Grade 5 ASSOCIATE TEACHER (Science Focus)

Full-time position

Overview

The Associate Teacher Program at the Spence School provides a foundation for early-career educators to prepare for lead teaching roles. Associates typically remain at Spence for two years, which allows the Associate Teacher to have a broad and increasingly deep experience. The Associate position includes all aspects of homeroom supervision for a class of Grade 5 students and content instruction in their selected discipline, as well as significant experience in the following areas:        

• The craft of teaching and the development of curriculum
• Strategies for teaching, including differentiation of instruction
• Classroom management
• Student assessment and feedback, including narrative report writing
• Development of personal teaching style
• Communication with parents
• Active observation of students
• Weekly planning

Responsibilities 

• Attend all meetings of Grade 5 Science classes with the Head Teacher
• Provide Science instruction through one-on-one support, small group activities, and whole-class lessons, with a gradual increase in responsibility for teaching over the two-year program
• Support Grade 5 homeroom routines daily 
• Additional Middle School responsibilities as needed
• Attend all faculty, department, and  grade level meetings
• Attend parent programs and meetings
• Opportunity to design and lead a student club
• Participate in school-wide professional development
• Work with students to support their social and emotional development
• During the second year, possible opportunities exist for additional compensation for co-teaching classes in other subject areas or athletics coaching, as needed on a yearly basis

Qualifications

• Experience working with Middle School aged children
• Joyful approach to working with children and school life 
• Optimism, energy, kindness, and a sense of humor
• Proven demonstration of cultural competency and skills: engaging with and learning from people with diverse backgrounds and experiences
• Supports Spence’s commitment to equity and inclusion
• A disposition toward learning from and with colleagues about teaching practice
• Content-relevant knowledge or experience 
• Working toward MA, MFA, or MS (preferred) 

Salary range: $53,000 - 58,000

Salary ranges will be updated in February 2026.

About The Spence School

The Spence School, founded in 1892, is an independent school for girls and young women with an enrollment of 750 students in Grades K–12. Spence is committed to an equitable and inclusive program and a diverse faculty, staff and student body. Candidates from diverse backgrounds are encouraged to apply.

Connections working at The Spence School