Early Childhood Teacher

Hawken School is committed to doing school differently and better. We seek to create an inclusive and accepting community where adults are empowered to design educational experiences for students that are deep and learner-centered. Hawken School seeks culturally competent teachers, administrators, and staff members who are committed to equity and social justice, who are comfortable taking risks, and who embrace a growth mindset. We are constantly looking for new ways to inspire student curiosity and agency while remaining dedicated to nurturing compassion and kindness in our students.

THE POSITION
Hawken School is seeking a dynamic and innovative individual committed to teaching the total child. Candidates should be eager to work in an innovative and collaborative team-based environment with thoughtful individuals committed to doing school better. With growing enrollment, we are looking for teachers with experience in Preschool, Pre-Kindergarten, or Kindergarten.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES
? Practice a high level of professionalism with a student-centered mindset
? Co-teach a self-contained section of Preschool or Pre-Kindergarten
? Manage all aspects of an early childhood classroom, including development of projects and providing meaningful activities based upon a Reggio-Emilia-inspired emergent curriculum model, assessment of student development, and communications with families
? Support the individual needs of children while managing whole group experiences during teacher-directed activities and small- and large-group experiences
? Demonstrate an unwavering commitment to supervision of children during unstructured times of play, such as when on the playground
? Serve as a member of the grade-level team, responsible for developing, planning, and implementing classroom and grade-level curriculum and measuring and documenting student progress
? Attend and contribute to weekly team meetings, grade-level meetings, and faculty meetings with a growth mindset and collaborative approach
? Nurture a caring and supportive early childhood learning environment with SEL and DEIJ work at the core
? Generate and complete student progress through the Hawken Developmental Continuum and narrative writing three times each year, connecting learning in the natural world with the domains of learning
? Plan for and participate in family-teacher conferences according to the school cycle (typically 3-4 times a year)
? Perform any other non-teaching duties as assigned by the Director or Head of School, including, but not limited to, professional development workdays and admission events

QUALIFICATIONS
? Preference will be given to candidates with a Master's degree and/or experience in Reggio-Emilia-inspired classrooms
? Demonstrated competence in early childhood curriculum development, instruction, and pedagogy
? Experience with Responsive Classroom and/or Conscious Discipline preferred
? Exceptional understanding of the developmental needs of early childhood learners
? A joyful enthusiasm for early childhood learners and the field of early childhood education
? Flexibility, energy, creativity, high expectations, and a sense of humor
? Facility with dynamic educational technologies
? A willingness and eagerness to assist in the life of the School
? Experience collaborating with colleagues and families with a strengths-based and growth mindset
? Multilingual fluency is a plus

HAWKEN CANDIDATE COMPETENCIES
Mission, Culture, and Philosophy Alignment: Successful candidates show they can thrive at Hawken and are highly motivated by the school's mission.
Fair Play: Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Justice: Successful candidates indicate a commitment to and have experience with serving students and communities equitably.
Relationship Building and Cultivation: Successful candidates show they can build relationships throughout the Hawken community.
Content Knowledge: Successful candidates demonstrate depth in content area knowledge as well as an ability to inspire students to a high level of excellence and challenge and take a student-centered approach to all aspects of their work.
Humility and Growth Mindset: Successful candidates are eager to learn new approaches and methods and be able to team effectively with others.
Approach to Work: Successful candidates show initiative and agency with a commitment toward feedback and flexible problem-solving.

THE SCHOOL
Founded on the ideal that "the better self shall prevail and each generation introduce its successor to a higher plane of life," Hawken School is a coeducational independent day school with 1,600 students in toddler through grade 12. Our four campuses are located within 25 minutes of downtown Cleveland, and an urban extension center in the city's museum district provides a demanding and integrated course of study in a diverse and dynamic environment.
To learn more about us, visit

HOW TO APPLY
Please send a resume, references, and a cover letter to Brooke Marcy at

Hawken School is an equal-opportunity employer dedicated to promoting all forms of diversity in the workplace and in our student body. We strongly urge all qualified individuals to apply.