Purpose:  An Upper  School Teacher is responsible for carrying out the mission of VMS through curriculum development, varied classroom teaching, planning, and executing fair assessments, differentiation, classroom management, outdoor education, character development and building rapport with students in and out of the classroom. Our teachers support the mission and philosophy of the school, value the VMS culture, and strive to make our school a better place. They have a deep knowledge of their subject area, and display dedication, passion, and the capacity to help all students succeed. They are committed to pursuing professional development and are life-long learners.

What You Will Do:

• Be responsible for instructing students in upper school English courses; including literature from around the world, classic and contemporary literature, poetry, non-fiction, Shakespeare, and many forms of written expression
• Inspire students to ask questions, engage creatively, and develop and hone critical thinking skills. Ensure what is taught is developmentally appropriate for students, provides rigor, is mission appropriate, and relevant
• Monitor and update curriculum maps and maintain curriculum standards while also supporting students with diverse learning needs
• Be available and excited to work with students during study halls, office hours and advisory time
  • Actively participate and accommodate our winter sports program athletes through the use of distance learning and online learning practices.
• Maintain learning management system for all students (this includes grading and active posting of curriculum and resources)
• Ensure that the VMS philosophy of grading is implemented and used appropriately
• Work with all Division Directors and the Director of Student Support Services to support all VMS  policies and their implementation
• Work in collaboration with members of the department and the division to accomplish curricular, instructional, and assessment goals
• Work to ensure that there is a fair amount of graded opportunities that exist for every class and that there is consistent communication for every class

Who You Are:

• A “raise your hand” type of person. You’re interested in participating in school events like  orientation trips, field trips, sitting at lunch tables, assisting with carpool, hut trips, and Ski Fridays as necessary. You are ready to participate fully in the life of the school.
• Experienced with diverse learners with the ability to differentiate instruction and assessment.
• Experienced with advisory programs (our is called homebase) and the social-emotional development of high school students 
• Willing to provide general supervision of students 
• Able to communicate in a timely and professional manner with students, parents, colleagues, and volunteers
• Ready to attend related meetings and assist with afternoon/evening programs; some of which may occur outside of the school day
• Prepared to actively promote the mission of the school
• Passionate about fostering and furthering a culture of belonging and inclusion in our school.
• Bachelor’s Degree  from four-year college or university 
• If you have the following experience, we’d love to hear about it!
• Experience in the independent school community
• Experience with curriculum development at the upper school level
• AP/College Board instructional experience
• Graduate degree
• Experience leading students on outdoor education courses
• Experience coaching and/or driving small busses

Who We Are:

We are a rapport-based independent school that is proud of our roots in the Vail Valley. As a group, we are made up of active people who are committed to instilling the value of our natural surroundings to the next generation through education, responsibility, and kindness. VMS is a caring and thoughtful organization committed to the lives of our employees. We offer a competitive benefit package including medical, dental, and vision insurance plans designed to fit the needs of our faculty and staff. We offer a monthly wellness benefit reimbursement as well as FSA and HSA options depending on your health insurance elections. We focus on the professional development of our faculty and staff through individual professional development opportunities. Vail Mountain School is proud to offer compensation based on experience and education (see below).

VMS is an Equal Opportunity Employer, intentionally committed to fostering a diverse, equitable, and inclusive community. We welcome candidates representing a full spectrum of race, ability, gender, national origin, religion, and sexual orientation. A VMS education embraces both the open exchange of ideas and learning from differing perspectives, inclusive of the beliefs and identities reflected within the community. Qualifications for employment include a demonstrated commitment to these principles.

To Apply: Please send resume and cover letter to jobs@vms.edu. We look forward to hearing from you!

About Vail Mountain School

We are Vail, Colorado’s leading independent K-12 school. We are an experiential learning destination. We offer extensive outdoor learning experiences and leadership opportunities for all students. Our academic programs are second to none. Our community has a strong family feel and our athletic programs are both inclusive and competitive.

Connections working at Vail Mountain School