English Teacher Substitute 26/27 School Year (100% FTE)

Windward School•Los Angeles, CA

4d•Onsite

About The Position

Windward School, a grade 7-12 college-preparatory, independent day school in vibrant West Los Angeles, is currently seeking an experienced educator to join our English Department as a full year long-term substitute teacher for the 2026-27 school year (in-service in August to June). A nationwide leader in educational models and practices that excite students about learning, Windward is committed to building a nurturing, inclusive culture. We welcome teachers and staff members who bring skills, qualities, and experiences that demonstrate an understanding of and ability to support our work fostering a diverse school community. At Windward, we are dedicated to cultivating an environment that encourages and supports growth and belonging amongst all community members. Windward teachers, parents, and administrators work together to inspire our students to be responsible, caring, well-informed, ethical, prepared, and well-balanced young adults. For more information on what Windward has to offer, please visit windwardschool.org/about/careers. Windward School is looking for a dynamic, innovative teacher to join our collaborative English Department during a teacher’s leave. The new member of the team will teach five sections of AP Literature: The Art of Adaptation. This course asks: Which stories capture the popular imagination and give rise to new art? Why might an author choose adaptation over something wholly new, and what does this choice reveal about the nature of story and the role of literature in general? By examining a varied selection of classics and the works they inspired, students in this course will probe the role of adaptation and the debates it initiates and fuels. What happens when someone makes an existing story their own? What makes an adaptation effective, derivative, inspired, offensive, productive, harmful, artful, necessary, or something in between? How do you know? Course texts will likely include Jane Eyre and Wide Sargasso Sea, a unit featuring fairytales, The Great Gatsby and its film adaptations, as well as text, stage, and film versions of August Wilson's Fences and Shakespeare’s Macbeth. Poetry pairings with each unit will be explored daily. Students will alternatingly act as scholar, critic, and creator to explore the art of adaptation from all angles and contribute to the ongoing conversation about the work literature performs in the world. The successful candidate will have experience with collaborative curriculum design--ideally with a critical knowledge of Understanding by Design. In the English Department, students and teachers work together to deepen skills and understandings in reading, writing, speaking, and listening. We read challenging texts from diverse voices to promote critical thinking and reflection, including prose—both fiction and nonfiction—poetry, and drama. In partnership with reading texts closely and writing across a range of genres, students cultivate increasingly dynamic rhetorical skills, particularly as discussion participants. Courses support and challenge students to better understand their own learning processes and to acquire increasingly sophisticated strategies as learners.

Requirements

A bachelor’s degree in English Literature or a closely related field, advanced degree preferred
A minimum of three years’ full-time experience teaching English, six or more years preferred
A demonstrable passion for literature and writing, and working with young people
Excellent written and oral communications skills
Evidence of significant recent professional development
Excellent technology skills and experience integrating technology into the curriculum
Experience in a school with a similar philosophy, teaching methods, and curricula to those of Windward; knowledge and understanding of independent school communities preferred
Willingness to contribute to school life outside of the classroom
A proven commitment to the safeguarding and welfare of children and young people
A commitment to creating a welcoming community that embraces diversity, equity, and inclusion

Nice To Haves

Advanced degree preferred
Six or more years of teaching experience preferred
Knowledge and understanding of independent school communities preferred
Experience with collaborative curriculum design--ideally with a critical knowledge of Understanding by Design

Responsibilities

Teach five sections of AP Literature to 12th graders
Coordinate curriculum with other members of the department
Monitor and evaluate students’ progress, prepare for parent conferences, craft narrative feedback for students, etc.
Participate in regular, purposeful pedagogy meetings and in professional development sessions
Perform other duties within the scope, spirit, and purpose of the job, as requested by the divisional directors

Benefits

Medical, dental, vision insurance
Paid Holidays and Wellness days
Retirement Plan, including up to 6% employer match
School-paid Life and Disability Insurance
Flexible Spending Account Plans
$2,000 FlexCheck
$2,500 Lunch Allowance
MetLife Group Home & Auto Group Discount
Access to Peak Performance Center to promote physical and mental health
Wellness Initiatives, including Chair Massages, free Wellness Coaching, Self-Care Reimbursement, and much more!
Employee Assistance Program
Tuition remission for their children (Upon acceptance to Windward School by the Admissions Committee, employees may apply)