Annie Wright is seeking an Upper Schools Spanish Teacher to begin on August 15, 2025. This is a full-time faculty position that reports directly to the Upper Schools Division Director.

Mission Statement

Annie Wright’s strong community cultivates individual learners to become well-educated, creative, and responsible citizens for a global society.

Position description

The Upper Schools Spanish Teacher sees their role in teaching Spanish as a leader in teaching cultural understanding. Language is essential to culture and as a teacher of language, the Spanish Teacher is well-positioned to support students as they reflect on their place in the world and consider the points of view of Spanish-speaking peoples in the United States and beyond its borders. We believe that our student-centered mission demands that we ensure the curricular content of the class connects students to their community and the world.

The Upper Schools Spanish Teacher encourages students to explore, analyze, connect, and express themselves proficiently within multiple world cultures, and, ultimately, inspires students to communicate and approach the world through a more reflective and humanitarian lens. In both academic and co-curricular spaces, the teacher is a mentor, a guide, and an advocate for voices as both individuals and within diverse communities centered on growth.

As a core member of the Upper Schools faculty, the Spanish Teacher works collaboratively with the Division Director and faculty to continuously assess the curriculum and review best practices, helps build a culture of inquiry anchored in playfulness and balance, and is integral in supporting and developing students that embody the school’s mission and vision.

As a member of the school’s Acquired Language Department, the Spanish Teacher will be charged with collaborating with a departmental team, with the guidance of the Upper Schools Administration. The Spanish Teacher values hands-on experiential learning through the use of real-world skills and communication strategies to develop students' abilities and confidence in producing spoken and written language and understanding text-based and aural language both at face value and the nuance added by myriad human experiences, under spontaneous circumstances or scaffolded. The Spanish Teacher encourages students to become lifelong learners by developing curiosity about all language patterns, to have open minds when presented with unique cultural experiences, to practice confidence while expressing and advocating for themselves in an ever-changing world, and to be successfully communicative in the target language beyond the academic curricula.

Position Overview: Duties and Responsibilities

The Upper Schools Spanish Teacher:

• Implements curriculum based on best practices in teaching, student-centered instruction, and relevant educational technologies; 
• Reports to the Upper Schools Division Director;
• Teaches four or five Spanish courses in alignment with the mission and philosophy of Annie Wright Schools and with the International Baccalaureate framework; 
• If teaching four sections, runs an after-school (s)Elective in an area of passion and/or expertise;
• Participates actively in after-school and extra-curricular programming along with other members of the faculty to understand students outside as well as inside the classroom;
• Fulfills all faculty duties, which can include serving as an advisor, and maintains good communication with families about student progress. 

Salary and Benefits

This position offers a salary range between $62,000 and $90,000, depending on qualifications and experience. Benefits available to the hired candidate include the following, subject to the terms of the applicable benefit plan:

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Employee Assistance Program
• Life insurance
• Accidental death & dismemberment insurance
• Long-term disability insurance
• Paid sick leave (known as Wellness Days): Each regular full-time employee earns 80 hours of Wellness leave per accrual year
• Eighteen(18) paid Holidays in 2025
• Fifty percent (50%) Tuition remission in accordance with school policy. All fees and incidental expenses are the sole responsibility of the employee-parent
• All children of benefited employees of AWS, who are currently enrolled at AWS, are eligible for extended day services at no charge when school is in session. Charges apply for faculty in-service days or similar days  
• A 403(b) retirement plan with a 6% company match with a 3 % employee contribution

Application Process

Annie Wright Schools remain firmly committed to a policy of equal employment opportunity. Annie Wright shall hire, promote, transfer, terminate, and make all other employment-related decisions without regard to an employee’s race, color, creed, sex, religion, age, national origin, marital status, sexual orientation, political ideology, the presence of any sensory, mental or physical disability, or any other basis prohibited by law. Annie Wright Schools are actively seeking to create a more culturally diverse school community and accordingly, applicants of color and underrepresented backgrounds are encouraged to apply. 

To apply, email a cover letter, resume, email, and telephone contact information for 3-5 professional references, and this completed and signed application, all in PDF format, to Mrs. Erin Gann, Executive Assistant to the Head of Schools, at erin_gann@aw.org. In accordance with Annie Wright Schools’ strategic focus on issues related to social justice, candidates should anticipate being asked to address how their past work, as well as future contributions, might serve to advance Annie Wright’s commitment to a more diverse and inclusive community. Applications for this position will be accepted until filled.

Qualifications

The Upper Schools Spanish Teacher will demonstrate key elements of the listed expertise and experiences. This is an aspirational list and Annie Wright Schools encourages candidates to apply who may not currently possess, but are working on building, all of these qualities. The Upper Schools Spanish Teacher:

• Holds a BA or BS in Spanish or a related field; 
• Has strong proficiency in Spanish and cultural competency in one or several Spanish-speaking cultures;
• Has experience as a teacher of Spanish at the high school level and/or middle school;
• Is familiar with independent schools and/or the International Baccalaureate framework; 
• Is a strong communicator and empathetic listener;
• Is innovative;
• Is a mentor, a guide, and a team builder; 
• Demonstrates an ability to form authentic and appropriate relationships with high school students;
• Demonstrates proficiency in educational technologies;
• Practices cultural humility in personal interactions;
• And, is eligible to work in the United States. Note: Under our current employment policies, we are unable to sponsor work visas and do not offer positions to candidates who are not yet eligible to work in the United States.

Physical Requirements

• Must be able to sit and stand for extended periods;
• Must be able to move comfortably around a classroom, accessing materials and assisting students as needed;
• Must be able to communicate and exchange information with students, other teachers, and families. 
• Must be able to lift up to 15 pounds at times. 

About Annie Wright Schools

Tradition meets innovation at Annie Wright Schools, where we honor our rich history and traditions, embrace the present, and continue always to move forward. Founded in 1884, Annie Wright Schools serve students from age three through high school. The Lower and Middle Schools offer co-ed programs in Preschool through Grade 8, while separate Upper Schools for boys and girls offer day and boarding options in Grades 9 through 12, welcoming students from Tacoma and around the world. We are proud to be an International Baccalaureate World School, delivering IB programs in every division.

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