New Canaan Country School, a Pre-K through Grade 9 co-ed, independent day school, serves approximately 570 students from diverse backgrounds living in 18 different towns/cities across Fairfield and Westchester counties. Our mission is to create an active, joyful learning environment where children are challenged to think deeply, question confidently, and act generously so that they may lead lives of impact and purpose. We believe that childhood is an integral part of life to live fully and happily. A talented and devoted faculty engages our students in developmentally appropriate ways, delivering a challenging curriculum that builds intellectual skills and fosters creative and critical thinking.

Founded in 1916, the School has been a preeminent leader in early childhood, elementary and middle school education for more than 100 years.

Early Childhood at Country School serves approximately 100 students ages 3 to 6 years in Beginners and Kindergarten. Our teachers support the educational mission of the school as well as its core values of community, courage, curiosity and kindness. A strong teacher presence and low student-teacher ratio help usher children through these critical formative years. The school is seeking an energetic, experienced, and dynamic Beginners 3/4 lead teacher with a strong sense of pedagogy and an understanding of best practices in instruction for the 2024-25 school year.

Responsibilities

• Cultivate a joyful, vibrant, inclusive, and welcoming classroom community supported by strong classroom management skills
• Create strong connections and relationships with students to foster a positive and trusting learning environment
• Plan, organize and implement a developmentally appropriate and culturally responsive Beginners curriculum
• Set up the classroom environment to provide developmentally appropriate materials and experiences
• Partner with grade-level colleagues and specialist teachers in short and long-term planning of curriculum and designing cross-curricular integration
  
• Develop and maintain positive relationships with parents/guardians through formal and ongoing informal touchpoints
• Participate productively in grade level, department, division and all-employee meetings
• Differentiate instruction to meet the varied needs of learners across all core subjects
• Evaluate students’ academic and social growth, keep appropriate records, prepare narrative reports and conduct parent conferences
• Collaborate with a full-time assistant teacher and share teaching responsibilities appropriately
• Identify student needs and partner with Learning Resource professionals to support student growth and development
• Articulate program goals and objectives relating to the Beginners curriculum
• Write a weekly note to families with links to curricular course page updates
• Lead the afternoon Connections Program
• Assist the Admissions Office in recruitment efforts and participate in the interview process for prospective students entering the Division
• Continue to grow professionally by attending workshops, conferences, in-service training, and staying up to date on current literature and best practices

Requirements

• Ability to effectively teach core subjects, such as language arts, math and social studies, as well as additional skills to students
• Plan and implement a well-balanced curriculum that includes daily activities designed to meet the needs of the children and is consistent with early childhood theory and practice
• Ability and willingness to understand and support the social, emotional and academic needs of Beginners
• Relevant experience teaching the age group and assessing student learning
• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university

Desired Qualities

• Models inquiry, curiosity and risk-taking
• Embraces a willingness to be flexible, adaptable and open
• Is an active steward in helping to create a positive, encouraging, respectful and joyful culture
• Is reflective of teaching practice and seeker of feedback
  
• Communicates clearly with colleagues, families and is well-versed in responsive classroom language when speaking with children
• Demonstrates cultural competency
• Is organized and detail-oriented
• Collaborate with colleagues to construct curriculum, share teaching methods, materials and review assessment data in the service of the children
• Responsive to the needs of the children and seeks PD to upskill as needed in order to reach all learners