Grade 5 Teacher (Parental Leave Position)

Renbrook School (West Hartford, CT), an independent day school for children age three to grade eight is seeking a warm, experienced, and innovative teacher to work collaboratively with our Grade 5 team from September through December, 2025. The teacher will work alongside our current teacher starting in mid-September to build culture, set expectations, and deliver instruction, and then lead the class from approximately early October to the start of Winter Break. This teacher will be a homeroom teacher to one cohort of approximately 14-16 students and teach humanities and math. 

The successful candidate will possess the following:

• Experience working with or teaching children, particularly in an independent, day, college preparatory or like school setting. 
• A love of teaching and an infectious optimism.
• A growth mindset with an eye toward continuous improvement. 
• A love of children and a playful sense of humor.
• Steadfast integrity. 
• The ability to collaborate positively and constructively with peers. 
• A favorable predisposition towards building positive relationships with and among students, parents, and faculty.
• An appreciation for the power of diversity in the social and academic development of children and the ability to build a strong sense of belonging.
• A strong understanding of child development and the unique needs of middle school students.

Qualifications:

• A master’s degree (preferred) or bachelor’s degree in elementary education or related field.
• Experience teaching upper elementary or middle school math and humanities.
• Excellent relationship-building skills and rapport with children.
• A proven record of positive and constructive peer-to-peer collaboration. 
• Experience with student-centered teaching, project-based learning, integrated curriculum planning, and authentic measures of student learning.
• Background with Responsive Classroom preferred.

Responsibilities:

• Deliver inquiry-driven curriculum and instruction in writing, social studies, and mathematics that includes interdisciplinary projects and differentiated instruction.
• Collaborate with colleagues to design integrated curriculum, projects, and service-learning opportunities.
• Lead daily morning meetings using Responsive Classroom and mindfulness-based approaches.
• Create a classroom space that is differentiated, engaging, and responsive.
• Integrate technology to support learning.
• Identify and respond to individual students’ academic, social, and emotional needs, including learning differences in collaboration with Student Support Services.
• Implement authentic assessment of student progress.
• Write report cards and conference with parents.
• Carry out other major responsibilities and duties like advising, clubs, or athletics coaching.

The review of candidates will begin immediately with an expected start date in August 2025.

Please submit a cover letter, resume, philosophy of teaching, and three letters of reference included together in one PDF document, to employment@renbrook.org with “Grade 5 Maternity Leave Position” in the subject line.

Renbrook School is an affirmative action – equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religious creed, age, gender identity or expression, marital status, national origin, ancestry, present or past history of mental disability, intellectual disability, learning disability or physical disability, including but not limited to blindness, veteran status, sexual orientation, and other protected classes.

Renbrook School will make a reasonable accommodation to known disabilities of a qualified applicant or employee, unless the accommodation would impose an undue hardship on its operation.