• Full Time
  • Seattle

Website The Valley School

Position Summary
This multifaceted full-time position combines 0.5 FTE librarian with 0.25 DEBJ 0.25 literacy teacher. The position includes teaching library skills, and supporting the school in having diverse materials and curricula. In addition, this position will work with the Student Support Services coordinator and the Director of Teaching and Learning to facilitate differentiated instruction instruction in literacy as well as lessons that reflect intentional integration of culturally responsive instructional approaches and content.

The Valley School
The Valley School is a co-educational elementary school, serving students in grades pre-kindergarten through the fifth grade. Founded in 1985, The Valley School offers a high-quality academic foundation in a small school setting, rich with opportunities for creativity, exploration, and play. We celebrate childhood. Our learning program is a mixture of playful work and purposeful play and is designed to be developmentally appropriate at each grade. Social emotional learning and skill development form an important pillar of our program, in addition to academics, specialist classes, and dynamic playground spaces designed to offer myriad opportunities for students to learn and grow.

Our Mission and Values:
At The Valley School, we ignite children’s natural passion for learning. Our students develop an academic foundation and become joyful learners through playful work, purposeful play, and the practice of community. Our school values include: celebration of childhood, collaboration, creativity, equity and inclusion, kindness, and respect for individuality.

Diversity, Equity, Belonging and Justice (DEBJ) Statement
The Valley School honors diversity, practices inclusion, and invites courageous conversations. We strive to create a community where each individual is valued, respected, and included. Though the journey can be muddy—much like our playground—we aim to give every child the tools necessary to flourish.

School wide Functions:
DEBJ
• In collaboration with the administration and faculty, build support structures within the school to assist all diverse families and provide a positive school experience for both students and families
• Work with admissions to recruit, welcome, and retain students from diverse backgrounds
• Respond to diversity- and equity-related issues among the student body as they arise
• Plan, develop, and market diversity and inclusion-focused education, programs, and events for faculty, staff, students, and families
• Provide strategic leadership in the areas of diversity, equity, belonging and justice
• Implement, monitor progress, and recommend adjustments in connection with The Valley School Strategic Plan

Library/Literacy
• Order and prepare all materials necessary for library program
• Maintain and add to library book collection with a focus on collating a diverse collection of books
• Plan and coordinate all details for annual Valley School Book Award
• Integrate library lessons with grade level curriculum, units and other classroom content

Classroom Functions:
DEBJ
• Serve as a resource for faculty with respect to curriculum design and student support aimed at teaching and learning to think critically about cultural diversity. Collaborate with individual faculty members to develop courses and curricula that include the study of race, gender, ethnicity, nation and nationhood, class, and religion and their intersections
• Research new pedagogies, curricula, and best practices that address common classroom challenges in teaching about cultural competence, awareness of racial micro-aggressions, identity, social difference, and inequality, and train teachers how to incorporate these into their classrooms

Library/Literacy
• Plan and teach a standards-based library curriculum that follows a comprehensive scope and sequence (this includes 7 classes during the week)
• Implement a library program that is developmentally appropriate, student-centered, creative, and designed to engage a variety of learning styles
• Plan units that expose students to a diverse variety of genres, authors and books (coordinate learning that goes across library time and into classroom learning)
• Provide a safe learning environment; demonstrate strong classroom management; complete Responsive Classroom SEL training for elementary teachers
• Collaborate with teachers to develop curriculum with intentional focus on Social Justice teaching standards and integration of content
• Develop plans to facilitate digital citizenship learning for Upper School

Community Functions:
DEBJ
• Act as a liaison between the school and local communities of color to serve these communities better and to support the school’s outreach and recruitment programs
• Network with diversity coordinators at other independent schools as well as off-campus cultural resource organizations

Library/Literacy
• Assist Director of Teaching & Learning in hosting Literacy events to build family partnerships in supporting student learning
• Link to community resources to support with literacy opportunities beyond the school day

Benefits

The Valley School offers a salary that is competitive with comparable schools in the Seattle area and is commensurate with experience and credentials.

Requirements

  • A Bachelor’s degree, Masters preferred, in education, psychology, or related field
  • Experience or degree in library science preferred
  • Background and/or education/certification in diversity, equity, inclusion and justice
  • Experience working with children between the ages of 4-11 in a group setting
  • Deep knowledge of children’s literature
  • Experience working with diverse populations in a leadership role
  • The ability to relate to others and work in a team setting
  • The ability to think and work independently
  • Excellent oral and written communication skills

Start Date08/23/2024
Salary$51,000 to $95,000 Depending on Experience/Education

Please email a cover letter, a current resume, and three references to:

Shana Reiss de Reyes, Head of School, at shanar@thevalleyschool.org

To apply for this job email your details to shanar@thevalleyschool.org