St. Mark’s seeks a passionate and dedicated 4th Grade Language Arts Teacher to join our Lower School team. This role is ideal for an educator who is excited about fostering a love of reading and writing through a structured literacy approach and who is committed to creating a supportive and engaging learning environment. The 4th Grade Language Arts Teacher will report to the Head of Lower School. 

Duties 

• Plan, prepare and implement lessons and activities to meet the cognitive, social, emotional, and physical needs of children who are nine to ten years old.
• Teach a structured literacy English Language Arts program through differentiated instruction.  
• Create a positive, inclusive, and structured classroom environment where students feel safe, respected, and encouraged to take risks in their learning.
• Promote student independence by providing opportunities for self-directed learning, problem-solving, and collaboration with peers.
• Utilize relationship-centered approaches to classroom management that value clear expectations, consistency, and restorative practices when misbehavior occurs.
• Develop and maintain positive and proactive parent relationships that foster a supportive home-school connection including updates about student progress. This includes in person conversations, email correspondence and phone calls as needed as well as school scheduled Fall and Spring parent-teacher conference days.
• Create an effective learning environment through functional and attractive displays inside and outside of the classroom.
• Work closely with the other lead 4th grade teacher on grade level programming.
• Guide the work of a shared Teaching Assistant with the other 4th grade lead teacher.
• Effectively supervise students through scheduled duties such as recess, lunch, arrival, and dismissal.
• Participate and contribute in weekly team meetings.
• Assume other responsibilities as assigned by the Head of Lower School.

Physical Requirements and Work Environment

• Works in a sometimes highly stressful environment dealing with a wide variety of challenges.
• Ability to sit and stand for extended periods of time.
• Physical agility to lift up to 50 pounds; to bend, stoop, and reach overhead.
• Work primarily in a traditional climate controlled classroom environment.
• Work intermittently in outside weather conditions, including extreme heat and cold.

Required Skills and Experience

• A Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education.
• A deep understanding of educating the whole child.
• A passion for teaching and learning with a collaborative spirit.
• A minimum of three years of teaching experience.
• Genuine affinity for working with children and families in a highly engaged community.
• Knowledge and experience of working in an independent school.

About St. Mark's Episcopal School

The community of St. Mark's Episcopal School celebrates the uniqueness of each child. We are stewards of our students' intellectual curiosity, faith, and passion for discovery. We cultivate joy, playfulness, and growth in a child-centered environment. Located in the West University Place neighborhood of Houston, St. Mark’s serves 460 students from 18 months old through 8th grade. St. Mark's is an engaging community of learners where the school partners with its families in preparing each student for the path that lies ahead through a stimulating, whole-child school experience. Through offerings in athletics, performing and visual arts, technology, Spanish, and a robust curriculum, St. Mark's prepares its graduates for the many high school options Houston offers, and successfully places its students in high schools which best fit each. St. Mark's is an Episcopal school, and as part of the St. Mark's Episcopal Church parish, is known as a community environment and second home to over 320 families. The school is committed to its positive relationship with families, believing strongly in the power of a fully engaged dynamic between school and home. As a place where children are know...n, teachers understand what it means to meet children where they are, which plays a crucial role in fostering each child's spirit.

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Connections working at St. Mark's Episcopal School