Lower School Teacher 2026-2027

Job Description

Lower School Teacher 2026-2027

Germantown Friends School is seeking a full-time Lower School lead teacher for the 2026-2027 school year to support the mission of our school, including its commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, and our Quaker values. Candidates should enjoy engaging with curious, thoughtful children and collaborating with creative and intellectual colleagues.

Lead teachers serve as mentors to a teacher assistant and participate actively in committee work with fellow faculty. Previous classroom teaching experience and a master’s degree are strongly preferred. We seek individuals who share our enthusiasm for teaching and learning within a collaborative environment. Experience with children in a learning environment, a demonstrated desire to grow as an educator, and a completed undergraduate degree are required.

• Specific responsibilities include:
• Demonstrating a joy of learning each day.
• Creating a classroom community that is welcoming, peaceful, respectful, and promotes Quaker values as well as school norms.
• Understanding the nature of unstructured moments during a child's school life and the enormity of those moments in creating and shaping school culture.
• Developing relationships with and between students that are conducive to learning.
• Collecting and interpreting data on student performance and growth, and using that data to guide instruction.
• Planning lessons and units of study with the grade level scope and sequence as a guide while also assessing the needs, interests, experience, and existing knowledge of the students.
• Possessing a working knowledge of early language learners and the skill sets needed to implement adopted curriculum for these ages.
• Assessing student work and recording student development and progress.
• Designing literacy, math, and social studies lessons with a full knowledge of best practices in each discipline;
• Reflecting on pedagogy and curriculum, in order to make changes as needed.
• Building and maintaining cooperative relationships with parents, including regular communication about the classroom environment.
• Collaborating with the Student Support Team to differentiate the curriculum effectively and support individual students.
• Meeting with parents through conferences and other informal moments throughout the year to keep them informed on their child’s progress.
• Collaborating with nurses and other school personnel, as appropriate, to care for students.
• Participating in faculty meetings and committee meetings.
• Engaging fully in the life of the Lower School as an essential member of the community.
• Other duties as assigned by the Division Director.

Interested candidates should send a cover letter, resume, and the names and contact information for three references, all as attachments, to [email protected]. Please include “LS Teacher” in the subject line.

Germantown Friends School is an equal-opportunity employer committed to diversity in its student body, faculty, and staff. The school does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, creed, national or ethnic origin, citizenship status, age, disability, veteran status, or any other legally protected class status. People demonstrating a commitment to diversity and multiculturalism in education are encouraged to apply. For more information about the school, please visit our website at www.germantownfriends.org.

Germantown Friends School is a Quaker, independent, coeducational day school, serving early childhood‐12th grade. Located in northwest Philadelphia, the school is home to a vibrant intellectual community, located in a historic neighborhood, serving a diverse school community, with a robust educational program that is grounded in Quaker principles. For more information about the school, visitwww.germantownfriends.org.