First Grade Teacher - Maternity Leave Replacement

Dwight School•New York, NY

11d•$65,000 - $75,000•Onsite

About The Position

Dwight School, an innovative preschool-grade 12 co-educational school on the Upper West Side of Manhattan, is seeking an experienced and energetic Fourth Grade Teacher for a maternity leave cover to begin in March 2026 through the end of the 2026 school year. The purpose of the First Grade Teacher is to create an educationally sound and developmentally appropriate learning environment that supports students in the lower school at Dwight School.

Requirements

Bachelor's Degree in education or relevant field. Master's degree preferred.
Familiarity with a 1:1, student:device, school-wide program
Experience or seeking experience with the IB PYP Programme
Experience teaching to a range of learners
Eagerness to contribute positively to the Dwight community
Willingness to engage with and learn from people with diverse backgrounds and experiences
Ability to bring joy, kindness, maturity, and flexibility to the school environment

Responsibilities

Demonstrates knowledge of content and a wide range of instructional pedagogies.
Applies knowledge of varied approaches to learning in instruction, lesson planning, questioning, and assessment.
Utilizes technology effectively, where appropriate, both in classroom, instruction, and for student assignments to advance the educational process and engage students.
Ensures that all learning goals are clear and communicated effectively to students.
Ensures that standards of conduct are clear to all students and appear to have been developed with student participation for example – a classroom Essential Agreement.
Creates a classroom environment that is safe, engaging, student-centered, and inquiry-based
Documents each student’s progress consistently throughout the course of the year. Provides high quality and regular feedback that is an accurate reflection of the student.
Ensures that students have regular opportunities for reflection and self - assessment.
Utilizes internal and external assessments to inform instruction.
Ensures that the classroom contains all items on the PYP classroom checklist.
Designs learning activities that are differentiated in approach.
Utilizes a variety of assessment tools
Works with grade team to complete a PYP planner for every unit of Inquiry.
Provides regular communication with members of the Dwight community, maintaining a professional tone.
Provides information to parents, as appropriate, about the instructional program, student progress, both academic and developmental.
Communicates regularly to appropriate personnel about student’s academic, social, and emotional development, including counselors, administrators, Quest teachers, EAL teachers, and others.
Works and communicates with Head of Lower School and Associate Head of Lower School to evaluate and reflect on curriculum and pedagogy.
Supports and cooperates with colleagues.
Demonstrates genuine respect for individual students.
Honors deadlines.
Acts as an active and positive contributor to grade team, department and school community.
Abides by policies and procedures outlined in the Faculty/Staff Handbook.
Participates in school events, making a substantive and healthy contribution in some aspect of school life outside of the classroom.
Seeks out, shares, and participates in professional development opportunities
Uses professional development to enhance and support classroom Instruction.
Utilizes the resources and expertise of the community to enhance learning within the PYP.
Attends and participates actively, productively, and enthusiastically in grade level team or departmental decision-making.
Demonstrates a willingness to be a team player, and to participate readily in any other duties, as assigned.