- An authentically Catholic school that supports traditional values.
- A joyful, welcoming, all-girl environment with measurable social and learning benefits.
- A strong partnership with parents, where parents are supported as the primary educators of their daughters.
- A personalized experience with one-on-one monthly mentoring, small class sizes, and vibrant student life programs in athletics, performing arts, clubs, and co-curriculars.
- An integrated educational approach uniting a rigorous liberal arts curriculum with faith, character and personal formation.
- A tradition of excellence, our graduates consistently attend some of the best universities in America and our graduates were awarded $3 million in scholarships last year.
- Reflects on teaching practice to make instruction meaningful and engaging for students.
- Partners with parents as students' primary educators.
- Strives to educate the whole person in and out of the classroom.
- Works with optimism and professionalism.
- Contributes to a collegial, professional learning community.
- Use professional expertise to develop unit and lesson plans aligned with the course description and department mission.
- Design formative and summative assessments that show evidence of student understanding and offer feedback for students to grow.
- Establish a classroom culture of respect, rapport, and love of learning.
- Supervise 2-3 study hall periods during the week.
- Work closely with department head(s) and dean(s) to make curricular decisions and address student needs.
- Participate in school sponsored professional development and mentoring including regular department meetings, grade level meetings, and faculty inservice days. Additional support for outside professional development is available.
- Communicate with parents at Back-to-School Night, Parent-Teacher Conferences, and via email, phone, or in-person meetings.
- Serve as a mentor to 3-5 students.
- Collaborate with a teacher team to lead a homeroom.
- Participate in school traditions.
- Teachers are welcome to further support student life as club moderators and sports coaches.
- Support admissions office with school visitors and open houses.
- Uphold school policies and perform other job responsibilities as requested.
English Teacher - Des Plaines, United States - Willows Academy
Description
Open Position: English Teacher
Reports to: Assistant Head of School
Member of: English Faculty
Start Date: August 8, 2024
Duties:
Willows seeks a candidate to teach English at the high school and/or middle school level. This full-time position requires expertise and experience/potential to teach English literature and writing from a classical liberal arts perspective up to the AP level. Background in classics and Latin is a plus. Candidates should have a passion for engaging girls in Literature, fostering writing development, and be able to contribute to a strong Humanities program and English department.
English Department Philosophy:
The English department at Willows Academy guides students toward the harmonious development of both contemplative and critical thinking, not only in reading and speaking but also in creative, analytical, and persuasive writing.
The curriculum exposes students to a comprehensive collection of literature in its various forms, including poetry, drama, fiction, nonfiction, essays, historical documents, and speeches. During the course of their studies students 1) refine reading and comprehension skills; 2) analyze literature for style, technique and themes; 3) connect literature to themselves and contemporary society; and 4) recognize the importance of those pieces of literature throughout the ages.
Major works of the Western intellectual tradition inspire our Middle and High School students to seek the true, the good, and the beautiful with determination in order to pursue right order in their own hearts and relationships, as well as in society and civilization itself. Our classical texts enkindle students' desires not only to achieve more, but, more importantly, to become more, more fully human—to clarify convictions and to grow in virtue. While sparking students' passion for reading, our English program inspires awe in worlds beyond their own as discussions draw them to discover new avenues of self-giving.
We accomplish these goals incrementally throughout Middle School and High School in collaboration with IEW, the Institute for Excellence in Writing, a program which teaches and integrates the rudiments of writing with the teaching of literature. With specific goals to be reached by the end of each year, our students learn to write effectively in many modes. By first honing foundational skills in grammar and organization as well as rhetorical, persuasive and literary techniques, the English curriculum progressively strengthens students' analytical writing skills so that they are writing at college level before graduating. Willows offers students opportunities to demonstrate such mastery on both the Language and Literature Advanced Placement Exams.
Application process:
Please submit cover letter expressing interest in a particular position and resume to
Teaching at Willows
School Context and Mission:
Willows Academy challenges young women to transform society for the good. In partnership with parents, we facilitate the development of their character, intellect, and love of God. Guided by the teachings of the Catholic Church, we focus on providing a rigorous liberal arts curriculum, personalized mentoring, and vibrant student life.
What Willows Offers
Portrait of a Willows Teacher
A Willows teacher:
Teacher Responsibilities:
Teacher Qualifications:
According to its mission and vision, Willows Academy is an all-female teaching and learning environment. The applicant must hold at least a bachelor's degree; master's degree and teaching certification in the subject area is preferred.
Applicants will be chosen based on their in-depth understanding and commitment to the school's vision and mission; on their ability to work closely and communicate successfully with individual students/parents/coworkers; on their degree of subject matter expertise; and on their breadth and flexibility of instructional strategies.
Benefits:
Salary commensurate with experience and educational qualifications. Full time employees are eligible for medical, dental, and vision insurance in addition to long-term disability, short-term disability, and life insurance.