Friends Seminary educates students from kindergarten through twelfth grade, adhering to the values of the Religious Society of Friends. We strive to build a diverse school where students exercise their curiosity and imagination as they develop as scholars, artists and athletes. In a community that cultivates the practices of keen observation, unhurried reflection, critical thinking, and coherent expression, we listen for the single voice as we seek unity. The disciplines of silence, study, and service provide the matrix for growth: silence opens us to change; study helps us to know the world; service challenges us to put our values into practice. At Friends Seminary, education is rooted in the Quaker belief in the Inner Light – that of God in every person. Guided by the testimonies of integrity, peace, equality, and simplicity, we prepare students to engage in the world that is and to help bring about a world that ought to be.
Founded in 1786, Friends Seminary, the oldest continually operating coeducational, independent Quaker school in New York City, seeks applications for a Middle School Chinese Teacher. Qualified applicants will be able to teach from beginning to advanced levels of Chinese to students in grades 4-9. They will be responsible for collaborating with faculty and staff to teach in support of the School’s mission, curricular goals, and students. The ideal candidate possesses creative problem-solving skills, a sense of humor, enthusiasm for innovative curriculum, a positive attitude toward growth, a gentle curiosity, an ability to observe and express without judgment, and strong interpersonal skills that allow one to cooperate and collaborate effectively with others.
Responsibilities
Teach a full-time load of Chinese classes in grades 4-9.
Collaborate with departmental colleagues on Chinese teaching curriculum and pedagogy.
Plan and implement motivating lessons for students that reflect knowledge of curriculum and students’ interests, abilities, and social and emotional needs.
Demonstrate a passion for lifelong learning.
Collaborate with colleagues to develop curriculum that centers interdisciplinary projects, developmentally appropriate technological resources, and the social and emotional needs of middle school students.
Participate in the School community, including faculty and committee work and school duties.
Attend faculty meetings and other planning meetings.
Prepare student reports that include narrative descriptions of students' achievements and needs.
Serve as a Middle School Advisor.
Lead advisory lessons.
Facilitate Fall and Spring conferences.
Maintain communication with the families of advisees.
Actively engage in anti-bias and equity work, understanding both culturally responsive pedagogy and the social justice dimensions of education.
Communicate respectfully with families and demonstrate sensitivity to cultures, values, configurations, and beliefs.
Qualifications
Native or near-native fluency in Chinese.
Knowledge of child development, best practices, and current trends in education specifically related to middle school aged children and the modern language discipline.
Work effectively with a wide range of students.
Think broadly and dynamically about curriculum and pedagogy.
Weave cultural competence into the curriculum and classroom.
Value collegial collaboration.
Comfort and experience with educational technology including learning management systems, Google Suite apps, and other digital learning platforms.
Dedication to anti-bias and equity work regarding culturally responsive pedagogy and the social justice dimensions of education.
Required Experience
Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field required; master’s degree preferred.
3+ years of experience preferred.
Compensation
Annual salary range for 2025-2026 based on years of teaching experience and level of degrees earned: $82,000 - $164,000
Benefits
Friends Seminary offers excellent benefits including paid time off, health, dental, vision, 403(b) with a School-paid match; wide-ranging opportunities for professional development, including tuition support and summer grants; and a talented and dedicated team of teaching colleagues and supportive administrators. Successful candidates will join a dynamic and forward-thinking teaching community of over 150 educators.
When submitting your materials, kindly be sure to reference your first and last name, the position for which you are applying, and where you heard about the position in the subject line. i.e. [last name], [first name] - Chinese Teacher - Middle School - Friends Seminary website. You will receive a confirmation email when you submit your application. No phone calls, please.
Friends Seminary actively promotes diversity, equity, inclusion, and anti-racism in all its programs and operations, including admissions, financial aid, hiring, and all facets of the educational experience. To form a community which strives to reflect the world’s diversity, we do not discriminate on the basis of race or color, religion, nationality, ethnicity, economic background, physical ability, sex, gender identity or expression, or sexual orientation. Friends Seminary is an equal opportunity employer. Candidates of color and members of other underrepresented groups are strongly encouraged to apply. We urge all applicants to identify and express their individuality and the ways in which they might enrich and diversify the School community.
Moreover, all successful applicants, whether for a faculty or administrative staff post, must demonstrate an ongoing commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and anti-racism in their professional lives. Applicants for a faculty position should highlight ways their curriculum, pedagogy, and classroom culture may advance these goals. Applicants for an administrative staff position should highlight ways they seek to promote these goals in their office work, programming, or operational endeavors.
Friends Seminary educates students from Kindergarten through Twelfth Grade, adhering to the values of the Religious Society of Friends. We strive to build a diverse school where students exercise their curiosity and imagination as they develop as scholars, artists and athletes. In a community that cultivates the practices of keen observation, unhurried reflection, critical thinking, and coherent expression, we listen for the single voice as we seek unity. The disciplines of silence, study, and service provide the matrix for growth: silence opens us to change; study helps us to know the world; service challenges us to put our values into practice. At Friends Seminary, education is rooted in the Quaker belief in the Inner Light – that of God in every person. Guided by the testimonies of integrity, peace, equality, and simplicity, we prepare students to engage in the world that is and to help bring about a world that ought to be.