Career Center

Job Title: Director of Teaching and Learning 

Reports to: Head of School 

Supervises: Teaching Faculty 

Job Category/Term: Full-time Exempt, 1.0 FTE, Twelve Months 

Starts: July 1, 2023

The Valley School is a co-educational elementary school, serving students in grades Pre-kindergarten through the Fifth Grade. Founded in 1985, The Valley School offers a high-quality academic foundation in a small school setting with opportunities for creativity, exploration, and play. We celebrate childhood. Our learning program is a mixture of playful work and purposeful play and is designed to be developmentally appropriate at each grade. Social emotional learning and skill development form an important pillar of our program, in addition to academics, specialist classes, and dynamic playground spaces that are designed to offer opportunities for students to learn and grow. 

The Valley School Mission 

At The Valley School, we ignite children’s natural passion for learning. Our students develop an academic foundation and become joyful learners through playful work, purposeful play, and the practice of community. 

Our Values include: the celebration of childhood, collaboration, creativity, equity and belonging, kindness, and respect for individuality. 

Diversity, Equity, Belonging, and Justice (DEBJ) Statement 

The Valley School honors diversity, practices inclusion, and invites courageous conversations. We strive to create a community where each individual is valued, respected, and included. Though the journey can be muddy—much like our playground—we aim to give every child the tools necessary to flourish. 

The Director of Teaching and Learning is a member of the Leadership Team at Valley, with primary responsibility for promoting and sustaining the quality and improvement of the educational program. The Director of Teaching and Learning directs, develops, and evaluates all parts of the school program, including curriculum; assessments of student learning; professional development; teacher supervision and evaluations; and educational initiatives that promote our commitments to environmental justice and anti-racism education. The Director of Teaching and Learning reports to and collaborates with the Head of School. 

Essential Functions 

In the area of Curriculum, the Director of Teaching and Learning is responsible for: 

1. Ensuring a well-articulated scope and sequence through all grades, pre-K through fifth, in literacy, numeracy, and social-emotional learning 
2. Working with teachers in researching and developing curricular themes, units, activities, and lessons that will enrich the educational experiences of Valley children 
3. Helping teachers develop and implement effective methods of assessing and documenting student learning and skill growth 
4. Helping teachers integrate lessons and activities that promote learning in science, technology, and mathematics 
5. Collaborating with teachers to ensure continuity between grades and smooth transitions for children 
6. Working with the Student Services Coordinator to ensure effective learning for all students, including coordination of standardized testing in Upper School 
7. Creating opportunities for collaboration and sharing between teachers and other local and regional elementary educators 
8. Developing and implementing a curriculum review cycle to ensure the effectiveness and vitality of the learning program 
9. Overseeing biannual student progress reports and school-wide assessments 
10. Directing the curriculum mapping process and regular updating of our curriculum guide 
11. Directing and coordinating the annual process of creating the academic and class schedules and academic calendar 
12. Creating and keeping updated all school schedules (Specialist, Duties, Building Use, Recess, etc.)
13. Managing all teacher, assistant teacher, and specialist absences, and, when necessary, substitute teaching and filling in for duties

In the area of Supervision, the Director of Teaching and Learning is responsible for: 

1. Ensuring the quality of instruction of teachers through supervision and annual evaluations, including setting goals and monitoring progress through observations and feedback 
2. Identifying and facilitating professional training in teaching methods and curriculum development that support student learning and faculty initiatives 
3. Assisting the Head of School in staffing decisions, faculty hiring, orientation, and mentorship of new teachers 
4. Helping teachers manage curriculum and classroom budgets and overseeing materials and supplies 

In the area of School Leadership, the Director of Teaching and Learning is responsible for: 

1. Contributing regular updates and articles about the learning program to the school newsletter and website 
2. Presenting the curriculum and learning program to prospective families and to the Board of Trustees 
3. Collaborating with Families At Valley (F@V) to support and coordinate parent programming 
4. Initiating, implementing, and monitoring education initiatives that support the school’s commitments to diversity, equity, belonging, and justice (DEBJ) 
5. Collaborating with Head of School and other administrators to identify, prioritize, and accomplish strategic goals 
6. Attending Leadership Team, faculty, and other meetings as directed 
7. Performing other duties as requested by the Head of School

Qualifications and Requirements 

• Five years minimum of combined teaching and school leadership experience in early childhood and elementary settings 
• Extensive experience supervising teaching staff and leading curriculum development 
• Bachelor’s Degree, with an emphasis in early childhood and/or elementary education or related areas; Advanced Degree preferred 
• Washington State Department of Early Learning MERIT Registration and Washington State teaching certificate preferred 
• Clear fingerprint background check 

About The Valley School of Seattle

The Valley School is a progressive, pre-kindergarten through 5th grade, independent school that carefully attends to the individual development of children through intellectual exploration, community, and play. We believe childhood is to be celebrated rather than rushed. It is a special time of exploration, unsuppressed creativity, friendship, and wonder. By understanding and respecting childhood, children — brimming with curiosity and imagination—grow into whole-hearted learners, practiced in thoughtful inquiry and critical thinking. Our Mission and Values At The Valley School, we ignite children’s natural passion for learning. Our students develop an academic foundation and become joyful learners through playful work, purposeful play, and the practice of community. Our school values include: celebration of childhood, collaboration, creativity, equity and inclusion, kindness, and respect for individuality. Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Access (DEIA) Statement The Valley School honors diversity, practices inclusion, and invites courageous conversations. We strive to create a community where each individual is valued, respected, and included. Though the journ...ey can be muddy – much like our playground – we aim to give every child the tools necessary to flourish.

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Connections working at The Valley School of Seattle