Beginning the Academic Year 2023-2024 – Full Time/In Person – 1.0 FTE

University Child Development School (UCDS) located in Seattle, Washington is an independent school serving 350+ students from  Early Elementary (Preschool, Pre-Kindergarten, and Kindergarten) and Elementary (1st through 5th grade) students.

UCDS encourages students to stretch, reflect, collaborate, and think expansively—enriching their educational growth and ensuring they thrive in school and beyond. UCDS sets individualized curriculum goals, as well as high expectations for every student, and inspires them to go beyond self-imposed limits.

We cultivate reflective, collaborative, skillful thinkers who ignite positive change in their communities. From our youngest to our oldest students, we strive to help everyone develop a worldview that identifies, understands, and values diversity in race, culture, gender, religion, ability, and more. Teachers make a thousand choices a day—both big and small, explicit and implicit—and with each of these, our goal is to expand and deepen students’ understanding of self and others. We strive to engage our students in authentic and meaningful conversations, experiences, and learning that help them to recognize that while there is so much work left to do, they have the tools, strategies, and resources to make a difference.

UCDS is looking for a classroom teacher for our Preschool-Grade 5 program. UCDS is comprised of highly collaborative teachers who are a part of teaching teams that design innovative educational programs that activate personal learning styles and set students up for the rewards of life-long learning. 

This applicant should have experience building generative and collaborative curricula. Applicants must also be willing to support the mission of UCDS, engage in mentorship models, and demonstrate flexibility. Each teacher at UCDS works as a member of a team to design curriculum, instruct students, individualize learning, and support school-wide events and programs. In the spirit of innovation, faculty share teaching methods, materials, and assessment techniques within and beyond our school community. The process of building, implementing, evaluating, and revising programs is at the core of UCDS and is required of every faculty member. 

We strongly encourage members of marginalized communities, including Black, Indigenous, and People of Color, as well as members of other underrepresented groups, to apply and become a part of our commitment to creating a diverse and inclusive educational environment.

Responsibilities
Art of Teaching:

• Creates and sustains classroom culture based on the mission and values of the school
• Co-creates, implements, and delivers hands-on instructional curricula which are appropriate to the grade and developmental level of the students
• Employs differentiated teaching strategies to meet the needs of a diverse range of students
• Provides a variety of learning opportunities, methods, and materials, with a strong emphasis on inquiry-based learning and hands-on experiences for the students
• Demonstrates enthusiasm and inspires students to participate fully in the learning process
• Practices thoughtful, respectful, and successful classroom management techniques which support active learning and promote responsibility and self-management
• Advises and works with students, parents/guardians, and other teachers to fully develop a picture of students’ strengths and learning needs   

Community:

• Provides and maintains a dynamic and safe environment
• Communicates effectively (verbally and in writing) with others, including administrators, colleagues, staff, and parents/guardians in order to maintain constructive and professional relationships
• ​​Builds partnerships with parents/guardians through clear written and verbal communication in formal and informal meetings as well as documentation
• Attends school-related events and meetings outside the scheduled school day, i.e. after-school planning, committee meetings, overnight trips, and community events
• Collaborates and works effectively in teams with colleagues 
• Employs strong interpersonal skills, including being patient and positive

Reflective Practice:

• Participates in annual goal setting and receives regular feedback, facilitated by the Division Head, Assistant Head of School, and Head of School
• Participates in professional learning opportunities at UCDS, the UCDS Institute, and in the larger community
• Actively completes other duties as assigned

Experience & Professional Competencies

• Bachelor’s degree
• Classroom teaching experience 
• A Master’s degree is preferred 
• A teaching certificate is preferred

Additional Requirements

• Meet the school’s standards when completing all background screenings.

Compensation & Benefits
Salary Range: $60,883 – $118,000 depending on degree/experience

The school offers a generous and comprehensive benefits package to benefits-eligible employees subject to the discretion of the Head of School, which includes:

• Employer-paid medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Health Savings Account with employer contribution
• Flexible Spending Account
• 403(b) Retirement Plan with available employer matching
• Paid sick leave
• Employer-paid Short-Term and Long-Term Disability Insurance
• Employer-paid Life Insurance
• Employee Assistance Program for employees and their dependents
• Wellness benefit is to be used on items or services that promote wellness
• Professional Development opportunities
• Free parking

How to Apply
If you are interested in applying for this position, click the “apply now” button to submit a resume and cover letter addressing the following three questions:

1. What interests you about working at UCDS?
2. How do your experiences and qualifications directly relate to being a teacher at UCDS?
3. Describe your ideal classroom culture and how you actively create it with students. 

Non-Discrimination Policy
University Child Development School is an Equal Opportunity Employer dedicated to promoting diversity in the workplace and to seeking a diverse and broad spectrum of qualified candidates. The School does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, religious creed, color, national origin, ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, marital status, sex, gender or gender identity, age, or sexual orientation.