Employment

Current Openings at Westside School

Located in the Arbor Heights neighborhood of West Seattle, Westside serves 350 students in preschool through eighth grade. For 35 years, the school has emphasized knowing and educating the whole child, learning by doing, and the cultivation of creativity across disciplines.

Why would you want to work at Westside?
  • Westside uses collaborative teaching in grade-based groups so you'll meet frequently with the other members of your teaching team.
  • We don't tend to brag, but we have amazing students and a small teacher/student ratio, so you'll have the opportunity to really get to know your students, their strengths and areas where they can be best stretched and supported.
  • In Middle School, teachers lead Advisory groups that meet daily. These groups have ten or less students that gather together to work on homework together, check-in to see how their classes are going, play games, work together on project like Middle School Olympics, Trash Fashion Show, and our annual Cardboard Arcade.
  • Our overnight Outdoor Education starts in 3rd grade, so Westside teachers have the opportunity to explore different parts of the state while getting to know their students in a unique capacity.
  • Westside hosts a variety of professional development experiences throughout the year creating opportunities for growth for our staff and faculty.
  • From a Bob Ross style painting night, to snowshoeing adventures, or community service removing blackberry bushes at a nearby park- we plan events and gatherings to optionally spend time together and build community off campus or after-hours.

7TH/8TH GRADE MATH TEACHER

Reports to: Middle School Head.

Key responsibilities of this role will include:

  • Maintain the mission, vision and values of Westside School.
  • Perpetuate a highly engaged student and faculty culture, characterized by high expectations and a strong sense of community.
  • Teaching two sections each of seventh and eighth grade mathematics (PreAlgebra through Geometry/Algebra 2)
  • Differentiating instruction to serve both high achievers and those needing extra support.
  • Serving as advisor to small group of seventh and eighth grade students.
  • Participating in outdoor excursions in both the fall and spring semesters.
  • Work with a math specialist to stretch and support all learners within a class.
  • Attending faculty and community meetings.

Successful candidates will have the following personal and professional attributes:

  • Mathematics teaching experience in the middle school grades
  • A degree in mathematics, mathematics education, or related field.
  • Fluency in a variety of instructional techniques and approaches.
  • Experience in developing curriculum and differentiating instruction to serve both high achievers and those needing extra support.
  • Understanding of High School Math curricula, and what it means to prepare middle schoolers to be successful in High School
  • Compassion for the social and emotional needs of adolescents
  • Enthusiasm for working collaboratively with colleagues including the desire to plan integrative curriculum experiences across disciplines
  • Strong communication skills.
  • Experience and interest around incorporating technology in the mathematics classroom.

Start Date: August 20, 2018

To Apply: Please submit a resume and cover letter to employment@westsideschool.org.

LOWER SCHOOL TEACHER (PK-4TH GRADE)

LOWER SCHOOL TEACHER
Reports to: Lower School Head

Key responsibilities of this role will include:

  • Acting as Lead Teacher in one lower school classroom
  • Actively collaborating with grade level team
  • Communicating regularly with parents
  • Serving as a mentor for a classroom instructional Assistant
  • Providing community education around early learning as relevant
  • Attending faculty and community meetings

Successful candidates will have the following personal and professional attributes:

  • A Master’s Degree or equivalent experience in teaching, child development or curriculum design.
  • Experience in a variety of instructional techniques and approaches.
  • Strong written and verbal communicator
  • Skill at differentiating instruction
  • Enthusiasm for working collaboratively with colleagues including the desire to plan curriculum experiences across disciplines
  • Familiarity and facility with current research informing teaching and learning

Start Date: August 2018

To Apply: Please submit a resume and cover letter to employment@westsideschool.org.


MUSIC TEACHER (PK-8TH GRADE)

MUSIC TEACHER
Westside has a robust arts program, and is home to a beautiful theater and music space. We are searching for a full-time Music Teacher to join our performing arts faculty. In the middle school, the Music teacher will teach a series of trimester-long foundation and elective classes. In the Lower School, the teacher would build an intentional foundation of standards-based music classes emphasizing musicality, music literacy, listening and performance at each level, including end of term showcases. Across grades, the program is exploring ways to increase integration across disciplines, so a background and interest in integrating music is a desired quality in a candidate. Collaboration and partnership with arts team, especially with our Theater and Movement teacher to execute performances is key to the job.

