The Overlake School seeks a Middle School English Teacher for a fall semester leave-replacement position. 

Founded in 1967, The Overlake School is an independent, nonsectarian, coeducational, college prep day school. Each Overlake community member is committed to the school's mission to champion students and their vast potential through engaging educational experiences in a diverse and inclusive community. Students are valued as multifaceted individuals and graduate with a passion for learning, ready for any path that contributes to a better world. 

The Overlake School is committed to diversity and does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, national or ethnic origin, socio-economic status, gender, sexual orientation, or disability in the administration of its educational policies, financial aid, employment, and other school-administered programs.  Our school is committed to the strategic goals of developing our collective capacity in areas of well-being for all, the attraction and retention of talented and qualified educators, integration of diversity, equity & inclusion into the life of our school, and defining our institutional identity.  

Leave Replacement: August, 2025 – January, 2026 

To apply for this position, you must have a bachelor's degree or equivalent and must be able to pass a Washington State background check. 

Salary: $61,987 - $118,388,  Depending on Education and Experience

Position Summary

The ideal candidate is an outstanding educator who will work to ensure student success. The teacher should contribute enthusiastically to our school community and will work closely with their grade team as well as with the English department. The ideal candidate will be comfortable fostering supportive student-teacher-family relationships and creating courses and units through the UBD and UDL frameworks. 

The current English curriculum focuses on building students' critical thinking, close reading, discussion, and writing skills. Building students' understanding of their own identities as well as empathy for others is at the forefront of all activities and projects. Students will read a diverse range of voices, perspectives, and genres and hone their writing skills across various analytical and creative forms. As these are discussion-centered courses, applicants should be comfortable scaffolding and facilitating conversation in a variety of developmentally appropriate and engaging modes. 

For more information on our department’s scope and sequence, please see our curriculum guide. (https://www.overlake.org/academics/curriculum/english) 

The Overlake School's strategic vision is to develop its capacity to have equity and inclusion at the institution's heart in its teaching and learning. We seek educators who demonstrate cultural competence and teach for equity and justice as central to their instruction. 

We are looking for teachers who have experience… 

• Teaching middle school courses 
• Building and designing curriculum  
• Teaching, coaching, and mentoring middle school students 
• Demonstrating a history of an open and collaborative approach to teaching and learning 
• Possessing a level of cultural competency necessary for working with a diverse population in an inclusive and equitable community 
• Communicating well, both in writing and verbally, with colleagues, students, and families 
• Modeling a culture of flexible, continuous learning for students 

Teaching Responsibilities and Duties

Teach four sections of 8th Grade English and engage in the community through supporting student clubs or co-curricular opportunities. Teachers are also required to attend grade-level team, department, division, and all-school faculty meetings. 

Minimum Qualifications

Successful candidates are teachers who inspire students to think critically and communicate thoughtfully. Further, strong candidates will demonstrate some or all of the following: 

• A desire and ability to put cultural competency at the heart of their pedagogy and skill at working with a diverse population in an inclusive and equitable community 
• Relevant education and classroom experience 
• A student-centered approach to teaching 
• Belief in the critical importance of diversity in the life of the school and excitement about working to build and maintain a classroom that honors diversity of opinion and practices 
• Familiarity with differentiated instruction and the ability to simultaneously engage students at a variety of levels of academic background, particularly in reading and writing 
• Ability to communicate and work collaboratively with colleagues within and outside of department and grade-level teams  
• Computer literacy and technological proficiency, with an interest in incorporating technology into the classroom (our classroom management system is Canvas) 
• Passing required background checks 

Desired Qualifications

• Strong background in English and/or related fields, in particular experience that decenters the white/Eurocentric perspectives in literature
• A strong understanding of the developmental stages of students from 12-14 years old
• Experience designing curriculum and courses using the Understanding by Design (UbD) Framework
• Familiarity with a variety of assessment styles
• Natural rapport and demonstrated effective leadership with students
• Evidence of ongoing professional development
• Willingness and desire to contribute to Overlake beyond the classroom

Equal Employment Opportunity

At The Overlake School, we celebrate diversity as essential to fostering curiosity, compassion, and the full potential of every student and community member. We strive to ensure that every employee feels welcomed and valued for their unique perspectives and contributions. From our hiring practices, performance reviews, raise decisions, and opportunities for promotions, The Overlake School follows consistent and fair practices to ensure all employees and potential employees have an equal opportunity for employment and advancement based on merit, and are not discriminated against because of race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, veteran status, pregnancy, childbirth, pregnancy-related conditions, disability, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, or on any other legally protected basis in the administration of its educational policies, financial aid, employment, and other school-administered programs. Our Human Resources department works with employees to make reasonable accommodations for those that require assistance in being able to participate in the interview process or meet the requirements of their position.

Background Check Policy

The Overlake School conducts background checks for employees after the conditional offer of employment is accepted, in compliance with applicable federal, state, and local laws. Candidates will be asked to authorize these screenings and results will be reviewed by a designated HR representative. 

The Overlake School reserves the right to modify this policy at any time without notice.

About The Overlake School

The Overlake School is an independent, coeducational, college preparatory day school located on a 75-acre campus in Redmond, Washington. The school serves 530 students grades 5-12. Founded in 1967, the school has a reputation as one of the leading independent schools in the Northwest. Overlake believes that diversity is an integral part of its mission. The school therefore actively fosters a diverse community that contributes to its educational richness.

Connections working at The Overlake School