POSITION STATEMENT
Upper School Science Teacher (Grades 9-12) - Biology

Start Date: August 18, 2025

OVERVIEW
Brooklyn Friends School (BFS), a thriving Early Childhood - 12th grade school located in vibrant Downtown Brooklyn, seeks a Upper School Science Teacher (Grades 9-12)  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 identity as a Quaker school and pillars of social justice, social impact, and wholeness, 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 Science Teacher  collaborates with grade level colleagues, learning specialists, and administration to plan, create, and implement curriculum. 

We seek candidates who are able to teach a combination of at least two out of three disciplines: Biology, Chemistry, and Physics and who have the capacity to teach through the International Baccalaureate level. The position also includes the responsibility of being a student advisor within the Upper School’s advisory program as well as a student club advisor.  All Upper School teachers are responsible for ongoing assessment and communication with parents and the Head of the Upper School about children’s progress, and are expected to be active community members, sharing supervisory duties and general support and care of the school community.  

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. Teachers are responsible for ongoing assessment and communication with students, parents and administration about student’s progress. All Upper School teachers are expected to be active community members, leading an advisory, sharing supervisory duties and general support and care of the school community.

Primary Responsibilities Include:

This position reports to the Head of the Upper School.

• Teach four sections of Upper School Science (~15-20 students per class)
• Support the academic/social/emotional development of all students
• Act as an advisor of Upper School students, including overseeing their progress in all classes, being the primary contact with parents and other responsibilities as assigned 
• 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
• 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 
• Teaches for understanding, using multiple modalities, especially experiential and/or project based learning.
• Examines and uses student learner profiles, in particular those for students with learning challenges, and teaches with an understanding of how to differentiate, accommodate, and modify in ways that benefit all 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 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)

• 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: $71,601 - $97,540

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 the Head of the Upper School, Liz Fernández. 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, social impact, and wholeness. 
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 as a single PDF to: hiring@brooklynfriends.org and lfernandez@brooklynfriends.org, and put BFS Upper School Science Teacher Application 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