Posted: 11-Feb-26
Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Type: Full Time
Preferred Education:
Exempt Position
Reports to
Director of Lower School
Start Date
August 2026
William Penn Charter School is a Quaker, all-gender, pre-K-12 independent day school in the East Falls neighborhood of Philadelphia. Established in 1689 by William Penn and members of the Religious Society of Friends, Penn Charter is a community guided by Quaker testimonies and the central belief that there is "that of God" in every person. A school community that honors difference, Penn Charter seeks to be a place where diversity is understood, represented, and valued. Our curriculum embraces a plurality of cultures and celebrates an array of voices, instilling in us a deeper understanding and empathy for individuals in this community and the world.
As our mission states, we value scholarship and inquiry. With excellence as our standard, we challenge students in a vigorous program of academics, arts, and athletics. Through global connections, civic engagement, and a focus on environmental sustainability, we inspire students to be thinkers, collaborators, innovators, and leaders. We educate students to live lives that make a difference.
Position Summary
William Penn Charter School seeks an Early Childhood Teacher to teach First Grade beginning in the 2026-2027 academic year. Experience with Math in Focus and Fundations, or comparable approaches, is required. Successful candidates must embrace student-centered pedagogy, demonstrate curiosity and a commitment to professional growth, and be willing to collaborate with colleagues. The teacher must demonstrate a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion in both their teaching practice and relationship-building. Familiarity with the principles and practices of Quakerism and Quaker education and Responsive Classroom is highly desirable. Additionally, teachers can access many professional development opportunities via the Penn Charter Teaching and Learning Center.
Essential Functions
- Implements the curriculum and approaches listed below, and adjusts teaching methods to meet the developmental needs of students:
- Fundations
- Structured Literacy
- Math in Focus
- Responsive Classroom
- Project-Based Learning
- Integration of DEI, Belonging, Social Justice, and Quaker Testimonies
- Develops student leadership, teamwork, responsibility, and social skills, providing a safe and optimal learning environment for all students
- Works as a contributing member in partnership with the grade-level teaching team and the broader lower school faculty
- Maintains ongoing parent communication via newsletters, emails, and/or phone calls
- Reports grades and writes comments throughout the school year
- Serves as an active member of the Lower School and Penn Charter community by engaging with colleagues, participating in events and activities, and fulfilling additional duties, including but not limited to: pick-up and drop-off, managing lunch and recess duties, after-school enrichment, chaperoning field trips, after-school events or grade-level trips, and other assignments
- Maintains a growth mindset and actively participates in faculty professional development and supervision, including observations and feedback conversations with support from lower school administrators and academic coordinators
- Attends all school-wide meetings, department meetings, Lower School faculty meetings, and in-service days
- Perform other duties as assigned by the Director of Lower School
Competencies
- Knowledge and understanding of child development and strategies to differentiate instruction
- A demonstrated willingness to explore and embrace new pedagogical practices, technologies, and developing trends
- Demonstrated experience working with the curriculum and approaches listed:
- Math in Focus
- Fundations
- Structured Literacy
- Project-Based Learning
- Responsive Classroom
- Integration of DEI, Belonging, Social Justice, and Quaker Testimonies
- Demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and social justice in their approach to the work and building relationships with students and other community members
- Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to quickly adapt to changing group dynamics
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills
- Flexible approach and ability to organize multiple tasks and conflicting time constraints
- Ability to establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with internal and external members of the Penn Charter community
- Understands the importance of maintaining confidentiality and the responsibilities of handling personally identifiable information
- Ability to engage in reflective self-evaluation in the areas of leadership, performance, and professional growth
- Proficient use of school-based systems and applications (Google Suite & Microsoft Office programs, Seesaw)
Salary and benefits
William Penn Charter School offers a competitive salary and benefits package, which includes comprehensive healthcare coverage for employees and their eligible dependents, retirement contributions, and tuition remission. William Penn Charter School is also a Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program-qualified employer.
William Penn Charter School provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.
We will review application materials on a rolling basis and interview candidates until the position has been filled.
Physical Demands
- Ability and willingness to work in unpredictable weather conditions
- Ability to lift and carry at least 30 pounds
- Ability to walk, stand, sit on the floor, or kneel for extended periods of time
Required Qualifications
- At least five years of early childhood classroom experience
- A graduate degree in a related field and/or a combination of graduate education and classroom experience is required