Middle School Spanish Teacher (5^th-8^th Grade)

Open Window School is welcoming applications for a Middle School Spanish Teacher (5^th-8^th grade) for the 2018-2019 school year. This is a rare opportunity for a talented, innovative, energetic, experienced teacher to implement a program that is, at once, challenging, stimulating and nurturing.

Open Window is a K-8 school and the only independent school on Seattle’s Eastside dedicated to meeting the needs of intellectually gifted students. Our faculty members enjoy a climate of superb collaboration and professional dialogue in fulfillment of our school’s Core Values:

Teaching - We have passionate, caring teachers who "get" gifted children.

Authenticity - We challenge, support, and trust students to do real work that matters and has an impact beyond the classroom.

Love of Learning - We engage our students' curiosity, cultivate their passions, and encourage intellectual risk-taking within a supportive peer group.

Social and Emotional Learning - We support the unique needs of gifted students through an intentional program of social and emotional learning.

Community - Open Window is a diverse and welcoming community, united in supporting our children and families.

This full-time position involves teaching fifth through eighth grade Spanish as part of a four-person Spanish department, and provides for appropriate planning time.  Other responsibilities include participation in weekly department and faculty meetings, leading an Advisory group, teaching or supervising student-led elective classes, and attendance at some evening and overnight activities.

Successful candidates will be able to demonstrate previous experience:

• Inspiring bright students with a creative and innovative Spanish curriculum with the primary goal of instilling the love of learning a world language
• Creating assignments and lessons which allow for differentiation to best meet the individual needs of students
• Demonstrating an understanding and appreciation for the developmental needs of adolescents
• Utilizing technology for instruction
• Communicating with excellent oral and written skills in both English and Spanish

 Strong candidates will have:

• Valid teaching certificate from Washington or another state
• Experience working with gifted students
• Experience with an Advisory program

A defined yet flexible curriculum is in place which allows for creativity, differentiation, and acceleration.  Classes are typically limited to 16-18 students.  In addition to Advisory, a typical teaching load would be three levels and approximately 50-60 students.

To support the school’s Diversity Commitment, in which we embrace both our commonalities and complex range of differences that enrich our school, candidates must have experience working with a culturally diverse community.

About our Spanish program:

Students in Kindergarten through 4^th grade meet twice per week as an introduction to the Spanish language, setting the stage for more advanced learning at the middle school level (grades 5-8).  At the middle school level, Open Window School’s Spanish students attend four class periods per week in fifth and sixth grade and five class periods per week in seventh and eighth. Ability grouping in Spanish begins at seventh grade, with three level options at each grade and students have real world opportunities to speak Spanish in Eastern Washington in seventh grade and in Costa Rica in eighth grade.  Open Window students graduate from 8th grade well-prepared for placement in second or third year high school Spanish.  Middle school Spanish classes use Holt Rinehart & Winston’s ¡Exprésate! 1A, 1B, and 2 as a base for vocabulary and grammar concepts.

Our teachers enjoy a competitive salary based on the Bellevue Public School District. This position is eligible for full-time benefits, including school provided medical, dental, and vision insurance coverage. Eligible employees also have the chance to make pretax contributions to the 403(b) retirement savings plan and flexible spending accounts for health and dependent care expenses. The school is not easily accessible by public transportation.

For more information about our school, visit www.openwindowschool.org.  

To Apply:

Applicants need to submit a cover letter describing their interest in and qualifications for this position and a resume.  Candidates will be asked to provide 3-5 professional references and one personal reference. No phone calls, please.

Email: jobs@ows.org

Subject Line: Spanish – “your last name” 

Applicants who do not use the specific subject line will not be able to be considered for the position.