Founded in 1961, Sandy Spring Friends School is a Quaker, coed, academically-rigorous day and boarding school serving approximately 620 students from age three through 12th grade. The campus is located on 140 acres in the historic Sandy Spring area of Montgomery County, Maryland, and the School is approved by the Maryland State Board of Education and accredited by the Association of Independent Maryland Schools.
Our school’s culture, rooted in the idea that collaboration engenders achievement, can be traced to our Quaker heritage and abiding belief in the Quaker values of simplicity, equality, honesty, stewardship of the environment, and peaceful resolution of conflict.
Lower School Associate Teacher
Summary: We are currently seeking an energetic educator to work as an associate teacher in our Lower School grades PK3 –Grade 5. This person will be engaging in every grade level as needed as administrative and teacher support, including teaching independently when needed. Sandy Spring Friends School seeks to nurture the whole child, and a successful candidate should enjoy and possess the ability to work with elementary-age children. SSFS seeks candidates who value the importance of diversity and can share, teach, and appreciate wide perspectives.
Qualifications include: Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education or a closely related field. Prior experience teaching in a pre-primary and/or lower school is preferred. The ideal candidate will have strong interpersonal skills, effective oral and written communication skills and experience working with active and collaborative instruction. Early childhood, literacy, numeracy, or specialty area experience are ideal. Familiarity with Quaker education and/or the Responsive Classroom approach to teaching would be advantageous. To learn more about Sandy Spring Friends School and the Lower School program, please visit our website atwww.ssfs.org.
Physical Requirements: The ability to navigate stairs as part of daily routines; mobility around a large campus with uneven pavement; bending and squatting as required to participate in activities; sitting and standing for long periods of time during the school day; lifting/carrying boxes up to 25 pounds; and the ability to maneuver as necessary within a regular classroom and office setting.
Please note that the School has a mandatory COVID-19 vaccination policy, which requires that all employees be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and provide proof of vaccination.
Summary of Benefits:
Hourly Rate: $21-$24
At SSFS, we offer a competitive benefits package designed to support your health, well-being, and professional growth. Our benefits include:
Comprehensive Insurance: Medical, dental, and vision coverage to keep you and your family healthy.
Disability & Life Insurance: Short-term and long-term disability coverage, along with life insurance for peace of mind at no cost to employees.
Retirement Savings: 403(B) plan with employer contributions to help you save for the future.
Paid Time Off: Generous paid time off, including holidays and parental leave.
Employee Assistance: Access to our Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for personal and professional support.
Tuition: Financial aid available to children of SSFS employees.
Childcare Discounts: Discounted After Care and Summer Camp programs for employees' children.
Convenience Perks: Free parking, free lunch, and access to our library and gym facilities.
Commitment to Diversity: Sandy Spring Friends School embraces the Quaker testimony of Equality and seeks applicants who represent all backgrounds and demonstrate a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. We greatly value our diverse student population and we actively seek faculty representatives of our students’ diversity. Click to learn more about diversity at Sandy Spring Friends School. Special consideration may be given to members of The Religious Society of Friends.
Please submit a cover letter, resume, completed application, and three professional references by selecting the link.
SSFS offers an inquiry-based college preparatory program that emphasizes deep understanding throughout the curriculum while encouraging collaboration, instilling confidence, fostering practical experience, and cultivating respect for others. The School's teachers help students internalize a process we call "QRA” —Question, Reflection, Action—which ensures that they think critically, integrate new knowledge, and apply what they learn. We help students develop their individual sense of purpose as they become caring citizens of the world.
Our school’s culture, rooted in the idea that collaboration engenders achievement, can be traced to our Quaker heritage and abiding belief in the Quaker values of simplicity, equality, honesty, stewardship of the environment, and peaceful resolution of conflict. Our teachers are lifelong mentors and strive to identify and cultivate each student’s intellectual, extracurricular, and social passions. In doing so, we help shape students whose actions speak volumes and whose lives become exemplars—not only among their peers and families today but also in their personal, educational, and professional communities long after high school. Sandy Spring Frie...nds School students are taught to act upon what they learn. This call to action propels their accomplishments as graduates, in college, and beyond.