POSITION STATEMENT
Lower School Associate Teacher, K-3

Start Date: August 2025

OVERVIEW
Brooklyn Friends School (BFS), a thriving Preschool-12 grade school located in vibrant Downtown Brooklyn, seeks K-3 Associate Teachers within a dynamic community of colleagues (BFS uses the all-inclusive term, colleagues, to refer to all rather than one that delineates faculty/staff). Founded in 1867, Brooklyn Friends School’s pillars of social justice, service learning/civic engagement, and Quakerism, serve as guideposts for our action-oriented collective work. Our school’s history has been illustrious and reflective of the expansive nature of human experiences. Guided by our mission, BFS provides a dynamic, diverse, and robust social/emotional environment and academic program that cultivates compassionate, intellectually curious, and confident changemakers. As a school, we affirm that human diversity includes, but is not limited to: race, ethnicity, culture, national origin, religion, gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, age, socioeconomic class, family structure and physical ability, as well as diversity of thought, talents, and learning style. Brooklyn Friends School does not discriminate based on these characteristics or any characteristic prohibited by law and provides reasonable accommodations to otherwise qualified colleagues and applicants. If you need an accommodation related to any part of the hiring process, please send an email to hiring@brooklynfriends.org.

This short video gives you a glimpse into our contemporary experience.

THE POSITION
The Lower School (LS) Associate Teacher Program is typically a two-year experience at Brooklyn Friends School and is an essential part of the BFS learning community. LS Associate Teachers receive exceptional training for their eventual role as Head Teachers or other lead positions in a Lower School setting (i.e. math specialist, literacy specialist) while also providing BFS students with a high level of both care and instruction. The LS Associate Teacher role allows for more individualized attention, small flexible groupings, and an infusion of current best practices in LS classrooms. Associates have the opportunity to participate in a wide variety of experiences and responsibilities that are needed to become successful classroom teachers.

This position reports to the Assistant Head of Lower School.

Qualifications and Characteristics Sought:

• Bachelor’s degree 
• Possesses, currently pursuing, or intending to begin work towards an advanced degree in Education

• Has experience working with young children
• Approaches work with flexibility, patience, and a willingness to learn 
• Demonstrates cultural competency and a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion
• Brings a passion and desire to create a joyful learning environment 

Primary Responsibilities Include:

• Support, collaborate, and participate fully with the Head Teacher
• Plan and conduct small group and whole class lessons in all subject areas
• Assist with classroom management
• Assess and document students’ needs
• Support the social/emotional development of students
• Work collaboratively with the grade-level teaching team and the school’s learning team
• Perform necessary routine tasks and daily maintenance of the classroom
• Engage in duties and care for the school community
• Review student learning profiles and respond to specific accommodations and strategies in planning curriculum and learning activities 

Physical Requirements of the Job:

• Must be able to stand, bend over, twist and reach to access file cabinets, bookshelves and navigate office and workstation spaces.
• Must be able to ambulate through a classroom setting, including walking up stairs.
• Must be able to lift and carry small children up to 40lbs in the case of emergency.

Union Status: Union

Salary range: $58,769 - $60,400

This salary range represents the expected salary range for this position. Ultimately, in determining your pay, we'll consider your education level, experience, and other job-related factors.

• Benefits: Colleagues may be eligible to participate in employment benefits including, but not limited to, health insurance, dental insurance, vision insurance, 403(b) retirement plan, life insurance and long-term disability insurance. Benefits are subject to change at any time, and are subject to applicable plan documents.

To apply, please provide the following:

1. Cover letter addressed to the Assistant Head of Lower School for Academics. Along with punctuating your interest and experience, your cover letter should also address how you feel that your professional journey aligns with our school’s Quaker values and pillars of social justice and civic engagement. 
2. Resume/Curriculum Vitae
3. List of three references (with emails, phone numbers, and relationship to you).
4. Completed online application.

Please email the above attachments as one PDF to hiring@brooklynfriends.org and lsassociateteacherpositions@brooklynfriends.org. Put “Lower School Associate Teacher, K-3” in the subject line. Qualified candidates will be contacted after materials have been reviewed. 

Brooklyn Friends School COVID-19 Vaccination Policy:

We appreciate your interest in employment at Brooklyn Friends School. We would like to note that the School has a mandatory COVID-19 vaccination policy, which requires all faculty and staff to be fully vaccinated and provide proof of vaccination.

About Brooklyn Friends School

Brooklyn Friends School (BFS) is a thriving Preschool-12 grade school located in vibrant Downtown Brooklyn with a dynamic community of colleagues (BFS uses the all-inclusive term, colleagues, to refer to all rather than one that delineates faculty/staff). Founded in 1867, Brooklyn Friends School’s pillars of social justice, service learning/civic engagement, and Quakerism, serve as guideposts for our action-oriented collective work. Our school’s history has been illustrious and reflective of the expansive nature of human experiences. Guided by our mission, BFS provides a dynamic, diverse, and robust social/emotional environment and academic program that cultivates compassionate, intellectually curious, and confident changemakers. As a school, we affirm that human diversity includes, but is not limited to: race, ethnicity, culture, national origin, religion, gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, age, socioeconomic class, family structure and physical ability, as well as diversity of thought, talents, and learning style.

Connections working at Brooklyn Friends School