate in school-wide staff development. Teaching fellows report to the Head of Lower School and work under the direction of the Assistant Head for Teaching and Learning and Mentor Teacher to whom they are assigned. All staff at CFS enjoy a school community committed to a pedagogy rooted in Quaker thought and practice. We strive to collaborate toward the realization of every child’s highest potential in the classroom, community, and wider world.

This full-time, salaried position is benefits-eligible, contracted on a yearly basis. Our teaching fellowship is intended to be a two-year experience, with reflection and contract renewal at the end of the first year. Although not a requirement, these positions are ideal for individuals who would like to pursue and gain more experience in teaching young children, perhaps with the goal of becoming a lead teacher.

Essential Duties:

• Working collaboratively with the Lead Teacher and grade level team on a range of tasks (major areas of responsibility: differentiating instruction, administrative tasks, performing assessments, and collecting data).
• Facilitating a positive classroom community rooted in restorative practices and peaceful conflict resolution.
• Facilitating positive behavior management; supporting students as daily issues related to social/behavioral/emotional situations arise.
• Assuming the role of the Lead Teacher when the Lead Teacher is away from the classroom.
• Upholding the mission and values of Carolina Friends School and being a positive and active member of the community.

The Lead Teachers have ultimate responsibility for the classroom, students, and family communication, and it is expected and necessary that the Lead Teachers and Teaching Fellow operate as a positive and cohesive team.

Traits and Requirements:

Strong candidates will demonstrate:

• respect for and love of young children, with a view of children as competent and capable
• interest in and curiosity about a variety of approaches to the teaching and learning of young children
• experience working with children (ages 6-10) in an elementary setting
• a minimum of a bachelor’s degree
• strong intra/interpersonal skills along with a willingness to work flexibly and collaboratively with the whole teaching team
• an orientation toward taking initiative and self-direction, applying what you are learning without needing detailed direction each time
• ability to proactively ask questions if you don’t understand
• ability to use keen observation skills and commitment to safety to support children with their lunchtime, outdoor play, and other activities
• willingness to reflect on experiences in the classroom and responsiveness to feedback
• an understanding of and strong affinity for Quaker philosophy and the School’s mission
• experience and commitment to fostering an inclusive and affirming community for all, including students and staff from underrepresented and diverse backgrounds
• strong writing, organizational, and time management skills
• ability to meet varied demands with integrity, enthusiasm, creativity, flexibility, and a sense of humor

The Lower School

The Lower School, strongly rooted in Quaker philosophy and student-centered practice, nurtures the intellectual, social, emotional, spiritual, and physical growth of the whole child. The School focuses on the unique worth of the individual, recognizing that each child grows in different dimensions and at different rates. The Lower School also recognizes that children learn best by doing, by being engaged in the activity; learning is enhanced as children engage their senses and interact with their environment. As they experiment and explore, answering questions of real relevance, children develop skills of inquiry, reasoning, problem-solving, and communication.

Located on the main campus of Carolina Friends School, rooms in the Lower School are open, colorful, and designed for maximum flexibility, providing space for both independent study and group learning as well as for play. The large playground invites a variety of creative play activities, while the School’s creek and wooded, rural setting offers an ideal environment for exploration and nature study. One of the greatest strengths of the Lower School is its community of talented, dedicated, and collegial teachers. The School is fortunate to attract outstanding educators who see teaching as a calling, as an art, and as an opportunity to nurture the whole child. CFS staff possess strong academic backgrounds and enthusiastically embrace the habit of lifelong learning. They are self-directed thinkers, always considering how to best meet the needs of their students. We welcome new teachers to the School who share similar educational goals and with whom Carolina Friends School’s philosophy and practice resonate.

How to Apply:

Interested candidates should submit, in one complete PDF file, the following to [email protected], with Lower School Teaching Fellow indicated in the subject line:

• Cover Letter
• Resume
• Statement of Educational Philosophy
• Names and contact information for three references (with letters to be submitted directly by recommenders)

Under separate cover, please ask each recommender to send a letter of reference directly to [email protected] and indicate Lower School Teaching Fellow in the email’s subject line. All letters of reference must be received in order for the application to be complete.

Review of resumes will begin immediately and continue until the position has been filled. CFS reserves the right to close the recruitment at any time. Candidates are encouraged to apply as soon as all materials can be compiled.
APPLICANTS: Please review the Who We Are, Commitment to Diversity and Inclusivity, and Important Information for All Applicants sections on the CFS employment opportunities page.

Carolina Friends School actively strives to be a community of staff, students, and families of diverse backgrounds. CFS does not discriminate based on age, race, color, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, disability, socio-economic background, family structure, national or ethnic origin, genetic information, or military service in the administration of its policies and program.

CFS is an equal opportunity employer in both policy and practice.