William Penn Charter School is a Quaker, all-gender, pre-K-12 independent day school in the East Falls neighborhood of Philadelphia. Established in 1689 by William Penn and members of the Religious Society of Friends, Penn Charter is a community guided by Quaker testimonies and the central belief that there is "that of God" in every person. A school community that honors difference, Penn Charter seeks to be a place where diversity is understood, represented, and valued. Our curriculum embraces a plurality of cultures and celebrates an array of voices, instilling in us a deeper understanding and empathy for individuals in this community and the world.

As our mission states, we value scholarship and inquiry. With excellence as our standard, we challenge students in a vigorous program of academics, arts, and athletics. Through global connections, civic engagement, and a focus on environmental sustainability, we inspire students to be thinkers, collaborators, innovators, and leaders. We educate students to live lives that make a difference.

Position Summary

Penn Charter seeks a full-time Early Childhood Assistant teacher beginning August 2026. This is a 10-month position. The assistant teacher will partner closely with early childhood lead teachers to implement the curriculum. Applicants must possess an undergraduate degree in education or a related field. Experience with the Math in Focus, Fundations, and Responsive Classroom approach is preferred. 

The successful candidate will also embrace student-centered pedagogy, model curiosity and a desire for professional growth, and exhibit a willingness to work collaboratively with colleagues.  Additionally, they will demonstrate a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion both in their teaching practice and in building relationships. The ability to design creative lessons that weave critical components of the curriculum into experiential and project-based learning activities is also essential. Familiarity with the principles and practices of Quakerism and Quaker education is highly desirable.

Exempt Position

Reports to

Director of Lower School 

Start Date

August 2026

Essential Functions:

• Supports lesson planning and content delivery in partnership with the lead teacher.
• Supports writing report card comments in collaboration with the lead teacher.
• Provides individual and small group work as outlined by the lead teacher.
• Attends faculty meetings and supervises recess/lunch duties according to a rotational schedule.
• Works as a contributing member with the grade level teaching team and the broader Lower School faculty.
• Maintains ongoing parent communication, including newsletters, emails, phone calls, and social media in collaboration with the lead teacher.
• Actively participates in faculty professional development and supervision, including observations and feedback conversations with support from the division director and assistant division director.
• Participates in co-curricular activities such as enrichment, community service, and/or student groups.
• Incorporates diversity, equity, inclusion, social justice, belonging, and Quaker values into all aspects of the curriculum.

• Performs other duties as assigned by the Lower School Director or their designee.

Competencies:

• A deep understanding of child development.
• Embraces student-centered pedagogy, models curiosity and a desire for professional growth, and exhibits a willingness to work collaboratively with colleagues and families.
• Demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and social justice in their approach to the work and building relationships with students and other community members.
• Effective verbal and written communication skills
• A comprehensive understanding of the field of education and a demonstrated willingness to explore and embrace new pedagogical practices, technologies, and developing trends
• Demonstrated experience or familiarity with working with school-age children on the approaches listed below: 
• Structured Literacy
• Fundations
• Math in Focus
• Project-Based Learning
• Responsive Classroom
• Integration of DEIB and Quaker Testimonies
• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to quickly adapt to changing group dynamics
• Ability to engage in self-evaluation with regard to performance and professional growth
• Ability to establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with internal and external members of the Penn Charter community
• Proficient use of school-based systems and applications (e.g., Google Workspace, Seesaw)
• Love of working with children

Salary and Benefits

• William Penn Charter School offers competitive salaries and comprehensive health coverage for employees and their eligible dependents.
• William Penn Charter School is also a Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program qualified employer.

We will review application materials on a rolling basis and interview candidates until the position has been filled. 

William Penn Charter School provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

Physical Demands: 

• Ability and willingness to work in unpredictable weather conditions
• Ability to lift at least 30 pounds 
• Ability to walk, stand, sit on the floor, or kneel for extended periods of time
• Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these essential functions

Required Qualifications: 

• An undergraduate degree in a related field and/or a combination of education and experience 

Preferred education and experience 

• Master’s degree in education or related field
• At least two years of lower school classroom experience
• Familiarity with the principles and practices of Quakerism and Quaker education

About William Penn Charter School

William Penn Charter School is an all gender, Quaker, coeducational, PreK-12 independent day school in the East Falls neighborhood of Philadelphia. Established in 1689 by William Penn and members of the Religious Society of Friends, Penn Charter values scholarship and inquiry. Our school emphasizes academics, the arts, athletics, spiritual awareness and service learning.

Connections working at William Penn Charter School