Westtown School is an independent, co-educational, Quaker pre-K to 12, college preparatory day and boarding school located in suburban West Chester, PA, approximately 30 miles from Philadelphia.  Situated on a beautiful 600-acre campus, Westtown offers state-of-the-art facilities where our committed faculty and staff inspire and prepare our students to be stewards and leaders of a better world. 

Students at Westtown are challenged to realize their intellectual, physical, emotional, and spiritual potential. A spirit of inquiry reigns in the classroom and students are encouraged to think creatively, to feel the condition of others, and to listen to their inner selves. Westtown expects students to be critical, independent thinkers who can work with a spirit of cooperation, understanding, and tolerance of the views of others. The Westtown experience is defined by rigorous academic preparation for college, community living in a diverse environment, weekly Meeting for Worship, and service. Quaker values and practices pervade the curriculum and culture, encouraging each community member to value diversity, to seek peace and justice, and to demonstrate respect for self and others. 

Position Description

Westtown School seeks a dynamic new member for our Upper School Religious Studies Department to begin in August, 2021. A talented educator with a broad and in-depth knowledge of many different religious traditions and the cultural contexts from which they arise will thrive in our program. As Westtown strives to fulfill our commitment to be an anti-bias, anti-racist (ABAR) school, we are seeking culturally competent educators with a demonstrated commitment to and ongoing professional development in the areas of diversity, equity, inclusion, and social justice, which is evidenced in their personal and professional interactions, curriculum, and pedagogy.

The successful candidate will join a team of educators who seek to be leaders in their field in a department that values collaboration and innovative teaching practices. The department’s work is rooted in our Quaker traditions and guided by our school's mission to cultivate each student’s voice as we challenge all of our students to realize their individual gifts. Together, the team passionately promotes religious literacy through a nondevotional and academic approach to religious studies. 

A well-qualified candidate is one who will encourage students to ask big essential questions, challenge their assumptions, and see the study of religion as a way of promoting ethical citizenship and understanding in a religiously diverse world. We are especially interested in candidates with experience teaching courses in Religion and the Environment and/or the study of religion at the intersections of Race, Religion, and Social Change.

As an Upper School faculty member, they will teach four major semester-long classes, or the equivalent, and fully participate in the residential and co-curricular life of the school through evening and weekend dormitory supervision, coaching, advising and other faculty leadership responsibilities.

Major Duties and Responsibilities

• Develops lessons and hands-on learning activities that promote problem-solving, creative and critical thinking, collaboration, and effective communication skills while encouraging risk-taking in learning;
• Actively involves students in the classroom through group work, project-based learning, exploration, questioning, discussion, and other cooperative teaching techniques;
• Integrates technology seamlessly into teaching strategies and practices; 
• Enthusiastically seeks and participates in both school-sponsored and self-selected professional development opportunities to grow as an instructional leader;
• Communicates effectively with all constituents - students, colleagues, administrators, and parents.

Qualifications

• BA or BS and advanced seminary or religious studies degree required;
• A minimum of 3-5 years of relevant classroom teaching experience, preferably in an independent school;
• A strong character with a team-oriented spirit, and the ability to connect meaningfully with students throughout our diverse community;
• A deep commitment to enhancing an inclusive school community based on cultural competence, commitment to social justice, and respect for all voices;
• Enthusiasm for full participation in the coaching, advising, and residential duties required of a full-time faculty member;
• Strong affinity with the mission of Westtown School and an educational philosophy consistent with the school’s Quaker values.

Guided by the Quaker belief that there is that of God in all persons, Westtown School is a community of learners who value, and are themselves strengthened by, the rich diversity of its members. As a school, we seek to prepare students for living and leading in a diverse and complex world. As a community, we aspire to inclusivity and respect. To these ends, we welcome qualified students, faculty, staff, and trustees of any race, color, national or ethnic origin, citizenship status, religion, ancestry, sex, gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, age, disability, genetic information, military or veteran status, family structure including marital or parental status, and socioeconomic status. Westtown School does not discriminate against individuals on the basis of these characteristics in any of its policies, procedures, or practices relating to admission, access to activities or programs, hiring, or other employment-related decisions. Candidates from underrepresented backgrounds in independent schools, such as BIPOC, LGBTQ, and people with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply.

Interested, qualified candidates should send a cover letter and resume to: Sherri Farenwald, Director of Human Resources, at http://tiny.cc/westtown_careercenter and select Show All Job Openings.