Thaden School contributes to the development of future independent school leaders as a partner of the Independent School Teaching Residency (ISTR) of the Penn Graduate School of Education (GSE).  Each year, we will welcome a cohort of Penn Fellows to our teaching faculty and support their learning as they pursue their Master of Science in Education (M.S.Ed.) from Penn GSE. The ISTR curriculum distinguishes itself through its intentional integration of cutting-edge research and an immersive teaching fellowship at partner schools. Our fellows will work in collaboration with a discipline-specific mentor. Led by our Head of Middle School, Dr. Mary Cathleen Smith, our program strives to empower our Penn Fellows to contribute meaningfully and with a positive impact to the student experience at Thaden School.

Role and Responsibilities 

Penn Fellows will:

• Teach a modified course load.
• Coach, lead, and/or advise at least two co-curricular, student-facing programs per year, which usually include coaching a sport and sponsoring a club.
• Lead a student advisory group with the support of the assistant head for the duration of the fellowship.  
• Attend and participate in all faculty meetings and school/division-wide assemblies as members of the Thaden faculty.
• Meet regularly with the Head of Middle School to apply learning from the ISTR curriculum to their teaching and learning at Thaden School.
• Meet weekly with their faculty mentor to collaborate on pedagogy and curriculum relevant to the fellow, the mentor, and the ISTR curriculum.
• Conduct classroom and campus-wide observations as determined by the fellow and their faculty mentor, the Head of Middle School, and the Independent School Teaching Residency (ISTR) faculty of Penn GSE.
• Participate in their evaluation process with the Head of Middle School, with input from relevant collaborators (mentors, co-advisors, athletic director, etc.), using indicators appropriate for and designed by the Independent School Teaching Residency (ISTR) program in conjunction with Thaden School expectations for faculty.

Skills, Qualifications, and Attributes

• Positive personality and love for children. 
• Strong desire to learn about the art of teaching.
• Highly collaborative and collegial manner.
• Consistent, highly professional behavior, including discretion, judgment, and integrity. 
• Dedicated work ethic: proactive, responsible, reliable, punctual, and attentive to deadlines. 
• Effective time management skills with the ability to manage, organize, and prioritize work. 
• Excellent oral and written communication skills. 
• Flexibility with the special needs associated with an academic calendar and schedule. 
• Ability to display strong initiative, internal motivation, and a willingness to take on responsibilities beyond those explicitly defined. Committed to professional learning and growth. 
• Undergraduate degree in the content area being taught.
• Candidate must also complete the required background check.

Physical Requirements

• Job frequently requires standing, walking, and handling objects with hands.
• Job occasionally requires reaching, climbing, stooping, kneeling, pushing, pulling, and lifting up to 25 pounds.
• Some work is performed outside and may require exposure to changing weather conditions.

About Thaden School

A non-sectarian independent school under the direction of its own board, Thaden School offers a challenging and innovative educational program that ignites in students a passion for discovery and learning, prepares them to succeed in college, and inspires them to lead lives of integrity, purpose, and responsible global citizenship. At the core of the school’s mission is a commitment to balance that takes many forms: a curriculum that integrates the sciences and the humanities; indoor and outdoor teaching spaces where sustainability is a tangible part of the lesson; hands-on programs for civic engagement; athletics and physical education programs that build confidence and character through competition and meaningful participation; and a diverse faculty and staff that empower students to think deeply and expansively about their potential and place in the world. The school’s remarkably robust indexed tuition program supports the creation of a balanced learning community where students of many perspectives, talents, and interests come learn and grow stronger together. Located on a 30-acre campus in downtown Bentonville, the school is walking distance from the town square, Bright...water Culinary Institute, The Momentary (Crystal Bridges’ center for contemporary arts), and a variety of other educational resources. The school has also engaged a world-class team of architects to design an enduring and innovative campus that will spark curiosity, inspire creativity, and invite reflection. The principal designer, Marlon Blackwell, is the 2020 recipient of the American Institute of Architect’s Gold Medal, the Institute’s highest honor. The school’s first permanent buildings opened last fall, and the campus master plan will be completed in the fall of 2021. With more than 500,000 residents, the region combines a thriving economy with the natural beauty of the Ozarks and a rich variety of cultural and recreational amenities such as the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, the Razorback Regional Greenway, the Scott Family Amazeum, and the Bentonville Film Festival. Northwest Arkansas is also home to the world headquarters of three Fortune 500 companies (Walmart, Tyson Foods, and J.B. Hunt) as well as the University of Arkansas. For more information about the region and its national rankings, see Finding NWA and the website for the Northwest Arkansas Council. The school’s website features videos and additional information regarding its educational programs, faculty and leadership.

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Connections working at Thaden School