Saddle River, New Jersey
San Francisco, California
Medina, Washington
Posted: 09-Jun-26
Location: Locust Valley, New York
Type: Full Time
Categories:
Position Summary
Friends Academy seeks a dynamic, collaborative, and student-centered Upper School English Teacher for grades 9-12. As a faculty member with a proven track record of teaching excellence, you will work to support and guide our students with inspiring curriculum and educational experiences. This role is ideal for an educator who pairs mastery of their craft with a growth mindset—someone who is eager to collaborate with departmental peers, engage with diverse perspectives, and continuously evolve their practices.
In addition to classroom teaching, this full-time position includes advising a small cohort of 8–10 students and actively contributing to the life of the school by leading a co-curricular activity, whether through coaching or advising academic clubs and/or activities. The successful candidate will enthusiastically align with our Quaker mission and actively engage in the full life of the school, including faculty meetings, events, back to school nights, and departmental and divisional meetings after school.
A successful candidate must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
The following duties are representative of the role; responsibilities may evolve to meet the needs of the department and school community:
- Teach four sections of Upper School English, designing and delivering a rigorous, student centered curriculum that balances classical foundations with contemporary relevance.
- Work closely with departmental peers to align curriculum, share innovative pedagogical strategies, and develop authentic assessment practices consistent with school philosophy.
- Lead an assigned student advisory cohort, fostering a supportive environment that guides students' academic, social, and emotional growth.
- Actively engage in continuous professional development, staying current with best practices in literacy, composition, and secondary education.
- Contribute fully to the life of the school by leading an assigned co-curricular or academic activity, accompanying students on occasional experiential trips, and attending community events.
- Attend and actively contribute to daytime and after-school commitments, including weekly faculty, departmental, and divisional meetings, as well as evening events like Back-to-School Nights.
Education, Competencies, and Experience
- An undergraduate degree in English or a closely related humanities discipline is required; an advanced degree (MA, MAT, or MFA) is highly preferred.
- A proven track record of successful secondary English teaching, with the versatility to teach both foundational introductory courses and advanced levels. Experience within an independent school environment is a plus.
- Demonstrated success in implementing current, research-backed best practices in literacy, writing instruction, and student-centered discussion models (e.g., Harkness or collaborative learning).
- A genuine enthusiasm for mentoring and teaching high school students, paired with the ability to inspire a love of reading, critical thinking, and articulate expression.
- Exceptional oral and written communication skills, with a demonstrated ability to work collaboratively, listen and give good feedback, and maintain positive partnerships with colleagues, students, and parents.
- A deep commitment to, or resonance with, our Quaker values, inclusive educational philosophy, and ongoing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives.
Interested candidates should send a resume, with the below information to recruitment@fa.org:
- A cover letter expressing interest in and why candidate is qualified for the position;
- A statement of educational philosophy;
- A list of three to five professional references, with contact information..
Visit our career page https://www.friendsacademy.org/career
Salary: The salary range is expected to be $73,000-$80,000. Actual compensation will be based on the candidate’s relevant and transferable years of service, and other factors, which include internal peer equity, the market, and other organizational considerations. The salary range and/or hourly rate listed is a good faith determination of potential base compensation that may be offered to a successful applicant for this position at the time of this job advertisement and may be modified in the future.
Physical Demands: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Ability to talk and hear; stand and sit for extended periods of time; possibly exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and/or a negligible amount of force frequently to lift, carry, or otherwise move objects. The ability to move across and around campus grounds.
Our Commitment to Diversity: Friends Academy is committed to our guiding principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion. We welcome candidates representing the diversity of the world as we deepen and elevate our educational program.
Friends Academy is an equal employment opportunity employer committed to hiring and retaining exceptional, dedicated people of diverse backgrounds. We consider qualified individuals for employment with the School regardless of age, color, disability status, gender identity or expression, genetics, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. It is Friends Academy’s policy to comply with all applicable laws pertaining to nondiscrimination and equal opportunity.
We invite you to visit our FA Diversity, Equity + Inclusion Page.
