Employment

Friends Academy is a small, progressive Early Childhood-Grade 8 school of approximately 250 students on the South Coast of Massachusetts. We are known for having a strong sense of community that balances academics, arts, social and emotional learning, and outdoor activities. Our outstanding faculty and staff play a critical role in helping each child reach their highest potential.

Current Open Positions

• Director of Curriculum
• Lower School Teacher
• Sally Borden Program Teacher
• Learning Specialist
• Lower School Spanish Teacher
• Substitute Teachers
• Summer Programs Staff

Director of Curriculum

Friends Academy seeks a positive, curious, and forward-thinking Curriculum Coordinator. This full-time position reports to the Head of School, is a member of the senior leadership team, and is responsible for overseeing, mapping, and leading the ongoing analysis of the school’s curriculum from early childhood through Grade 8.

Responsibilities:

• Collaborate with the Head of Lower School, the Director of the Sally Borden Program, and the Head of Middle School to ensure a cohesive Early Childhood through eighth grade program
• Oversee curriculum mapping from early childhood through Grade 8
• Serve as a member of the senior leadership team
• Facilitate and lead the thoughtful, systematic evaluation of the School’s program at regular intervals
• Serve as an advocate for Learning Portfolios, Project Based Learning, and other progressive practices
• Teach or administer (approximately 40% time) in an area of the school consistent with need and experience
• Participate in Outside the Classroom trips and overnights, school dances, performances, and other co-curricular programming

Qualities:

• Exude a sunny outlook on the world and opportunities for young people
• Think creatively, energetically, and be able to envision possibilities while attending to detail, producing tangible results, and sticking to a timeline
• Possess a desire to contribute to something larger than oneself and a deep-seated belief in the power of teamwork
• Partner effectively with teachers and administrators
• Understand, appreciate, and celebrate the range of grades, disciplines, and experiences across the program
• Support a collaborative and forward thinking culture committed to valuing the inherent worth of each individual and what is best for students
• Desire to take advantage of Friends Academy’s 64-acre campus, trails, garden, and outdoor learning spaces

Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field
• Commitment to teaching and learning in a vigorous school community with a commitment to equity and inclusion
• A minimum of five years of progressive teaching and leadership experience with EC-8 students and teachers
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Attention to detail and the discipline to keep to a schedule
• Significant experience with childhood development and curriculum development
• Strong leadership and facilitative skills and a passion for people, teaching, and learning
• Humility and a commitment to what is best for children
• The ability to think strategically, lead, and follow through on major initiatives

Applying:

Interested candidates should send a cover letter, resume, and the contact information for three references to Ben Kennedy, Head of School. The materials should clearly indicate the candidate’s qualifications for and interest in this work, articulate why Friends Academy resonates with them as an educator, and demonstrate a track record of increasing responsibility throughout previous employment.

Lower School Teacher

We seek a dedicated educator who believes in collaboration and understands the importance of relationship-building when helping students find success. We value teachers who are creative and embrace inquiry and project-based learning. We use Google and Blackbaud platforms and other assistive technologies to meet our students’ varied needs.

The ideal candidate would:

• Love young students
• Serve as a role model for students and demonstrate a commitment to our school’s mission
• Design, implement, and creatively deliver curriculum
• Promote responsible citizenship and respect for diversity and differences
• Have a positive outlook on the world and opportunities for young people
• Desire to contribute to something larger than oneself and have a deep-seated belief in the power of teamwork
• Differentiate lessons to meet diverse needs of learners
• Assess student learning with formative and quantitative assessment tools
• Report student learning through student portfolios, narrative report cards, and conferences
• Communicate with families on a regular basis, acting as a point of contact regarding a student’s academic, social, and emotional functioning
• Be dedicated to social-emotional learning and positive discipline practices
• Collaborate with grade teams and departments to create an integrated academic program for our students
• Help students prepare for and facilitate Student-Led Conferences

Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field
• Previous experience working with children is a plus
• A passion for lower school, a sense of humor, positivity, and warmth
• Dedication to teaching and learning in a vigorous, progressive school community with commitment to equity and inclusion.

To apply, please email your cover letter, current resume and list of three references and their contact information to employment@friendsacademy1810.org.

Sally Borden Program Teacher

The Sally Borden Program is a specialized program within Friends Academy for students in grades 3-8 with dyslexia and other language-based learning differences. Sally Borden Program teachers provide instruction in language arts, mathematics, social studies, and specialized literacy intervention (i.e., Orton-Gillingham), utilizing explicit, multisensory instruction to meet the diverse needs of our learners. Teachers in this role also serve as a homeroom teacher or advisor.

Responsibilities:

• Design and implement lessons that are aligned with the school’s curriculum and current standards of best practices for students with learning differences.
• Differentiate lessons to meet the needs of Sally Borden Program learners.
• Assess student learning with formative and quantitative assessment tools.
• Report student learning through student portfolios, narrative report cards, and conferences.
• Communicate with families on a regular basis, acting as a point of contact regarding a student’s academic, social, and emotional functioning
• Implement a social-emotional curriculum within the homeroom or advisory to develop a classroom community consistent with the culture of Friends Academy.
• Collaborate with grade-level teaching partners, as well as division and department members.

