Lower School Head Teacher

Mary McDowell Friends School • Brooklyn, NY

1d • Onsite

About The Position

Mary McDowell Friends School (MMFS) invites applications for a full-time Lower School Head Teacher beginning August 2026. This full-time position involves overseeing the safety and wellbeing of students in various settings, monitoring and stimulating their educational and social-emotional growth within the school’s mission. The Head Teacher will design a challenging, creative, and developmentally appropriate curriculum for students with learning disabilities, integrating Quaker beliefs and practices. The role also includes coaching and collaborating with associate teachers on curriculum development, student management, and family engagement. Head teachers are ultimately responsible for the curriculum, academic program, and conferences, and are encouraged to bring their best selves to work to inspire others.

Requirements

• MA required in Education
• Ability to work cooperatively and collaboratively with all levels of employees, management, and external agencies to maximize performance, problem-solving and achieve results
• Willingness to learn and adapt to a new environment
• Ability to maintain the physical capacity required to navigate the school environment and to ensure the safety of the students
• Ability to open filing cabinets and bend or stand for long periods of time, as necessary
• Ability to ascend/descend stairs to teach from different rooms in the building

Nice To Haves

• Special education experience
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and G Suite applications
• Experience in the special education, private sector, or Independent School or Public School system
• A sense of fun, adventure and humor

Responsibilities

• Oversee the safety and wellbeing of the students in advisory, content area classes, core classrooms and homeroom classes
• Monitor and stimulate the educational and social emotional growth within the framework of the school’s mission
• Design a challenging, creative and developmentally appropriate curriculum and teach students with learning disabilities
• Integrate the Quaker beliefs, testimonies and practice in all your work with students, colleagues, families and professionals
• Coach and work closely with associate teachers to develop class curriculum, manage students and work with families
• Be ultimately responsible for the curriculum and academic program, conferences etc.
• Bring your best self to work so that you may bring out the best in others
• Work in collaboration with division director or academic dean to create content specific curriculum that meets the needs of the MMFS students
• Differentiate teaching methods, instructional materials and assessment tools to meet students' varying needs and interests
• Implement individualized and differentiated student plans for homework, organization and behavior
• Assign and provide prompt feedback to class work and homework
• Communicate the daily routine, rules and procedures to your students as well as informing students of any changes within the daily schedule
• Share expectations and school policies and help to enforce rules with homeroom students
• Supervise students when participating in division wide and school wide activities such as silence, assembly and meeting special guests
• Plan and supervise homeroom projects including but not limited to community service, buddy class activities, and field trips
• Create a classroom environment that provides for the organizational needs of the students
• Supervise Study hall/Homeroom
• Supervise Snack/Community Break
• Supervise Lunch duty
• Supervise Clubs
• Supervise Overnight trips
• Supervise Dismissal supervision
• Act as the advocate for students supporting each student in his/her relationships with other teachers and acting as the primary point person with families
• Order supplies for the content subjects within the budget provided
• Notify facilities of any repairs or furniture needs for the classroom
• Structure the room so that others using the space can locate materials and feel comfortable sharing the space
• Straighten up the classroom at the end of the teaching day in such a way that enables the custodians to clean the room
• Participate in some CSE reviews and meetings
• Testify at any Impartial Hearings
• Collaborate with division directors/academic dean, speech and language professionals, OT’s and counseling team members to address students’ needs
• Work with other teachers and administrators in the development, evaluation, and revision of school programs
• Support, evaluate, and plan assignments with teaching partners
• Meet regularly with supervisor to discuss curriculum and reflect on students’ progress
• Schedule regular meetings with associate teacher
• Attend weekly division meetings
• Attend full faculty meetings
• Participate on a school wide or division based committees and ad hoc committees where necessary
• Participate in team meetings about students and student needs
• Understand and participate in all school wide diversity and equity initiatives
• Examine leadership practice through the lens of race, identity, equity and privilege
• Provide an equitable framework for leadership decisions
• Support a school culture that allows for social identities to feel welcome
• Communicate with all members of our community in a polite, thoughtful and honest manner
• Write, edit and submit semester and quarterly trimester reports and grades according to stated guidelines
• Communicate with parents and guardians to discuss student's needs and progress
• Communicate with outside therapists, tutors and other professionals working with our students
• Complete and submit recommendations, evaluations and other requests for information about students
• Work to ensure clear communication with families, psychologists, therapists and other outside providers
• Seek support when necessary
• Plan for and participate in parent-teacher conferences
• Act with integrity and address all conflicts in a professional manner
• Familiarize themselves with faculty handbook and employment manuals and meet the expectations outlined within each
• Chaperone day-long and overnight school trips

Benefits

• Rewarding work experience in downtown Brooklyn, NY
• Encouragement for employees to bring their whole selves to work
• Recognition, appreciation, celebration, and honor of diverse community
• Building awareness of individual and collective identity
• Annual base salary range of $70,000–$85,000, with the potential to reach $115,000, commensurate with experience

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Number of Employees: 1-10 employees