Jobs

PART-TIME HIGH SCHOOL CHEMISTRY TEACHER

Commonwealth School, an independent day school that occupies two brownstones in Boston’s

Back Bay, is known for its rigorous academics, low (5:1) student-teacher ratio, and strong

program in the arts. In the warmth of a small yet richly varied community of engaged students

and passionate teachers, talents and curiosity generate excitement, laughter, and respect

among students, faculty, and staff. We work closely and collaboratively with each other in our

cozy space, and we make extensive use of Boston’s many resources.

Our mission is to educate young people from diverse backgrounds to become knowledgeable,

thoughtful, and creative adults, capable of careful analysis, fruitful cooperation, and responsible

leadership. In keeping with our mission, our teachers challenge and support students as they

develop the skills that will encourage their lifelong love of learning.

Our teachers design curriculum, reflect on their practice, create partnerships within their

departments, and support student learning both in the classroom and in one-on-one tutorials.

Faculty and staff value trust and respect, shared stewardship, autonomy, accountability,

creativity, and enjoyment (see our fully articulated norms here). Detailed information about the

school is available on our website.

POSITION DESCRIPTION

We seek someone to teach one section (12-15 students) of our first-year chemistry course to tenth graders for the 2026-27 academic year.

Duties and responsibilities include the following:

• Teach one class as a member of the science department, working closely with the lead teacher, who will be teaching the other sections of the course. Full-credit science lab courses meet 4 times a week: three single periods (40 minutes each) and one double lab period (85 minutes).
• Help to maintain the safe operation of the laboratory space; monitor, exemplify, and teach safe laboratory practices to students; and inventory, safely store, and dispose of chemical waste generated during the course of the year.

The annual (.2 FTE, ten-month school year) salary for this position ranges from $17,000-$20,000, depending on relevant experience.

We offer personalized and sustained onboarding, including close work with a peer mentor and regular meetings with the Assistant Head of School and the Dean of Faculty Hiring and Support.

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

Firmly committed to establishing culturally responsive classrooms, we seek teachers who think independently and love learning—especially alongside a diverse body of high school students.

The ideal candidate will possess deep knowledge of chemistry and find genuine joy in fostering students’ understanding of the subject; familiarity with modeling instruction is a plus. Candidates should have at least a bachelor’s degree in chemistry, or the equivalent, and some experience teaching or tutoring. Teacher certification is not required. Strong candidates will demonstrate a commitment to equity and inclusion in a diverse community and show a keen interest in collaborating with colleagues while mentoring young people.

Interested candidates should submit a cover letter describing their experience, teaching philosophy, and commitment to fostering inclusive classrooms and equitable outcomes for all students, along with a résumé or CV that includes the names and contact information of three references no later than Monday, August 10, using our Hiring Intake Form. Questions about the position should be sent to hiring@commschool.org.

Candidates who would benefit from accommodations at any point during the application process are encouraged to reach out to Clinton Williams, our Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (cwilliams@commschool.org).

Commonwealth School is an equal opportunity employer. It does not discriminate against any individual based on race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, physical or mental disability, national origin, ancestry, genetic information, veteran status, military service, application for military service, or any other characteristic protected by law.