Posted: 19-Feb-26
Location: Austin, Texas
Type: Full Time
Categories:
Required Education:
Headwaters School, a Pre-K through grade 12 independent day school serving 500 students across its three campuses in Austin, TX, is seeking a full time Spanish Teacher in our Elementary School for the 2026-2027 academic year.
At Headwaters, our guides nurture a school culture that promotes a growth mindset, a collaborative spirit, a joyful environment, and the achievement of high expectations. Our faculty and staff ensure all members of our school community understand their role in advancing issues of justice, equity, diversity and inclusion. Headwaters School supports the professional growth of our school faculty in order to contribute to their feelings of fulfillment, to provide a model of lifelong learning for our students, and to advance the strategic goals of the school.
Our faculty members are responsible for bringing our Purpose statement to life: to cultivate identity formation, foster empathy, and embrace diversity to bring more peace to the world. In addition, they guide our students to live authentically, think expansively, and create bravely. We invite our students, guides, staff, parents, and trustees to be Peacemakers, Advocates, Creators, and Thinkers.
Candidates will also be prepared to fully participate in the life of the school. The Spanish Teacher reports directly to our Elementary School Director. Our ideal candidate will have a Bachelor’s degree, as well as knowledge of Montessori educational philosophy.
Job Qualifications:
- Bachelor's Degree required, degree in Spanish preferred
- 2-5 years prior experience teaching in an elementary school setting
- Native speaker, and/or experience living and working abroad, preferred
- Passion for working with elementary school children
- Strong commitment to equity and inclusion practices and curriculum in the classroom
- A commitment to personal and professional development
- Is a creative individual and team player
- Ability to maintain calm and focus
- Operates with a high level of integrity
- Highly organized & tech savvy
Essential Job Duties/Responsibilities:
- Create age-appropriate curriculum and lesson plans that align with language standards and integrate cultural awareness.
- Teach vocabulary, grammar, pronunciation, and basic conversational skills through engaging activities and resources.
- Introduce students to Spanish-speaking cultures, traditions, and customs to enhance language learning.
- Regularly assess to measure student progress and understanding, providing feedback, and adapting instruction based on student needs.
- Establish a positive learning environment that encourages participation and respect among students.
- Provide differentiation by tailoring lessons to accommodate various learning styles and proficiency levels within the classroom.
- Collaborate with other guides to incorporate Spanish language learning into other subject areas.
- When appropriate, incorporate technology and multimedia resources to create interactive and engaging lessons.
- Maintain communication that supports an understanding of the school's program, develops positive relationships with the school community, and protects the privacy and confidentiality of each student and family in the school community.
- Maintain an on-going dialogue with the Elementary School Director and Learning Specialist to coordinate curriculum integration and implementation.
- Establish a positive relationship with parents of the community and maintain regular communication with regard to their child's specific needs, as well as helping to develop an understanding of the Spanish curriculum.
- Actively participate in school functions, including Open Houses, Parent Orientations, campus fundraisers, etc.
- Participate in a regular evaluation process including classroom observations, self evaluations, interim and annual performance evaluations, and annual goal-setting.
- Manage student behavior in the classroom and on school premises.
- Serve as an ambassador of the School's mission and philosophy.
- Perform other duties, as assigned.
This is a full-time, salaried, exempt position and compensation is competitive for the greater Austin area. The school offers a wide-range of benefits including generous paid time off, 100% paid medical insurance for an employee on our HSA/High Deductible plan, 401(k) employer matching, on-going professional support and continuing education opportunities, and a unique working environment where you are able to share and receive ongoing feedback.
Interested applicants should email a resume, cover letter, and educational philosophy statement Leslie Hirsch, Director of Human Resources at hr@headwaters.org to apply or go to the Headwaters School Employment website, https://www.headwaters.org/page/about/employment.
Headwaters School welcomes applicants from all backgrounds. As a 501(c)3 non-profit school, Headwaters provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, gender, age, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, genetic information or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local anti-discrimination law. The School’s equal employment opportunity practices extend to recruitment, hiring, selection, compensation, benefits, transfer, promotion, training, discipline, and all other terms, conditions, and privileges of employment. All Employees are responsible for complying with the School’s equal employment opportunity policy.