Career Center

The Perkins School is in search of a dynamic, engaging, collaborative elementary school teacher for our joyful, small school. 

Do you want to teach in a school where teachers have: small classes, flexible curriculum, colleagues that love to teach and learn, and an especially cute school dog?  For the last 25 years Perkins has created a learning environment where children’s curiosities are magnified, empathy and bravery are nurtured, and kids adore coming to school.  It is a place where students are happily engaged, teachers are passionate about their kids and their craft, and the joys of childhood are manifest. 

Our small school is well known for its priorities, which include science, sustainability, inclusion, and thematic studies.  We are also defined by the four “big words” of our mission - BRAVERY, CURIOSITY, EMPATHY, AND JOY.  The Perkins School is simply a great place to teach, learn, and grow. 

Located in North Seattle, The Perkins School has a surprisingly bucolic campus, despite being nestled well within the city proper.  A dense native garden, pea patches, and many magnificent trees are all part of our green, recently enlarged campus.  Sustainable design , in combination with a non-corporate aesthetic, and a “loose parts playground,” underscore our warm, human-scale orientation.  

Perkins welcomes candidates from diverse backgrounds and perspectives who can inspire and engage their students and colleagues. The Perkins School celebrates the diversity of our school and local communities including race, color, religion, national or ethnic origin, gender, sexual orientation, and gender identity.  We warmly welcome candidates representing the diversity of our world in our educational program, admission policies, financial aid program, staff hiring, and all other aspects of our school life.

This position is full time, beginning August 2023.  Interested candidates should review our web site www.theperkinsschool.org and prepare a resume and short cover letter introducing yourself.  Then, please go to this application link to upload the documents and answer a few questions.

Candidates must have the following:

• Washington State Certification or other formal teacher training
• Experience teaching elementary age children in a classroom setting
• An understanding of curriculum development
• Willingness to collaboratively develop curriculum and work closely with colleagues
• Strong writing skills

Candidates should also have the following characteristics:

• A self-starter that has ideas for engaging students in a dynamic, experiential curriculum
• Deeply well-liked by students and their parents
• Collaborate exceptionally well in team teaching situations
• Enjoy all types of children and have a respect for childhood
• Progressive approach to teaching and learning.
• Experience in any of the following curricula is helpful but not required: Reading and Writing Project Units of Study, Bridges Mathematics, Wired for Reading, Second Step, Learning for Justice
• Happy and full of energy!

Responsibilities may include:

• Collaborate with specialists and co-teachers to plan lessons and larger units, do activities with multi-age classes and create alternate groupings across classes.
• Attend weekly staff meetings and work with teachers from across the school
• Assess students in all academic areas and complete narrative reports
• Maintain contact with parents though informal check-ins, weekly email newsletters, and formal conferences.

About The Perkins School

The Perkins School is an independent early kindergarten through grade five school located in Seattle's Maple Leaf neighborhood.

Connections working at The Perkins School