ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION

Hawken School is committed to doing school differently and better. This means developing an inclusive and accepting community where adults feel empowered to design educational experiences for students that deepen their learning, engaging their emotions as well as their intellects. Hawken School seeks culturally competent teachers who are committed to equity and social justice, comfortable taking risks, and who embrace a growth mindset. Our faculty members are constantly looking for new ways to inspire student curiosity while remaining dedicated to nurturing compassion and kindness in our students.  

Successful candidates for any role at Hawken School must demonstrate skill and commitment in all the following key areas:

Mission, Culture, and Philosophy Alignment 

Candidates must show they can thrive at Hawken and are highly motivated by the school’s mission.

Fair Play: Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Justice 

Candidates must indicate a commitment to and have experience with serving students and communities equitably.

Relationship Building and Cultivation Candidates must show they can build relationships throughout the Hawken community.

Content Knowledge

Candidates must demonstrate that they can lead and guide colleagues and/students to depth in their work.

Humility and Growth Mindset

Candidates must be eager to learn new approaches and methods and be able to team effectively with others.

Approach to Work

Candidates must show initiative and agency with a commitment toward feedback and flexible problem solving.

THE POSITION

The Hawken science department is looking for an enthusiastic educator to join the ninth-grade academic team. Physics 9 is the first in a 3-discipline sequence at Hawken and introduces students to the big ideas and laws of the universe through scientific inquiry, engaging in scientific argumentation and building problem solving and critical thinking skills. The ideal candidate will be an experienced facilitator of project-based learning in the physical science classroom and will be excited to co-design interdisciplinary learning opportunities with students and colleagues. We are looking for a colleague who is knowledgeable about collaborative curriculum design, teaching, and learning that centers around elevating student voice in the curriculum design process and classroom.  Hawken School is committed to teaching the total child. Candidates should be eager to work in a collaborative team-based environment with thoughtful individuals committed to doing school better. 

The essential duties/responsibilities of this position include, but are not limited to, the following: 

• Teach multiple sections of 9^th grade physics or as otherwise assigned according to school needs. 
• Active participation with Math and Science departments as they re-envision curricula 
• Coach or lead significant co-curricular activities within the Upper School, preparing students for national scale competitions such as science fairs and robotics competitions 
• Advise a group of 10-12 9^th grade students. 
• Be available on a regular basis for offering extra help in subject areas of expertise
• Active participation with the 9^th grade academic team as they co-plan to create interdisciplinary units bridging Humanities and the Sciences. 
• Active use of feedback-based assessment 
• Perform other non-teaching duties as assigned by the Upper School Director or Head of School 

Because Hawken believes in supporting teachers’ passions, in deepening their expertise, and in fueling their spirit of innovation, we provide substantive professional development opportunities that lead to the kinds of excellence that are a hallmark of our community. 

QUALIFICATIONS 

An undergraduate degree in Science with experience teaching physical sciences.  Advanced degrees and at least three years teaching experience preferred.   

• Joyful enthusiasm, flexibility, good humor, and a team spirit necessary for curricular collaboration and innovation 
• Familiarity with diverse ways of engaging students over a range of learning styles enhanced by a desire to try new approaches  
• A passion for creative design of unique programing within our department and across disciplines leading to curriculum invoking interdisciplinary approaches, multicultural perspectives, and experiential opportunities in and out of the classroom  
• A continuous commitment to improve teaching proficiency, particularly with technology as applied to best practices in education 
• A deep understanding of adolescence and a passion for working with teenagers as they engage the complex issues of today’s world   

THE SCHOOL 

Founded on the ideal that “the better self shall prevail and each generation introduce its successor to a higher plane of life,” Hawken School is a coeducational independent day school with over 1,400 students serving toddlers through grade 12. Hawken’s three campuses within 25 minutes of downtown Cleveland, an urban extension center, and a new high school in the city’s museum district provide students with five campuses in total, offering a demanding and integrated course of study in a diverse and dynamic environment.  To learn more about us, visit www.hawken.edu 

INTERESTED 

Please send a resume, references, and a cover letter to:  upperschoolemployment@hawken.edu 

Hawken School is an equal opportunity employer dedicated to promoting all forms of diversity in the workplace and in our student body. We strongly urge all qualified individuals to apply.