First Grade Homeroom Teacher

K-6 Homeroom Teacher
Position Title: K-6 Homeroom Teacher (Teacher)
Location: Main Campus (Mt. Vista)
Job Type: Salaried Exempt (Teacher)
Reports To: Head of School
FTE: Full time, 1.0 FTE

POSITION SUMMARY: Gardner School is seeking a dynamic, experienced, highly skilled
classroom teacher to join our community as our First Grade Homeroom Teacher. This is an
exciting opportunity to collaborate with school leadership and faculty on growing and developing
Gardner’s elementary school program and advancing the school’s impact in the SW Washington
and Portland metro area. We are looking for a compelling classroom teacher who is committed
to progressive education, inspired to innovate, and able to add value to our outstanding school.
Our Elementary Homeroom Teachers work together with parents, students, other staff, and
administration to create a learning environment that supports student growth in both academics
and social-emotional skills. Importantly, an Elementary Homeroom teacher at Gardner brings
curiosity, creativity, joy, and humor to our community, demonstrating an appreciation for the
same qualities in our students. The ideal candidate is someone who sees value in being part of
a team, and who wants to create and innovate in their classroom curriculum approach. Play and
experiential learning, both on our campus and beyond, are important aspects of our learning
community. The ideal teacher can differentiate and individualize instruction in ways that
maximize student engagement and achievement, and guide their class through long-range
thematic learning experiences and culminating projects and presentations.

RESPONSIBILITIES:
● Teach classes as assigned, providing effective and professional classroom instruction,
assessment, and management. Incorporate tenets of progressive education, including
experiential learning, and a whole-child approach. Help to maintain school policies,
regulations, and expectations, and complete required forms and assessments in a timely
manner.
● Collaborate with colleagues on curriculum development, coordination of thematic
projects across subjects, and enhancing instructional practices and strategies. Integrate
experiences and projects between homeroom classroom and specialist classrooms.
● Exhibit a growth mindset about teaching practices and work toward professional goals
and development.
● Establish effective communications and relationships with students and parents.
● Develop and maintain professional, collaborative, and collegial relationships with faculty
and staff, as well as with community partners.
● Provide effective supervision of students to promote a safe and healthy environment and
school experience, both on campus and off campus. Teachers are expected (but not
required) to travel with students on various experiential activities throughout the year,
including potential trips out-of-state and overnights. Gardner does not have
school-provided transportation, so duties may include transporting students or riding with
parents and chaperones in personal vehicles.
● Opportunities to teach summer camps (not required) for additional pay beyond the 10
month salary.
● Participate in and assist with creating events outside of regular school hours, including
community events, the Back to School picnic, curriculum nights, an annual Book Swap,
our annual Auction fundraising event, and the Snow Ball dance.
● Assist with planning and participate in non-classroom activities, including field trips,
Gardner Market, supervision of students during parent-teacher conference times, Field
Days, and Wheels in School.
● Provide effective supervision of students to promote a safe and healthy environment and
school experience.
● Represent the school at community or public events.
● Fulfill other responsibilities as assigned respective to faculty member’s status as a
Gardner community member.

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS:
● Help to maintain school policies, regulations, and expectations.
● Exhibit a growth mindset about teaching practices and work toward professional goals
and development.
● Develop and maintain professional, collaborative, and collegial relationships with faculty
and staff, as well as with community partners to the benefit of students and the program.
● Support the work of the Head of School and administrative/leadership team.
● Maintain strict confidentiality with donor, family, staff and school information.
● Fulfill other responsibilities as assigned respective to staff member’s status as a Gardner
community member.
● Timely and professional completion of required training, reports, and forms.
● Attend various meetings as needed.

QUALIFICATIONS:
● Earned bachelor’s degree or higher in education or a related field from an accredited
institution. Washington State Teaching Certification and/or advanced degree in education
or related field strongly preferred.
● Experience with the Bridges Math curriculum, Reading A-Z, Handwriting Without Tears,
and thematic instruction, and multiple intelligences is helpful and desired.
● Ability to create, review, and modify effective lesson and unit plans with built-in formative
and summative assessments. Capacity to review and adjust plans as the various
learning needs arise.
● Willingness to work with staff and administrators to reflect on processes, collaborate to
plan and execute lessons, and to participate in constructive conversations about
feedback from that work.
● Can navigate verbal, digital, and written communication with administrators, staff,
parents, and students to effectively communicate and work through challenges. Curious
and kind in communication, showing care and openness to various cultures,
experiences, and responses.
● Able to meet physical requirements consistent with light physical duties required of
teachers generally combined with more strenuous physical duties consistent with
place-based experiential learning and student trips off campus.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES: Faculty members are at all times responsible for the
supervision of students in their care during classes and for students generally at all times when
on campus or off campus during school activities.

WORKING CONDITIONS: This is a 10-month faculty position that follows an academic year.
There are some required commitments outside of regular school hours, including evening and
weekend commitments. Teachers are expected to travel with students on various experiential
activities throughout the year, including trips out-of-state.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS: Physical requirements are consistent with light physical duties
required of teachers generally combined with more strenuous physical duties consistent with
place-based experiential learning and student trips off campus.

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS:
Salary: $38,000 – $50,000 (10 months paid over 12)
Position Classification: Salaried Exempt (teacher)
Hours: Full time
Benefits: Full time, 1.0 FTE positions qualify for Medical insurance at 100% employer paid, with
Dental coverage at 50% employer paid. All positions also qualify for participation in a Simple
IRA (up to 3% employer match) and paid time off.

If this sounds like a good fit for you, please submit a resume and introductory letter
expressing your interest in teaching or working at Gardner School of Arts & Sciences to
careers@gardnerschool.org.

It is the policy of Gardner School to maintain a working environment free of all forms of unlawful discrimination.Gardner School does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, sexual orientation including gender expression or identity, religion and national or ethnic origin, age, or disability in the administration of educational policies, employment practices or any other school-administered policies or practices.