Middle School Language Arts Lead Teacher

THE OPEN WINDOW SCHOOL • Bellevue, WA

23d • $63,190 - $123,550

About The Position

Open Window School seeks a lead Language Arts Teacher to join our grades 5-8 teaching team for the 2026-27 school year. This is a rare opportunity for a talented, innovative, energetic, experienced teacher to join our team. A passion for learning and teaching the art of reading and writing is a must for this position! This full-time position focuses on the instruction of language arts. Primary language arts components include effective teaching of reading comprehension and the writing process, including expository, persuasive, creative, and narrative forms. Candidates should have knowledge of a wide array of middle school literature, diverse authors, and proven experience teaching skills in deep reading comprehension. Teachers oversee and guide student book groups and discussions such as Socratic Seminars and collaborate regularly with other team members to create and provide a high-level language arts learning experience across the grades. Middle school teachers each serve as a grade level advisor to a small group of students and work closely with their grade-level and department teams. Other responsibilities include participation in weekly department, team and faculty meetings and attendance for occasional evening, weekend, and overnight activities. All teachers actively participate in leading student clubs, leadership groups and participate in other community building activities as an integral part of our highly valued joyful and connected middle school culture of belonging.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree and/or relevant experience.
• Excellent cultural competency working with students and adults from diverse backgrounds.
• Demonstrated attention to detail and strong organizational skills.
• Strong communicator with excellent written and oral proficiency.
• Ability to work independently, collegially, and collaboratively.
• Positive team member.
• Demonstrate warmth and care with families, colleagues, and public.
• Proficient with use of technology in classroom and record keeping.
• Embrace the use of new technology including generative AI as strong potential tools for learning.
• Understanding of the social-emotional development of early adolescents.
• Promoting our core values: Bobcats are Kind, Inclusive, Respectful and Responsible.
• Supportive of the school’s Diversity Commitment, in which we embrace both our commonalities and complex range of differences that enrich our school.
• Dedication to our mission, in which we inspire and nurture students of high intellectual potential

Nice To Haves

• Experience in gifted education, being a student advisor and leading overnight trips are a plus.
• Microsoft suite a plus.

Responsibilities

• Develop and teach inspiring, engaging and relevant language arts lessons for gifted students
• Assess students using multiple measures and communicate proactively through multiple platforms with students and families about student progress.
• Maintain curriculum maps and course documentation.
• Dedication to ongoing mastery of their teaching, new learning and staying current with research and innovation in their content area, belonging and gifted education.
• Serving as an advisor to middle school students.
• Collaborate with colleagues and partners with families.
• Participate in co-curricular school activities and overnight trips.
• Attend consistently weekly faculty meetings and other required meetings and obligations.
• Value and uphold our core values of Kindness, Inclusion, Respect, and Responsibility.
• Other school-related responsibilities as assigned.

Benefits

• Sick leave
• Medical, Dental and Vision Insurance (paid 100% for employee only coverage)
• Employer paid Health Reimbursement Account
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• 403(b) Retirement Account, Pre-tax & Roth Options (eligible for employer contribution and employer match after one year of service).
• Life and AD&D Insurance
• Long-Term Disability Insurance
• Professional development and training opportunities

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level