Lower School Teacher - 5th Grade

Westtown School seeks a full-time lead Lower School Teacher to teach 5th grade beginning in late August 2025. 

Westtown School is an independent, Quaker co-educational, pre-K to 12 college preparatory day and boarding school located in suburban West Chester, PA, approximately 30 miles from Philadelphia. Our Lower School serves students in Pre-K through 5th grade. On a beautiful 600-acre campus, Westtown offers a program where our committed faculty and staff inspire and prepare our students to be stewards and leaders of a better world. 

Essential Responsibilities

• Teaches core academic subjects in the areas of literacy, math, and social studies with a culturally responsive and inclusive lens;
• Ignites a love of learning through the implementation of best practices in elementary pedagogy, including engaging and innovative inquiry- and project-based lessons;  
• Designs curriculum and assesses students’ understanding guided by essential questions, benchmarks, and standards;
• Helps students develop the essential skills of critical thinking, communication, and empathy;
• Supports students’ social-emotional and identity development;
• Creates a classroom culture and environment that fosters community building, maximizes learning, reflects clear routines and expectations, and supports students’ independence and agency; 
• Contributes to building and sustaining an inclusive community and a program that reflects diverse cultures and perspectives;
• Communicates effectively with all constituents – students, colleagues, administrators, and parents;
• Contributes to students’ development of Quaker values;
• Engages in decision-making aligned with Quaker process in service to the school community;
• Effectively collaborates with the other 5th grade teacher, special area teachers, and the student support team;
• Writes narrative reports, leads parent/teacher conferences, and maintains home-school connections;
• Integrates technology seamlessly into teaching strategies and practices;
• Engages in divisional community responsibilities as assigned (e.g., arrival/dismissal, lunch/recess, weekly faculty meetings);
• Plans and chaperones field trips;
• Serves on faculty and staff committees;
• Enthusiastically seeks out and participates in school-sponsored and self-selected professional development opportunities to grow as an instructional leader and community member.

Qualifications

• 3+ years of relevant classroom teaching experience preferred;
• BA or BS degree in Education; advanced degree preferred; 
• Demonstrated passion and joy for working with Lower School students;
• Knowledge of child development and a commitment to social-emotional learning, differentiated instruction, and inquiry- and project-based teaching;
• Familiarity with backward design as an instructional design framework is preferred;
• Excellent speaking, writing, and listening skills;
• A demonstrated commitment to inclusive Quaker pedagogy based on cultural competence, commitment to social justice, and respect for all voices;
• Familiarity with Google products and ability to integrate technology into best teaching practices;
• A strong affinity for the mission and strategic vision of Westtown School and an appreciation for Quaker values and how these inform community processes  (meeting structures, decision-making, student discipline, etc.) and interactions.

For additional information about Westtown School and to explore current career opportunities, please visit our website westtown.edu/careers. Interested applicants can apply online by submitting their resume, cover letter, and three professional references directly to the specific job posting on the faculty employment portal.