POSITION STATEMENT
Upper School Spanish Teacher (Leave Replacement) Position (Grades 9-12)

Start Date: August 24, 2026 - mid-November

OVERVIEW
Brooklyn Friends School (BFS), a thriving Preschool-12 grade school located in vibrant Downtown Brooklyn, seeks an Upper School Spanish Teacher (Leave Replacement) 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 – diversity, equity & belonging; global social impact; and wholeness & wellbeing –  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 Head of Upper School, the Upper School Spanish Teacher (Leave Replacement)  will be a dynamic, student-centered educator who will teach four sections of Spanish language including International Baccalaureate (IB) Spanish and serve as an advisor to a group of Upper School students. 

The ideal candidate is a passionate educator of Spanish language and cultures who inspires communication, cultural understanding, and critical inquiry through engaging and meaningful instruction. They bring creativity, cultural responsiveness, and an interdisciplinary approach to the classroom, fostering a learning environment grounded in inclusion, intellectual risk-taking, and deep engagement with language and identity. They are eager to participate fully in the life of our Quaker school community while keeping students at the center of the teaching and learning process. Applicants should have experience working with and teaching Spanish curriculum in a secondary setting. Demonstration of strong classroom management skills, comfort using classroom technology, an investment in continued professional growth, and a commitment to promoting a diverse community is expected.

Primary Job Responsibilities:

This position reports to the Head of Upper School. 

• Teaches four Spanish classes to students in grades 9 - 12
• Serves as an Upper School Advisor
• Supports the academic/social/emotional development of all students
• Collaborates well with colleagues to plan, create, and implement curriculum
• Communicates effectively with families with regard to all aspects of classroom life and child development
• Be responsible for ongoing student assessment
• Shares supervisory duties and general support and care of the school community  
• Performs 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’s degree required; Master’s degree preferred, ideally in Spanish or a related field
• 3-5 years teaching experience (preferred) 
• Familiarity with the International Baccalaureate program (preferred)

• Has relevant experience in an Upper School setting
• Has strong classroom management skills 
• Is invested in continued professional growth 
• Demonstrates strong communication skills (oral and written)
• 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)

Physical Requirements of the Job: 

• Must be able to ambulate through a classroom setting, including walking up stairs.
• 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, navigate instrument storage spaces, bookshelves, and office and workstation spaces.

• Must be able to lift and carry small children up to 40lbs in the case of emergency.
• Must be able to lift and carry up to 50 lbs.

Union Status: Non-Union

Salary range: $72,675 - $97,200

This salary range represents the expected annual salary range for this position. Ultimately, in determining your pay, we’ll consider your education level, experience, and other job-related factors.

• Benefits: Colleagues may be eligible to participate in employment benefits including, but not limited to, health insurance, dental insurance, vision insurance, 403(b) retirement plan, life insurance, and long-term disability 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 Liz Fernández, Head of Upper School. 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 (at least one reference listed should be a current or former supervisor). Please include their emails, phone numbers, and relationship to you. We will not contact references without informing you.
4. Completed online application.

Please email the above attachments (if possible as a single PDF) to hiring@brooklynfriends.org and put US Spanish Teacher (Leave Replacement) in the subject line. Qualified candidates will be contacted after materials have been reviewed.

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