Lower School Teacher- Leave Replacement
About The Position
Portledge School seeks a dynamic, student-centered Lower School Homeroom Teacher to serve as a first-grade leave replacement from approximately February 24, 2027, through June 8, 2027. This is a full-time, temporary position. The teacher will teach and care for a first-grade homeroom, build positive relationships with students and families, and help sustain a classroom environment where student learning is a non-negotiable goal and passion is evident every day. The role combines daily instruction with collaborative planning, curriculum stewardship, and active participation in the school community. Portledge School is an independent, pre-nursery-through-twelfth-grade preparatory day school founded in 1965. It serves approximately 525 students on a 63-acre campus on Long Island's North Shore. Its student-centered college preparatory program features small class sizes and inquiry-based learning. The school community is grounded in the Portledge Pillars of Kindness, Honor, Purpose, and Respect.
Requirements
- Bachelor's degree.
- New York State teaching certification in elementary education.
- Strong preparation in teaching reading and writing in grades K–5.
- Excellent written and oral communication, organizational, and time-management skills.
- Familiarity with Google Docs, Drive, and Slides as professional collaboration and classroom instructional tools.
- Commitment to the Portledge Pillars of Kindness, Honor, Purpose, and Respect.
Nice To Haves
- Advanced degree in education or a related field.
- Training or experience with Primary (Singapore) Math.
- International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme experience.
- Prior experience as a homeroom or leave replacement teacher in grades 1–3.
- A lifelong-learning orientation, passion for teaching and mentoring children, and interest in teaching subject matter from multiple perspectives.
Responsibilities
- Deliver consistent, high-quality instruction across the first-grade homeroom curriculum, including reading, writing, and math.
- Maintain continuity with the classroom teacher's plans and routines and support a smooth transition at the start and end of the leave.
- Evaluate and contribute to the Lower School curriculum and maintain the Atlas curriculum database for courses taught.
- Build positive, trusting relationships with students and communicate clearly and regularly with families.
- Assess student progress, provide effective feedback, and teach students metacognitive strategies.
- Participate collegially in grade-level and division meetings, collaborative planning, and the school's professional learning community.
- Stay current with educational research, pedagogy, and trends related to classroom instruction.
- Support the whole child by attending school events and evening or weekend community programs during the leave period.
Benefits
- 10 paid time-off days annually for full-time employees.
- 15–25 vacation days for full-time, 12-month employees.
- Up to 18 paid holidays per year for full-time employees.
- 403(b) retirement plan with up to a 5% employer match for qualifying employees.
- Medical, dental, and vision coverage available through UHC/Oxford.
- HSA, FSA, and DCA accounts available for eligible employees.
- Voluntary insurance through Lincoln Life and Aflac.
- Professional development subsidies.
- Free lunch from the school's in-house food service.
- Tuition remission for eligible employees, budget permitting.
- Graduate assistance for eligible employees, budget permitting.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Entry Level