The successful candidate(s) will have the following personal and professional attributes:

  • Bachelor’s Degree or higher
  • WA State Teacher Certification or the equivalent
  • A strong background in working with like age students as a teacher or music director.
  • Knowledge and experience with current best practices in elementary and middle level Music instruction
  • Experience utilizing developmentally appropriate instructive techniques relevant to a variety of learning styles
  • Ability and willingness to work collaboratively with other adults as members of a positive, professional faculty
  • Awareness of 21st century pedagogies and technology integration
  • A commitment to building cultural competencies and awareness through one’s teaching
  • Joy, passion, energy, caring and commitment

Westside School is a place where students thrive in a safe, caring and inclusive community environment. Westside faculty are supportive adults who advocate, nurture and support students with an engaging and challenging instructional program. Compensation includes medical, dental and retirement benefits.

To apply, please send a resume, a brief statement of educational/artistic philosophy, and a letter of inquiry and supporting documents employment@westsideschool.org.

PRESCHOOL/PREKINDERGARTEN TEACHER

PRESCHOOL/PREKINDERGARTEN TEACHER

Reports to: Lower School HeadKey responsibilities of this role will include:
  • Lead Teacher in one PS/Prek classroom
  • Working as a member of a 4 person teaching team (2 leads, 2 instructional assistants)
  • Communicating regularly with parents
  • Supporting Early Childhood Admissions
  • Providing community education around early learning as relevant

Successful candidates will have the following personal and professional attributes:

  • At least five years Early Childhood teaching experience
  • A Degree in Early Childhood Development, Education, or similar area of focus
  • Experience in a variety of student centered instructional techniques and approaches
  • Strong written and verbal communicator
  • Enthusiasm for working collaboratively with colleagues including the desire to plan integrative curriculum experiences across disciplines
  • Familiarity and facility with current research informing early childhood learning

Start Date: August 20, 2018. Westside School prepares students for the world by challenging them to achieve academic success, and by connecting their human spirit and imagination to learning.

To Apply: Please submit a resume and cover letter to employment@westsideschool.org.
Westside School is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

EXTENDED DAY PROGRAM CHILDCARE STAFF

Westside’s part-time Extended Day Program (EDP) staff are part of a team responsible for the care of our preschool-8th grade students after regular school hours. Under the guidance of our EDP Coordinator, EDP staff work with groups of students to provide after school enrichments such as clubs, art and outdoor activities. EDP staff support supervision of our students after school during both structured and unstructured times such as recess.

Reports to: EDP Coordinator
Hours/Days: 2pm - 6:00pm or 3:00pm - 6:00pm Monday - Friday
This position has potential to be full-time during the summer.

This individual is an integral part of the Westside School faculty, supports the mission, philosophy and policies of the school and works under the EDP Coordinator.

Essential Functions
● Works cooperatively under the supervision of the EDP Coordinator.
● Facilitate afterschool activities, classes, check-in and check-out procedures.
● Supervise outdoor and indoor play.
● Attends scheduled staff meetings as required.
● Maintains positivity and professionalism in communication with everyone in the
community.
● Assists EDP Coordinator in establishing a safe, enriched environment suitable for
children.
● Supervises activities and games on the playground.
● Supports daily EDP prep and maintenance.
● (Specific to preschool & prek) Understands and implements the requirements of the Department of Early Learning Standards in the Early School and Extended Day programs.
● Meets conditions of employment: TB Test (preschool & prek), Certified in CPR and First Aid
● Meets Department of Early Learning Standards:
-Have a current food handler’s permit.
-Meet basic MERIT (STARS) requirements.
● Communicate student observations with students’ classroom teacher.

To apply, please submit a cover letter and resume to employment@westsideschool.org

SUBSTITUTE TEACHERS

SUBSTITUTE TEACHERS
Westside School is looking for both teachers and instructional assistants with experience working with children in grades, pre-kindergarten and eighth grade, to add to our substitute roster. We also need substitutes for music and performing arts, Spanish, Mandarin Chinese, physical education, and visual arts.

The ideal candidate will be accessible for early morning calls. Candidates with partial availability during the week are also encouraged to apply. Please submit resume and references to employment@westsideschool.org.

Westside School is an equal opportunity employer.

Westside School is an equal opportunity employer seeking to build a more culturally diverse workplace. Westside does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, ethnicity, economic status, gender identity, sexual orientation or disability.