Lower School Lead Teacher, 2nd, 3rd, or 4th Grade (1.0 FTE)

Westside School is seeking a collaborative and compassionate educator to join our Lower School team as a Lower School Lead Teacher for the 26-27 school year

The ideal candidate can co-develop and implement meaningful, age-appropriate curriculum, foster a joyful and inclusive classroom community, and support the school’s ongoing work around diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging.

Located in the Arbor Heights neighborhood of West Seattle, Westside School serves approximately 375 students in preschool through eighth grade. 36.4% of our student body are Black, Indigenous, and People of Color. Westside’s Lower School serves around 200 students in Kindergarten through Grade 4 and is organized into grade-level teams of two lead teachers and instructional assistants, who work together to support student learning and growth.

The Lead Teacher is responsible for their classroom in all areas, including developing and implementing curriculum across core subjects. They are committed to building a respectful and caring community of learners, where students feel seen, heard, and valued. The Lead Teacher partners with families, collaborates with fellow classroom teachers, Specialist teachers, and the Lower School Learning Support Team, and plays an essential role in creating a cohesive, student-centered experience. The Lead Teacher participates fully in the life of the school, attending in-service days, meetings, and school celebrations, and upholds the mission, vision, and values of Westside School.

Mission: Westside students learn to think critically and act with compassion in a joyful, supportive community.

Vision: Westside is committed to being a collaborative, inclusive school where learners discover their unique strengths, embrace challenges, and develop a passion for learning, in order to contribute positively to their world.

Reports to: Lower School Head

Responsibilities include:

• Provide diverse learning opportunities, emphasizing inquiry-based and hands-on experiences.
• Collaboratively develop and implement age-appropriate, hands-on instructional curricula rooted in CCSS.
• Establish classroom expectations that create a safe and comfortable environment for all students.
• Foster the holistic development of students' cognitive, emotional, social, and physical well-being.
• Plan and deliver engaging experiences that facilitate active engagement in learning and  challenge each student to reach their full potential.
• Value and incorporate diverse perspectives in daily interactions and within the curriculum.
• Collaborate closely with grade level colleagues and instructional assistants.
• Engage in Westside’s continued journey to educate ourselves and embrace issues of diversity, equity, inclusion, and anti-racist work.
• Regularly assess and document student learning and present this learning in formal reports and conferences with families, as well as shared data files with colleagues.
• Maintain the classroom environment and materials and manage the classroom budget effectively to support the academic program.
• Share ownership for the educational program with colleagues and Lower School leadership.
• Set annual goals for focus and growth with the Lower School Head, participate in peer support teams, and seek out and engage in staff development opportunities.
• Serve as a mentor for a grade level  Instructional Assistant.
• Communicate regularly with the parent community, including writing weekly newsletters.
• Participate in recess and lunch duty. 
• Other duties as assigned.

Successful candidates will have the following personal and professional attributes:

• Philosophy of education that aligns with the school’s mission and values.
• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience in teaching, child development or curriculum design. Master’s degree and/or teaching certificate preferred. 
• Minimum of three years of lead teaching experience in an elementary grade level classroom 
• Experience in a variety of instructional techniques and approaches, including inquiry-based learning.
• Strong written, verbal, interpersonal, and conflict resolution skills; strong presentation skills. 
• Skilled in adapting instruction to meet diverse learning needs. 
• Enthusiasm for working collaboratively with colleagues including the desire to plan curriculum experiences across classrooms and disciplines.
• Familiarity and facility with current research informing teaching and learning.

Start Date: August 17, 2026

Compensation and Benefits: This is a full-time position for the 2026-2027 academic school year. The salary range is $63,219 - $93,586 based on education and years of experience, according to Westside’s teacher salary scale, and will include longevity bonuses. Westside School offers the following competitive benefits package:

• 403b Retirement Savings Plan upon eligibility
• Medical and Dental insurance
• Life, AD&D, and Long-term Disability insurance
• Various voluntary insurance benefits including vision insurance
• 3 Days of Personal Time Off per year
• 7 Days of Sick Time Off per year
• 10+  paid holidays throughout the year

Westside School's Diversity Statement

Westside School is committed to promoting inclusiveness, diversity, and cultural competence in its education, employment practices, school community, and governance. It views inclusiveness as a fundamental value, diversity as a key element, and cultural competence as a vital skill necessary to prepare students to participate in and contribute to a global society. 

Westside uses the term diversity broadly to encompass differences in the attributes of individuals, families, and communities.

Westside School is an Equal Opportunity Employer. 

To Apply: Please submit a cover letter, resume, statement of educational philosophy, and three professional references, to employment@westsideschool.org

Successful candidates will have the following personal and professional attributes:

• Philosophy of education that aligns with the school’s mission and values.
• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience in teaching, child development or curriculum design. Master’s degree and/or teaching certificate preferred. 
• Minimum of three years of lead teaching experience in an elementary grade level classroom 
• Experience in a variety of instructional techniques and approaches, including inquiry-based learning.
• Strong written, verbal, interpersonal, and conflict resolution skills; strong presentation skills. 
• Skilled in adapting instruction to meet diverse learning needs. 
• Enthusiasm for working collaboratively with colleagues including the desire to plan curriculum experiences across classrooms and disciplines.
• Familiarity and facility with current research informing teaching and learning.

To Apply: Please submit a cover letter, resume, statement of educational philosophy, and three professional references, to employment@westsideschool.org

About Westside School

Westside School serves 400 students in preschool-eighth grade. In the fall 2015, Westside School moved to a permanent campus in the Arbor Heights neighborhood of West Seattle, which supports our mission and values as a progressive, academically rigorous, relationship rich, preschool through eighth grade school with the core values of Academic Excellence, Joyful Learning, and Creating Confident Learners in a Caring Community.

Connections working at Westside School