Grade 1 Lead Teacher-Leave Replacement

Job Description

New Canaan Country School is a co-ed, independent day school for students in Pre-K (ages 3 & 4) through Grade 9 living in Fairfield and Westchester Counties. Our mission is to guide students to reach their intellectual, creative, moral, and physical potential. 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. We lead by example and challenge students to fulfill their potential, find their path, and follow their passions, whether in the classroom, on the playing fields, on the stage, or serving the community. 

The Lower School at Country School serves approximately 210 students in Grades 1 through 4. 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 teacher for a grade one leave replacement position for the spring (mid-March through early June) of the 2025-2026 school year. This individual must possess a strong sense of pedagogy and an understanding of best practices in instruction.   

Requirements

• Ability to effectively teach core subjects, such as language arts, math and social studies, as well as additional skills to students
• Ability and willingness to understand and support the social, emotional and academic needs of first grade children
• Relevant experience teaching the age group and assessing student learning 
• Well-versed in the practices of Responsive Classroom
• A strong background in reading instruction for this age group
• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university

Responsibilities

• Cultivate a joyful, vibrant, inclusive, and welcoming classroom community supported by strong classroom management skills
• Create strong connections and relationships with students in order to foster a positive and trusting learning environment
• Plan, organize and implement a developmentally appropriate and culturally responsive first grade program
• Partner with grade-level colleagues in short and long-term planning of curriculum
• 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
• Support and collaborate with the classroom Apprentice Teacher and share teaching responsibilities appropriately 
• Supervise and engage with students in out-of-classroom activities during the day, such as recess, lunch, and during field trips and other events
• Identify student needs and partner with Learning Resource professionals to support student growth and development

Desired Qualities

• Demonstrates joy in working with students of this age and being in a school environment
• Is collaborative, flexible, creative and adaptive
• Has strong oral, written and interpersonal skills
• Demonstrates cultural competence
• Has experience in reading instruction for varied levels of readers
• Demonstrates a commitment to professional growth and development; stays informed of current research and practice and child development
• Has knowledge of appropriate use of technology to enhance the learning experience
• Instills a growth mindset of healthy risk-taking and mistake-making in students