Modern Languages Teacher - Spanish

The Northwest School is an independent day and boarding school. We serve students in grades 6 to 12 on an urban campus in Seattle's Capitol Hill neighborhood. We provide an interdisciplinary liberal arts education that nurtures compassionate, globally aware and environmentally conscious individuals who find joy in learning and are ready to inspire and innovate in our interconnected world.   

Northwest fosters a warm, inclusive community dedicated to our school values. We believe that a diverse community enriches our institution, making it more creative and dynamic. The Northwest School is committed to building a faculty and student body that reflects the diversity of the broader society. We strongly encourage candidates from underrepresented groups to apply.   

POSITION OVERVIEW: The Northwest School seeks an experienced Spanish Teacher to teach four sections of Spanish. We anticipate that least two of the sections will be in the Middle School, and at least one of the sections will be in the Upper School.  

Upper School language offerings are an integral part of the international perspective at The Northwest School. Classes are conducted largely in the language being taught. Each language class involves extensive study of a culture and opportunities to study abroad. Upper School students fulfill a three-year language requirement, with the option to continue into a fourth year of study. Students receiving ESL support take English rather than Chinese, French, or Spanish. 

In the Middle School, we believe in task-based second language teaching. Students learn the foreign language by doing something with it. Our classes are conducted in the studied language and students are expected to be active in class: listening to a dialogue, reading a text, organizing information, making choices, drawing conclusions, giving advice, interviewing classmates. 

ESSENTIAL DUTIES:  

• Teach four sections of Middle/Upper School Spanish language courses in alignment with ACTFL standards. Courses generally meet for 75 minutes, every other day. 
• Collaborate with teaching teams and department on curriculum development/lesson planning to ensure horizontal and vertical alignment within the discipline 
• Serve as an academic advisor to a group of students, guiding their social and academic progress. 
• In partnership with at least one other faculty member, teach a four-day immersive experiential learning course to a group of middle and/or Upper School students in April. 
• Participate fully in the life of the school, including: 
  • Work collegially and effectively with department and grade-level (advising) teams 
  • Engage regularly in formal, ongoing professional development 
  • Support colleagues and the school by substituting for absent teachers 
  • Cultivate positive family partnerships. 
  • Participate in meetings, committees, and community gatherings 
  • Know, understand, and uphold the mission, philosophy, and values of the school. All teachers contribute to the school mission and community with activities such as supporting student SEL, interest groups (clubs), social events, and grade level trips. 

OTHER RESPONSIBILITIES: 

• Perform other duties as assigned by the direct Supervisor, Division Director(s), and the Head of School.  
• Maintain regular and reliable attendance as a core and essential function of the position.  

QUALIFICATIONS: All candidates must demonstrate a commitment to the school’s mission, values, and philosophy, especially related to diversity, equity, and inclusion, environmental sustainability, and global perspective. 

• Bachelor’s Degree or higher in education or a field relevant to the position 
• 3+ years of teaching experience. 
• A strong pedagogical toolkit for student accessibility to curriculum and success in the classroom.  
• A commitment to the school's mission, values, and philosophy, as well as to a learning and working culture where all community members feel seen, valued, and heard.