Career Center

THE PARK SCHOOL OF BALTIMORE
MIDDLE SCHOOL SCIENCE POSITION
FALL 2023

Devoted to intellectual inquiry, a collaborative spirit of learning, and an appreciation for the diversity of human experience, The Park School of Baltimore is a community founded on positive expectations of our students and respect for individual differences.

We cultivate children’s innate curiosity by nurturing their interests and engaging them as
active participants in their own education.

We support young people in becoming confident questioners and responsible citizens of the world. ~The Park School Mission

The Park School is a non-sectarian, independent, coeducational day school of 840 students from Pre-Kindergarten through Grade 12. Founded in 1912 as one of the early progressive schools, The Park School continues to practice a distinct educational philosophy. The core values today, as in 1912, are a belief in children’s capacity to love learning, to grow academically and emotionally when inspired by highly qualified, caring teachers, and to develop self-discipline, confidence, and creative problem-solving skills through deep exploration and constant challenge.
At every grade level, from Pre-Kindergarten through Upper School, Park actively encourages questioning and conversation as essential elements of the learning process. The school philosophy emphasizes a belief in positive expectations and expects that students, as they mature, will take increasing responsibility for their own learning.

The Position:
We are seeking an experienced teacher with a strong science background and a demonstrated commitment to working with Middle School students. This full-time position includes teaching four sections of eighth grade life science in an inquiry based science program. In addition to teaching, the faculty member will be a full participant in the life of the Middle School.

Context:
In Middle School science class, students are encouraged to think, explore, and behave like scientists. Science is an ongoing, evolving discipline, not simply a body of facts, and the more students are able to participate in the scientific process, the more keenly they come to understand this. Students are introduced to a variety of investigations and current events that enable them to explore natural phenomena while learning to collect and interpret data, devise hypotheses, and develop theories. Current laboratory facilities enable all Middle School students to have the opportunity to work in a contemporary lab environment, with an upcoming Upper School Science and Engineering wing that will enhance those opportunities. Multi-day field trips and extended group or independent projects are important components of the program. Middle School Science Faculty develop curriculum and teach with the understanding that students need to be informed, curious, motivated, patient, creative, and collaborative to make
discoveries, discover and invent through careful methods designed to produce evidence that supports or refutes theories. The Park School is committed to modes of teaching that enable students to build scientific knowledge and understanding through inquiry, testing of hypotheses, exploration and experimentation. The program emphasizes depth over breadth, with a focus on central concepts and key skills, and application of knowledge to real life problems. Integration of science with mathematics and technology, as well as with other disciplines, is stressed. Ethical and social implications of science receive serious attention.
The current Middle School program includes a full year of Earth Science in 6th grade, Physical Science in 7th grade, and Life Sciences in 8th.

Qualifications:
? Orientation to progressive philosophy and teaching methods
? Formal training in science (B.A./B.S. minimum; M.A. preferred)
? Teaching experience at the middle school level (3+ years preferred)
? Commitment to working with adolescents and to teaching in the middle school
? Substantial knowledge of science pedagogy and curriculum
? Demonstrated interest in curriculum development, assessment, and differentiated
instruction
? Computer literacy and experience in integrating technology
? Personal skills needed to work collaboratively with department members, other middle
school faculty, and science faculty across divisions
? Candidates from diverse backgrounds and/or who have experience in cultural
competency work are strongly encouraged to apply

Salary and Benefits:
Park’s salary and benefits are highly competitive with those in other leading area independent schools. For new appointments, salaries reflect experience and training equated to Park’s scales.
In addition to normal retirement and health benefits, the school offers the following distinctive programs:
Faculty and Curricular Advancement (FACA) Program:
This program supports summer professional work by faculty on a distinctive scale. Established in 1989, FACA is supported by a $5.6 million endowment; currently, over 40% of all Park faculty participate in projects annually. Grants cover full salary and benefits for group or individual projects selected through a formal review process.

Tuition Remission:
Under current policy, employees who have been at Park full-time for two years are eligible to receive full tuition remission for their children who attend Park. All candidates, including employee children, must meet Park’s standards for admission. (During the first two years of employment, faculty may apply for aid through the need-based financial assistance program.)

APPLICATION PROCESS: Due to the large volume of incoming resumes, we cannot accept phone calls. Send a letter of interest, personal statement, and résumé. Please indicate whether you plan to attend any national recruitment forums. Please also indicate whether there are any special circumstances that will affect the timing of your search, availability for interviews, and decisions for the coming year.

Contact Person:
Priscilla Morales, Associate Head of School
The Park School
2425 Old Court Road
Baltimore, MD 21208
academicresources@parkschool.net

The Park School is an Equal Opportunity Employer and welcomes applications from qualified candidates regardless of age, race, color, sex/gender, national origin, citizenship status, religions, disability, sexual orientation, or any other protected status in accordance with the requirements of all federal, state, and local laws

About The Park School of Baltimore

Founded in 1912, Park School is a non-sectarian, independent, coeducational day school with 830 students in pre-kindergarten through grade twelve. The school’s core values, rooted in progressive educational philosophy, sustain an unshakable belief in children’s capacity to enjoy learning, to act rationally, and to grow when inspired by highly qualified, caring teachers. A fundamental commitment to inclusiveness and equity guides all programs and activities.

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