Elementary School Teacher

POSITION SUMMARY: Gardner School is seeking a dynamic, experienced, highly skilled classroom teacher to join our community as one of our K-6 Homeroom Teachers for the 2026-2027 year.  Position starts in August. 

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.