Lower School Head Teacher

Description

 Mary McDowell Friends School (MMFS) invites applications for a full-time Lower School Head Teacher beginning August 2026.  

Position Overview

Head Teachers support the mission of the school by overseeing the safety and well-being of the students in advisory, content area classes, core classrooms, and homeroom classes by monitoring and stimulating educational and social-emotional growth within the framework of the school’s mission, and by designing a challenging, creative, and developmentally appropriate curriculum to teach students with learning disabilities. The Quaker beliefs, testimonies, and practices are integrated into our work with students, colleagues, families, and the broader community.

Essential Responsibilities and Duties: 

• Differentiate teaching methods, instructional materials, and assessment tools to meet students' varying needs and interests
• Implement individualized and differentiated student plans for homework, organization, and behavior; assign and provide prompt feedback to classwork and homework
• Participate in all CSE reviews and meetings and testify at impartial hearings
• Collaborate with division directors/academic dean, speech and language professionals, occupational therapists, and counseling team members to address students’ needs
• Work with other teachers and administrators in the development, evaluation, and revision of school programs
• Write, edit, and submit timely trimester reports, grades, recommendations, evaluations, and other requests as needed.
• Act as the advocate for homeroom students, supporting each student in their relationships with other teachers and working with the cooperating homeroom teacher to be the primary point person with parents
• Supervise homeroom students when participating in division-wide and school-wide activities such as silence, assembly, and meeting special guests
• Participate fully in the life of the school, including professional development, MMFS committees, weekly faculty meetings, regular supervisory meetings, and all school silence and staff meetings
• Supervise student activities, including study hall, student trips (including overnight trips), advisory, student clubs, etc.

Diversity and Equity Commitments

• Understand and participate in all school-wide diversity and equity initiatives.
• Examine administrative practice through the lens of race, identity, equity, and privilege.
• Provide an equitable framework for leadership decisions.
• Support a school culture that allows for social identities to feel welcome.

Supervisory Responsibility

This position has no supervisory responsibilities.

Position Type/Expected Hours of Work

This is a full-time, exempt ten-month position that follows the academic calendar. Days and hours of work are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. with a half-hour paid lunch; faculty meetings occur every Wednesday from 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. Evening and weekend work may be required as job duties demand and will be scheduled in advance.

Travel

On occasion, travel between campuses is necessary for meetings, which are scheduled with advance notice and are within walking distance from each other. School trips are also scheduled with advance notice, and teachers are required to chaperone day-long and overnight school trips.

Work Environment & Physical Demands

This position requires the ability to maintain the physical capacity required to navigate the school environment and to ensure the safety of the students. The ability to open filing cabinets and bend or stand for long periods of time, as necessary. Classroom locations vary based on student schedules;  this position occasionally ascends/descends stairs to teach from different rooms in the building.

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Requirements

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities 

• MA required in the content area; special education experience a plus
• 3-5 years of direct teaching experience; independent or charter school experience a plus
• Strong oral and written communication with parents, children, and colleagues
• Commitment to equity and justice, including knowledge and skills related to cultural competencies
• The ability to create a classroom environment where students feel safe, supported, and challenged
• Strong collaboration and teamwork skills
• Growth minds