POSITION STATEMENT
Mandarin Teacher (Grades 6-12, Part-time)

Start Date: August 18, 2025

OVERVIEW
Brooklyn Friends School (BFS), a thriving Preschool-12 grade school located in vibrant Downtown Brooklyn, seeks a Part-Time Mandarin Teacher (Grades 6-12) within a dynamic community of colleagues (BFS uses the all-inclusive term, colleagues, to refer to all rather than one that delineates faculty/staff). Founded in 1867, Brooklyn Friends School’s pillars of social justice, service learning/civic engagement, and Quakerism, serve as guideposts for our action-oriented collective work. Our school’s history has been illustrious and reflective of the expansive nature of human experiences. Guided by our mission, BFS provides a dynamic, diverse, and robust social/emotional environment and academic program that cultivates compassionate, intellectually curious, and confident changemakers. As a school, we affirm that human diversity includes, but is not limited to: race, ethnicity, culture, national origin, religion, gender, gender identity and  expression, sexual orientation, age, socioeconomic class, family structure and physical ability, as well as diversity of thought, talents, and learning style. Brooklyn Friends School does not discriminate based on these characteristics or any characteristic prohibited by law and provides reasonable accommodations to otherwise qualified colleagues and applicants. If you need an accommodation related to any part of the hiring process, please send an email to hiring@brooklynfriends.org.

This short video gives you a glimpse into our contemporary experience.

THE POSITION

Reporting to the Middle School Head, the Part-time Mandarin Teacher collaborates with colleagues and leaders to plan, create, and implement curriculum for students in grades 6-12. Applicants should have experience working with adolescents and in teaching. Demonstration of strong classroom management skills, an investment in continued professional growth, comfort using classroom technology, and a commitment to promoting a diverse community is expected. They are responsible for ongoing assessment and communication with parents and the Middle and Upper School Leadership and Student Support Teams. School teachers are expected to be active community members, sharing supervisory duties and general support and care of the school community. 

Primary Responsibilities Include:

This position reports to the Head of Middle School. 

• Teach Mandarin classes to students in grades 6-12. 
• Support the academic/social/emotional development of all students
• Align curriculum and activities in grades 11 & 12 to the International Baccalaureate Program
• Collaborate well with colleagues to plan, create, and implement curriculum
• Communicate effectively with families with regard to all aspects of classroom life and child development
• Be responsible for ongoing student assessment, grading, and comment writing
• Share supervisory duties and general support and care of the school community  
• Perform necessary routine tasks and daily maintenance of the classroom
• Serves as an active community member that is highly collaborative and partners well with teachers, families, administration, and students 

Qualifications and Characteristics Sought:

• Bachelor of Arts in the subject or related area required; Master of Arts in the subject or another field (preferred)

• 3-5 years teaching experience (preferred) 
• Has relevant experience in a Middle or Upper School setting
• Approaches work with flexibility, patience, grace, connection, and a willingness to learn 
• Demonstrates cultural competency and a commitment to diversity, equity, social justice, and inclusion
• Brings a passion and desire to create a joyful learning environment

• Respect for the life of the child
• Compassion, integrity, and open-mindedness in all interactions
• Collegiality, approachability, flexibility, and adaptability
• Ability to partner and collaborate across professional statuses, i.e., with all colleagues (i.e., staff, leadership, families, student body, local and national independent school communities, and the neighborhood community)
• Comfortable using classroom technology

• Seeks to be an active community member

• Familiarity with the International Baccalaureate program (preferred)

Physical Requirements of the Job: 

• Must be able to work in an office environment including prolonged periods of sitting and standing.
• Must be able to stand, bend over, twist and reach to access file cabinets, bookshelves and navigate office and workstation spaces.
• Must be able to ambulate through a classroom setting, including walking up stairs.
• Must be able to lift and carry small children up to 40lbs in the case of emergency.

Union Status:Union

Salary Range: $35,800 - $73,087

This salary is based on a part-time role. Ultimately, in determining your pay, we will consider your educational level, experience, and other job-related factors. Your salary will also depend on the School's final determination of the number of classes being taught and the associated time commitment.

• Benefits: Colleagues may be eligible to participate in employment benefits including, but not limited to, health insurance, dental insurance, vision insurance. Benefits are subject to change at any time, and are subject to applicable plan documents.

To apply, please provide the following:

1. Cover letter addressed to Middle School Head Nitya York. Along with punctuating your interest and experience, your cover letter should also address how you feel that your professional journey aligns with our school’s Quaker values and pillars of social justice and civic engagement. 
2. Resume/Curriculum Vitae
3. List of three references (with emails, phone numbers, and relationship to you).
4. Completed online application.

Please email the above attachments (if possible as a single PDF) to hiring@brooklynfriends.org and worldlanguageposition@brooklynfriends.org, and put Part-Time Mandarin Teacher (Grades 6-12) in the subject line. Qualified candidates will be contacted after materials have been reviewed. 

Brooklyn Friends School COVID-19 Vaccination Policy:

We appreciate your interest in employment at Brooklyn Friends School. We would like to note that the School has a mandatory COVID-19 vaccination policy, which requires all faculty and staff to be fully vaccinated, and provide proof of vaccination.

About Brooklyn Friends School

Brooklyn Friends School (BFS) is a thriving Preschool-12 grade school located in vibrant Downtown Brooklyn with a dynamic community of colleagues (BFS uses the all-inclusive term, colleagues, to refer to all rather than one that delineates faculty/staff). Founded in 1867, Brooklyn Friends School’s pillars of social justice, service learning/civic engagement, and Quakerism, serve as guideposts for our action-oriented collective work. Our school’s history has been illustrious and reflective of the expansive nature of human experiences. Guided by our mission, BFS provides a dynamic, diverse, and robust social/emotional environment and academic program that cultivates compassionate, intellectually curious, and confident changemakers. As a school, we affirm that human diversity includes, but is not limited to: race, ethnicity, culture, national origin, religion, gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, age, socioeconomic class, family structure and physical ability, as well as diversity of thought, talents, and learning style.

Connections working at Brooklyn Friends School