Middle School Science & Robotics Teacher and Department Chair

Windward School, a grade 7-12 college-preparatory, independent day school in vibrant West Los Angeles, seeks an experienced and innovative educator and leader to join our Science & Technology Department as a Science and Robotics teacher, and as department chair. Teaching responsibilities will include teaching 4 total sections of Principles of Science II and 7th Grade Robotics. Principles of Science II is an 8th grade science course covering earth science in the Fall and then pivots to simple machines in the Spring in order to prepare students for our 9th Grade Physics courses. 7th Grade Robotics covers basic programming and building and supports our computer science courses in the upper school. Specific courses needing coverage may be flexible and may also change from year to year based on the department’s needs and teachers’ strengths and interests.

 

Department chairs at Windward play key roles mentoring faculty, stewarding instruction and learning, and promoting innovation in their respective departments. At the same time, they work collaboratively with the other chairs and administrators to ensure the overall academic program aligns with the mission of the school. Department chairs at Windward fulfill the role of teacher and serve in an administrative capacity simultaneously.

 

Windward faculty and administrative leaders continually seek best practices and educational partnerships to help our students and faculty pursue their passions, engage in cutting edge work, and lead meaningful lives.

 

Windward’s mission, as a college-preparatory school, is to challenge each student to achieve academic excellence in a nurturing environment. Windward teachers, parents, and administrators work as a team to encourage our students to be responsible, caring, well-informed, ethical, prepared, and well-balanced young adults.

 

In the Science & Technology Department, students and teachers work together to develop a growth mindset, and deepen skills and understandings in critical thinking, scientific reasoning, and problem solving. Laboratory and inquiry-based courses support and challenge students to better understand their own learning processes and to acquire increasingly sophisticated strategies as learners. Teachers in our department strongly value collaboration within the department and with colleagues across disciplines.

 

Major Responsibilities:

●        Provide regular support and mentorship of Science & Technology Department teachers through collaborative goal setting, monthly department meetings, and regular classroom observations

●        Manage departmental budget, facilitate guest teachers, and approve all expenses

●        Serve as a communication liaison between faculty and administration, and respond to parent inquiries about teachers, curriculum, or courses in the department

●        Teach four sections of Science and/or Technology across grade levels

●        Design and coordinate curriculum with other members of the department and liaise with other departments; as Chair, lead curricular and pedagogical development of the Science & Technology Department and facilitate regular review of the department’s scope and sequence

●        Monitor and evaluate students’ progress, prepare for parent conferences, craft narrative feedback for students, etc.

●        Exhibit knowledge of current trends, pedagogy, research, and topics of importance in language arts education by applying it in the classroom and sharing it with teachers on a departmental and school-wide basis

●        Participate in regular, purposeful pedagogy meetings and in professional development sessions

●        Participate actively in the life of the school, through attendance at events, committee membership, and leadership of extracurricular activities

●        Perform other duties within the scope, spirit, and purpose of the job, as requested by the divisional directors

Salary Range: $71,350 – $134,860, depending on experience. Please review the Faculty Salary Calculator on our Careers page for additional information.

 

Desired qualifications:

●     A bachelor’s degree in a laboratory science; an advanced degree is preferred.

●     Have at least 5 years experience teaching experience, preferably some at the middle school level

●     Be cognizant of current trends, pedagogy, research, and topics of importance in science education and be willing to apply it in the classroom and share with other teachers

●     Participate actively in the life of the school

●     Be comfortable working in a highly collaborative environment

●     Be open to professional growth and development

●     Communicate effectively with students, parents/guardians, and colleagues

●     Have excellent technology skills and experience integrating technology into the curriculum

 

This is a great chance to be part of a dynamic, close-knit, independent school culture and community. Please see the Careers page on our website, which includes a salary calculator. We offer competitive compensation and benefits, including:

●     Medical, dental, vision insurance

●     Paid Holidays, Vacation and Wellness days

●     Retirement Plan, including up to 6% employer match

●     School-paid Life and Disability Insurance

●     Flexible Spending Account Plans

●     Annual $2,000 FlexCheck

●     Annual $2,000 Lunch Allowance

●     Access to Peak Performance Center to promote physical and mental health

●     Wellness Initiatives

●     Employee Assistance Program

●     Tuition Remission

●     Funds for Professional Development

●     And much more!

For more information about Windward, see our website: www.windwardschool.org.

All interested candidates should send a resume and cover letter of interest to Susan Herrera, Director of Human Resources, via the Application Link.

EOE