Lower School Kindergarten Teacher - Baltimore, United States - The Park School of Baltimore

Description

THE PARK SCHOOL OF BALTIMORE
LOWER SCHOOL KINDERGARTEN TEACHER
FALL 2024

Devoted to intellectual inquiry, a collaborative spirit of learning, and an appreciation for the diversity of human experience, The Park School of Baltimore is a community founded on positive expectations of our students and respect for individual differences.

We cultivate children's innate curiosity by nurturing their interests and engaging them as active participants in their own education.

We support young people in becoming confident questioners and responsible citizens of the world.
~The Park School Mission

The Park School is a non-sectarian, independent, coeducational day school of 845 students from Pre-Kindergarten through Grade 12. Founded in 1912 as one of the early progressive schools, The Park School continues to practice a distinct educational philosophy. The core values today, as in 1912, are a belief in children's capacity to love learning, to grow academically and emotionally when inspired by highly qualified, caring teachers, and to develop self-discipline, confidence, and creative problem-solving skills through deep exploration and constant challenge. At every grade level, from
Pre-Kindergarten through Upper School, Park actively encourages questioning and conversation as essential elements of the learning process. The school philosophy emphasizes a belief in positive expectations and expects that students, as they mature, will take increasing responsibility for their own learning.

The Position:
The Park School is seeking a Kindergarten teacher for Fall 2024. The new faculty member will partner with a current teacher in working with a group of 15-20 children. The Kindergarten program is an integral part of Park's Lower School, which includes 275 students and 40+ faculty members in Pre-Kindergarten to Grade 5.
Our program includes one Pre-Kindergarten class and two Kindergarten classes. Each section is staffed by two teachers. Special area teachers provide instruction in art, music, physical education, library, science, and Spanish. Lower School Learning Resource Teachers and a Lower School Counselor work with teachers at all grade levels. The Kindergarten is located in a separate building, which includes a multi-purpose room and an adjacent playground.
The goal of education in Park's Kindergarten is the healthy growth of children's intellectual, social, physical, emotional, and moral powers. To this end, the program involves children in a rich array of learning experiences in an environment that respects children's individual interests and varying rates of growth. Play — as a means for children to explore and construct an understanding of their world — is at
the core of the program. The integrated curriculum includes substantial and varied activities in language and literacy, mathematics and science, the arts, and physical skills. Support of children's social and emotional growth, with attention to the major developmental tasks of each age group, is also a priority.
Kindergarten faculty members establish close relationships with families, involving them as volunteers in the classroom and, more broadly, as partners in supporting children's growth. Park welcomes and celebrates diversity in our student body and in our faculty, and is committed to providing an education for all of our children that instills in them a respect, understanding, and appreciation for the many races, cultures, religions, family structures, and ethnicities that make up our complex and diverse world.

Qualifications:
Passion for teaching and commitment to the education of Lower School children are essential. Ability to work collaboratively within a grade level team and to communicate effectively with families are also key qualifications. In addition:

• Orientation to progressive philosophy and teaching methods
• Formal training in early childhood or elementary education (M.A., M.Ed., or M.A.T.
  preferred)
• Strong understanding of child development, including the social, emotional, and
  intellectual domains
• Ability to work collaboratively with a co-teacher to design student-centered curriculum and meet the needs of diverse learners
• Energy and imagination
• An understanding of how one creates a warm, nurturing, and supportive classroom for young children
• Working knowledge of developmentally appropriate Kindergarten curriculum
• Passion for instilling in children a lifelong love of learning
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills
• Candidates from diverse backgrounds and/or who have experience in cultural
  competency work are strongly encouraged to apply Salary and Benefits:
  Park salaries and benefits are competitive with those in other leading independent schools. For new appointments, salaries reflect experience and training equated to Park's scales. In addition to normal retirement and health benefits, the school offers the following distinctive programs:
  Faculty & Curricular Advancement (FACA) Program: A $5.6 million endowed
  program, established in 1989, supports summer professional development work by
  faculty. This program provides full salary and benefits for work on group or individual
  projects. Approximately 40% of Park faculty participate in FACA projects each summer.
  Projects are selected through a formal, competitive review process.
  Tuition Remission: Under current policy, employees who have been employed at Park
  full-time for two years are eligible to receive full tuition remission for their children who
  attend Park. (Faculty children must meet the same standards for admission as all other
  applicants.) During the first two years of employment, faculty may apply for financial
  assistance through Park's need-based tuition assistance program. Application Process:
  Due to the large volume of incoming résumés, we cannot accept phone calls. Send a letter of interest, personal statement, and résumé. Please indicate whether you plan to attend any national recruitment forums. Please also indicate whether there are any special circumstances that will affect the timing of your search, availability for interviews, and decisions for the coming year. Contact:
  Priscilla Morales, Associate Head of School
  The Park School of Baltimore
  2425 Old Court Road
  Baltimore, MD 21208
  The Park School of Baltimore does not discriminate against employees or applicants for employment on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin, religion, ancestry, gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, or any physical or mental disability unrelated to a reasonable performance of an employee's duties. COVID-19
  Please note: Park School currently requires proof of COVID-19 vaccination, subject to legally required exemptions, as a condition of employment.