Humanities Teacher
Portsmouth Abbey School, Portsmouth, RI
Title: Humanities Teacher
Department(s): Humanities Department
Reports to: Department Head
FLSA Status: Full-time, Exempt, Faculty
About Portsmouth Abbey School
Portsmouth Abbey School is a coeducational Catholic boarding and day school for students in grades 9 through 12. Founded in 1926 by the English Benedictine Congregation, the School is located on a 525-acre campus along Rhode Island’s Narragansett Bay, less than 30 minutes south of Providence and 20 minutes from Newport. Portsmouth Abbey combines a classical education in the Catholic intellectual tradition with Benedictine values. With 350 students, the School believes that the love of learning leads to the desire for God, and that the quest for intellectual understanding propels students to the search for ultimate meaning. The School is known for encouraging students to engage passionately in academic and intellectual pursuits, innovative electives and extensive opportunities in athletics and the performing and visual arts as well as a commitment to service and a focus on things that matter. Students are inspired to become the next generation’s leaders, stewards, innovators and problem solvers all the while grounded in Benedictine values of love of God and neighbor, humility, hospitality and a desire to serve the common good.
Job summary:
The Humanities course is a signature course in the Portsmouth Abbey curriculum. Each section of 14-16 students is team taught by two instructors. Each instructor teaches two sections of Humanities and one section of a course in another stand-alone discipline (such as Theology, English, History, or Latin). Each section meets 8 blocks a week, and includes two periods devoted to small group writing instruction, in which each instructor works with half of the section. Successful candidates will have degrees in English, History, Humanities, Liberal Studies, or related fields. A deep familiarity with the Catholic and Western intellectual tradition is a must.
The Humanities curriculum, which substitutes for separate offerings in Theology, English, and History, provides all Fourth Form (10th grade) students with a solid and coherent foundation in the intellectual traditions of the West. Students are led through an intensive interdisciplinary grounding in primary texts from St. Paul and St. Augustine to Marx, Freud and Pieper. Seminars provide students with the opportunity to analyze and discuss the great books of the Western Tradition, while lectures and plenary sessions provide necessary background and context. Small writing sections allow for individual work to help sharpen student skills in writing and critical thinking. Texts read last year include St. Thomas, Dante, Chaucer, Shakespeare, Milton, St. Thomas More, Pascal, Descartes, Conrad, Marx, Freud, and Joyce.
Essential Responsibilities:
- Teach two sections of Humanities, plus one section in another Department
- Serve as an advisor to 5-7 students
- Coach two seasons
- Serve as a houseparent or affiliate in one of the student dormitories
Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree or higher in Humanities, Literature or related field, Master’s preferred
- High school teaching experience
- Experience in boarding schools preferred but not required
- Desire to be engaged in a Catholic residential community
Physical Demands:
While performing the duties of this job, the employee regularly is required to sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; and talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to walk. The employee occasionally is required to stand; and stoop, kneel, crouch, or climb. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 40 pounds.
Other Qualifications:
• All prospective employees must be able to clear a background check.
Benefits to include:
Salary: Commensurate with experience and education.
Benefits:
Pension (403b): PAS contribution of 10%; employee contribution of 1%, after 2-year waiting period (waived with prior educational experience)
Health insurance: United Healthcare; Waive, $3,100 stipend
Dental insurance: Delta Dental
Life insurance: equal to one year’s salary
Short-term disability (TDI): paid by employee and administered by State of RI
Long-term disability: 90-day qualifying period; 60% of salary; $7,500 maximum monthly benefit (conversion privilege)
AD&D: per policy
Employee Assistance Program: free and confidential
Tuition remission: 100% tuition remission
Position open until filled.
Please email a letter of interest and resume to:
Kristie Garcia
Human Resource Coordinator
No phone calls please.
Portsmouth Abbey School