Qualities:

This position begins with an enthusiastic, dedicated educator who believes in collaboration and a team approach to helping students find success. The successful candidate will be a passionate educator who is committed to the mission of Friends Academy and displays a sensitivity to and understanding of students with learning differences. Teachers should be a strong role model for the social and emotional development of the students with whom they work. Educators in this position are teachers who desire to contribute to something larger than oneself and hold a deep-seated belief in the power of teamwork.

• Possess a Master’s degree in Education or related field; Special Education background preferred.
• Be dedicated to teaching and learning in a vigorous, progressive school community with commitment to equity and inclusion.
• Have a desire to work within our model of an inclusive school within a school.
• Have experience working with students with dyslexia and other language-based learning differences.
• Have familiarity with diverse learning profiles and individualizing according to student needs.
• Hold an Associate level of Orton-Gillingham certification or are willing to be trained.
• Relate to, establish rapport with, and motivate students to succeed.
• Have strong interpersonal skills that foster trust and collaboration.
• Seek fresh, creative ways to bring learning to life in a engaging environment.
• Value working as part of a team and making contributions to a shared vision of the best possible learning outcomes for students.

Applying:

Please email your cover letter, current resume, and a list of three references with their contact information to Kendal Martes, Director of the Sally Borden Program.

Learning Specialist

We seek a dedicated and knowledgeable full-time Learning Specialist who believes in collaboration and understands the importance of relationship-building when helping students find success. The role of the Learning Specialist is to provide explicit teaching of reading, written expression, and mathematical concepts to individual and/or small groups of students. The Learning Specialist also provides individualized instruction in the use of strategies to support executive functions.

Our Learning Specialists primarily work within the Sally Borden Program. The Sally Borden Program is a specialized program within Friends Academy for students in grades 2-8 with dyslexia and other language-based learning differences. Orton-Gillingham is the basis for our literacy instruction; an Associate Level of certification (or similar) is preferred, though we will provide training for the right candidate.

Responsibilities:

• Provide direct instruction in the areas of reading, writing, math, and executive functioning using high-quality, research-based methods and interventions
• Perform, interpret, and record the results of assessments to identify learning targets and gauge student growth
• Collaborate with classroom teachers and other Learning Specialists
• Communicate to families during conferences and meetings
• Report student progress through report card comments
• Attend faculty meetings and positively contribute to discussion and dialogue

Qualities:

This position begins with an enthusiastic, dedicated educator who believes in collaboration and a team approach to helping students find success. The successful candidate will be a passionate educator who is committed to the mission of Friends Academy and displays a sensitivity to and understanding of students with learning differences. Teachers should be a strong role model for the social and emotional development of the students with whom they work. Educators in this position are teachers who desire to contribute to something larger than oneself and hold a deep-seated belief in the power of teamwork.

Candidates should:

• Possess a Bachelor’s degree in Reading, Literacy, Special Education or related education field; Master’s degrees preferred.
• Be dedicated to teaching and learning in a vigorous, progressive school community with commitment to equity and inclusion.
• Have a desire to work within our model of an inclusive school within a school.
• Have experience working with students with dyslexia and other language-based learning differences.
• Have familiarity with diverse learning profiles and individualizing according to student needs.
• Hold an Associate level of Orton-Gillingham certification or are willing to be trained.
• Relate to, establish rapport with, and motivate students to succeed.
• Value working as part of a team and making contributions to a shared vision of the best possible learning outcomes for students.

Applying:

Please email your cover letter, current resume, and a list of three references with their contact information to Kendal Martes, Director of the Sally Borden Program.

Lower School Spanish Teacher

We are looking for a full-time lower school Spanish teacher. This role includes teaching Spanish in Early Childhood-Grade 4 multiple times each week.

The ideal candidate would:

• Serve as a role model for students and demonstrate a commitment to our school’s mission
• Design, implement, and creatively deliver Spanish curriculum for grades EC-4
• Promote responsible citizenship and respect for diversity and differences
• Have a positive outlook on the world and opportunities for young people
• Desire to contribute to something larger than oneself and have a deep-seated belief in the power of teamwork
• Differentiate curriculum for different learners
• Be dedicated to social-emotional learning and positive discipline practices
• Collaborate with grade teams and departments to create an integrated academic program for our students
• Be involved in extracurriculars as well as field trips

Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field as well as teaching experience
• A passion for elementary students, a sense of humor, and positivity and warmth
• Dedication to teaching and learning in a vigorous, progressive school community with commitment to equity and inclusion
• Proficiency in Spanish

We would love to hear from you! To apply, please email a cover letter, resume, and contact information for three references to Jamie Ross-Cory, Head of Lower School.

Substitute Teachers

We are looking for energetic and dedicated individuals to serve as on-call Substitute Teachers in all grades. Teaching experience is appreciated, but not required. The salary for this position is $120 per day.

The ideal candidate would:

• Love Lower/Middle School students and learning
• Deliver curriculum in a variety of disciplines
• Have a positive outlook on the world and opportunities for young people
• Be dedicated to social-emotional learning and positive discipline practices
• Demonstrate a commitment to our school’s mission
• Promote responsible citizenship and respect for diversity and differences

To apply for this position, please email your cover letter, current resume, and a list of three references and their contact information to employment@friendsacademy1810.org. Please include the name of the position you are applying for in the subject line of your email.

Summer Programs Staff

We are looking for enthusiastic individuals to join our Summer Programs staff for 2023! Summer Programs run from June 12 to August 4. Please use the links below to view the descriptions for each position:

• Activity Leader
• Counselor
• Junior Counselor

Applying