ABOUT ST. LUKE’S SCHOOL

JK-Grade 8 Day School, www.stlukeschool.org

Learning with Joy. Leading with Heart. A sanctuary in the heart of Manhattan's West Village, St. Luke’s School is an independent day school serving Junior Kindergarten (pre-K) through Grade 8. Rooted in the Episcopal tradition, St. Luke’s welcomes students, parents, and professional staff of all faiths and identities. The school’s mission is to ignite curiosity, instill confidence, and inspire courage. The academic program is rigorous, developmentally informed, and interdisciplinary. We use students' strengths to help them progress in all areas. 

POSITION SNAPSHOT

Start Date: April 28, 2025 (7 weeks)

Salary Range: $12,569 - $15,646 (salary is based upon but not limited to factors including years of experience, education level, and expertise)

Reports To: Head of Lower School

FSLA Status: Full-time, Exempt

Benefits (include but not limited to): Health Insurance (medical, dental, and vision), Retirement, Professional Development, Paid Time Off, Lunch Program, Disability Insurance, Life Insurance

EXPECTATIONS 

We are seeking a dynamic, passionate, and skilled Spanish teacher to join our lower school as a leave replacement. This role requires an individual who is dedicated to creating an immersive and engaging Spanish language learning environment for students. The ideal candidate will have experience teaching Spanish with little to no use of English in the classroom, a strong understanding of current best practices in second language acquisition, and the ability to create lessons that are differentiated to meet the diverse needs of students.

Spanish Teacher Expectations

• Instruction: Instruct students in Spanish with minimal to no use of English in the classroom, fostering an immersive environment where students develop proficiency in speaking, listening, reading, and writing in Spanish.
• Enthusiasm for incorporating cultural elements and fostering a love for the Spanish language.
• Lesson Planning: Develop and implement engaging and differentiated lesson plans that center students' needs, encouraging active participation and deep engagement with the material. Lessons should include various modalities such as songs, art, technology, and movement.
• Assessment and Reporting: Regularly assess student progress, providing feedback and writing reports that highlight areas of growth, strengths, and areas for improvement.
• Cultural Integration: Incorporate cultural elements from Spanish-speaking countries that are local to NYC into the curriculum, using innovative methods to connect Spanish language learning with other disciplines in collaboration with homeroom teachers.
• TPRS Methodology: Utilize TPRS (Teaching Proficiency through Reading and Storytelling) strategies to enhance students' language acquisition and ensure language learning is meaningful, interactive, and effective.
• Positive Learning Environment: Establish and maintain a positive, supportive classroom atmosphere that fosters curiosity, risk-taking, and language development.
• Collaborative Projects: Work with homeroom teachers and other grade-level colleagues to lead assemblies and coordinate presentations in Spanish, encouraging students to present and communicate in Spanish.

Teaching Staff Expectations & Essential Functions

• Demonstrate an understanding of student centered, interdisciplinary and differentiated learning. Demonstrate skill in working with students of different learning profiles and students with diverse identities. 
• Prepare and implement differentiation for students of various learning abilities. Provide extra support and enrichment as needed, including meeting with students before and after school. 
• Have familiarity implementing a variety of assessment practices.
• Knowledge and understanding of child development, and a variety of educational philosophies and practices.
• Knowledge and evidence of successful implementation of inquiry-based and experiential pedagogy. Fluent in culturally responsive approaches to teaching and learning.
• Observe, record,  and assess students' performance, behavior, social development, and physical health.
• Ability to use a variety of assessments to evaluate and support a child and communicate effectively with other staff and parents.
• Demonstrate commitment to and knowledge of anti-bias and anti-racist education and social justice. Have a  grounding in equity and belonging practices.
• Collaborate and plan in teaching teams (grade level & subject area) to design curriculum, assessments and teaching methods including collaborating and meeting with other professional staff to discuss and plan around individual student needs and progress. 
• Create interdisciplinary connections by collaborating with Lower School homeroom teachers and other specialists to deepen other areas of studies such as but not limited to social studies/history, math, and art. 
• Moving around the classroom, teaching, and engaging with  students for the full school day. Be able to teach independently. Strong classroom management skills. 
• Demonstrate excellence in classroom management and Social Emotional Learning (SEL) techniques, ideally including Responsive Classroom. Experience with a range of social and emotional tools such as RULER.
• Provide a warm and supportive social and emotional environment for the children. 
• Establish and communicate expectations for behavior and classroom management among the students.
• Prepare materials and classrooms for class activities. Establish clear objectives for all lessons, units, and projects and communicate those objectives to students. Show written evidence of preparation upon request of supervisors. 
• Prepare, administer, and grade tests and assignments to evaluate students’ progress. Assign and grade class work and homework. Prepare reports on students and activities including but not limited to reports such as progress reports, student evaluations, etc. 
• Timeliness and ability to meet deadlines including but not limited to report writing and curriculum planning.
• Confer and meet with families, teachers, student support team members,, and administrators to resolve students' behavioral and academic concerns. Partner with parents on their child's progress to determine priorities and resources needed.
• Select, store, organize, order and inventory classroom equipment, materials, and supplies. 
• Celebrate student work by posting in newsletters, bulletin boards, and other communication channels. Organize and lead activities designed to promote physical, mental, and social development, such as games, arts and crafts, music, and storytelling. 
• Instruct students individually, in small groups, and as a whole class, using various teaching methods such as discussions, demonstrations, and projects. 
• Instruct and monitor students in the use and care of equipment and materials to prevent injuries and damage.
• Plan and supervise class projects, field trips, visits by guest speakers or other experiential activities. Participate in and manage students on school field trips. This includes off-site locations and overnight trips.

All Professional Staff Expectations

• Support the St. Luke’s School mission, values, institutional goals, and educational philosophy. Understanding and commitment to the community standards of compassion, dignity, excellence, honesty, and respect.
• Excellent communication skills. Contact and communication with students, faculty/staff, and parents on a regular basis. Contact and communication consists of face-to-face discussions, email, phone calls, letters, report cards, and memos. Communicate effectively with the school’s constituents.
• Strong collaboration skills. Working collaboratively with other faculty, specialists, and staff in a small, close-knit, creatively energetic environment.
• An interest in and openness to professional growth and development. Desire and ability to embrace continuing education in the field. Participate and attend workshops, conferences, and other training.
• A sense of joy and wonder, humor, energy, warmth of personality,  and an optimistic attitude.
• Ability to be self-motivated.
• Flexibility and willingness to change. Ability to pivot as changes are made or needed in order to fit the school’s current needs or adjustments to protocols. Be present at the school during the required work hours.
• Perform additional duties including but not limited to  morning , recess, and lunch and participate in the life of the school. Be present and on-time to assigned duties.
• Participate in and attend faculty/staff meetings and committees, including school-wide initiatives about issues of equity, pedagogy and curriculum.
• Participate in the life of the school, including attendance at required events such as curriculum night, parent conferences, family dinners/parties, Christmas Fair, Spring Benefit, and school games and events.
• Enforce school policies and rules with students.
• Proficiency with Google Suite. Faculty members also need to be proficient with Google Classroom and have the ability to use classroom technology including but not limited to Promethean Boards, Zoom, Slack, Trello etc.

EDUCATION AND WORK EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS

• Bachelor's degree in Spanish, Education, or related field 
• Master's degree preferred
• 3-5 years teaching experience
• Strong command of Spanish with native or near-native fluency.
• Experience in teaching Spanish, particularly to young learners, using immersive and communicative methods.

Familiarity with TPRS or similar second language acquisition methods.

About St. Luke's School

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