Upper School Head Science Teacher (Leave Replacement)

Mary McDowell Friends School•Brooklyn, NY

14h•Onsite

About The Position

Mary McDowell Friends School, a K–12 college preparatory program for students with learning disabilities, seeks a full-time Head Science Teacher as a leave replacement beginning November 2026. The position is a ten-month, exempt role that follows the academic calendar. Head Teachers oversee students’ safety and well-being in advisory, content-area, core classroom, and homeroom settings while supporting their educational and social-emotional growth. The teacher designs a challenging, creative, developmentally appropriate curriculum for students with learning disabilities and integrates Quaker beliefs, testimonies, and practices into work with students, colleagues, families, and the broader community. The position works Monday through Friday, 7:45 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., with a half-hour paid lunch. Faculty meetings take place Wednesdays from 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. Evening or weekend work may be required based on job duties and will be scheduled in advance. Occasional travel between nearby campuses is required. Teachers must also chaperone scheduled day-long and overnight school trips. The role has no supervisory responsibilities. The work requires navigating the school environment to support student safety, opening filing cabinets, and bending or standing for extended periods as needed. Classroom locations vary, and occasional stair use is required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Requirements

MA/MS degree in the content area.
At least 1 year of direct teaching experience in Biology, Environmental Science, or Chemistry.
Strong oral and written communication skills with parents, children, and colleagues.
Ability to create a classroom environment where students feel safe, supported, and challenged.
Strong collaboration and teamwork skills.
Growth mindset and ability to use feedback to improve practice.
Commitment to equity and justice, including knowledge and skills related to cultural competencies.
Ability to maintain the physical capacity needed to navigate the school environment and ensure student safety, open filing cabinets, bend or stand for extended periods as needed, and occasionally ascend or descend stairs.

Nice To Haves

Special education experience.
Independent or charter school experience.
Familiarity with new technologies; GSuite and Veracross are a plus.

Responsibilities

Differentiate teaching methods, instructional materials, and assessment tools to address students’ varying needs and interests.
Implement individualized and differentiated student plans for homework, organization, and behavior; assign classwork and homework and provide prompt feedback.
Collaborate with division directors, the academic dean, speech-language pathologists, occupational therapists, and counseling team members to address students’ needs.
Write, edit, and submit timely trimester reports, grades, recommendations, evaluations, and other requested materials.
Advocate for homeroom students and support their relationships with other teachers.
Supervise homeroom students during division-wide and school-wide activities, including silence, assembly, and visits from special guests.
Participate in professional development, school committees, weekly faculty meetings, regular supervisory meetings, all-school silence, and staff meetings.
Supervise student activities, including study hall, student trips (including overnight trips), advisory, and student clubs.
Participate in school-wide diversity and equity initiatives; examine administrative practice through the lenses of race, identity, equity, and privilege; provide an equitable framework for leadership decisions; and support a welcoming culture for diverse social identities.
Chaperone scheduled day-long and overnight school trips.
Travel between nearby campuses for scheduled meetings when needed.