Career Center

William Penn Charter School is a Quaker, coeducational, pre-K-12 independent, day school in the East Falls neighborhood of Philadelphia. Established in 1689 by William Penn and members of the Religious Society of Friends, Penn Charter is a community guided by Quaker testimonies and the central belief that there is "that of God" in every person. A school community that honors difference, Penn Charter seeks to be a place where diversity is understood, represented and valued. Our curriculum embraces a plurality of cultures and celebrates an array of voices, instilling in us a deeper understanding and empathy for individuals in this community and the world.

 As our mission states, we value scholarship and inquiry. With excellence as our standard, we challenge students in a vigorous program of academics, arts and athletics. Through global connections, civic engagement and a focus on environmental sustainability, we inspire students to be thinkers, collaborators, innovators and leaders. We educate students to live lives that make a difference.

Job Description

William Penn Charter School, a co-ed, pre-K-12 independent Quaker day school, seeks a  dynamic, energetic, and engaging Health, Wellness, and Human Sexuality Educator to begin in the 2022-2023 academic year. This person will serve as a member of the pre-K-12 Health department and will also partner with our Health, Wellness, and Human Sexuality Program Coordinator in developing the middle and upper school health curriculum. Additionally, they will partner with schoolwide faculty to promote overall health and wellness within the Penn Charter community. Collectively, we aim to develop a curriculum that supports students in exploring and gathering relevant and current information that will help them make informed decisions regarding their health and support them in living out personal values in daily life. 

The successful candidate will demonstrate a commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion both in their teaching practice and in building meaningful relationships with students, colleagues, administrators, and student caregivers in a manner consistent with the School's mission. They will exhibit flexibility, possess an understanding of and appreciation for teaching students of all ages, and demonstrate an ability to effectively and respectfully respond to student behaviors. Additionally, they will embrace student-centered pedagogy, model curiosity and a desire for professional growth, and exhibit a willingness to work collaboratively with colleagues. Familiarity with the principles and practices of Quakerism and Quaker education is highly desirable.

Essential Functions:

• Teach inclusive, dynamic, sex positive, health and human sexuality lessons that address the needs of learners at each developmental stage.
• Work collaboratively with teachers to plan, schedule, and deliver units of study.
• Teach sections of Middle School Health classes and Upper School Health classes by:
  • providing interactive and meaningful learning material to students

• maintaining a positive and inclusive learning environment for active participation of all students
• conducting periodic assessments to measure student growth 
• Serve as an advisor to approximately eight students (division TBD)
• Attend meetings, write comments and report grades according to predetermined dates on the school calendar 
• Consistently use the assignment feature of the HUB (Penn Charter's learning management system) to post homework and dates of assessments and maintain an updated gradebook also in the HUB 
• Maintain a growth mindset and actively participate in faculty professional development and supervision, including observations and feedback conversations, with support from the assistant head, division director, and department chair 
• Regularly review and update curriculum maps in partnership with departmental colleagues, the department chair, the division director and the assistant head of school 
• Participate in a co-curricular activity such as coaching, clubs, assisting with a theatrical performance or community service
• Other duties as assigned by the Head of School, Assistant Head of School or their designee such as occasionally proctoring study halls and chaperoning school events

Competencies:

• A deep understanding of adolescent development.
• Demonstrated experience working with school-age children on the topics listed below and an ability to adjust teaching methods to ensure they are developmentally appropriate.
• Health education with a focus on health promotion and prevention including but not limited to:
  • • Consent and boundaries; healthy relationships
    • Human sexuality and sex positivity, gender identity development and gender expression, cultural and social influences on sexual decision-making 
    • Drug & alcohol use
    • Social and emotional well-being
• Demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and social justice both in their approach to the work and in building relationships with students and other community members.
• Experience assessing and adapting curriculum and lesson plans to meet the unique needs of your students
• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to quickly adapt to changing group dynamics
• Ability to engage in self-evaluation with regard to performance and professional growth
• Ability to establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with internal and external members of the Penn Charter community

Physical Demands: 

• Intermittent or prolonged periods of sitting and standing
• Ability to lift approximately 20 pounds 
• Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these essential functions

Required Qualifications: 

• An undergraduate degree in a related field and/or a combination of education and experience. We recognize that such a position may attract candidates from various fields of study such as nursing, counseling, and other disciplines and we welcome all applicants.
• Previous experience working with adolescents in a school or camp setting 

Salary and benefits

 William Penn Charter School offers competitive salaries and comprehensive health coverage for employees and their eligible dependents. William Penn Charter School is also a Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program qualified employer.

We will review application materials as they are submitted and interview candidates on a rolling basis until the position has been filled.

Prior to hiring, we ask all potential employees to be vaccinated and protected from the life-threatening impact of COVID-19. At Penn Charter we have supported our community's efforts to eradicate the spread of COVID-19 by facilitating access to Covid-19 vaccinations for all current employees and eligible students.

William Penn Charter School provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.