Annie Wright is seeking a Limited Duration, Lower School Classroom Teacher to begin Friday, August 21, 2026. This is a full-time, benefited, long-term substitute position that reports directly to the Director of the Lower School. This position is expected to be through Friday, December 18, 2026. We have two long- term sub positions, one in Grade 2 and one in Grade 4.

 Mission Statement

Annie Wright’s strong community cultivates individual learners to become well-educated, creative, and responsible citizens for a global society.

 About AWS

Tradition meets innovation at Annie Wright Schools, where we honor our rich history and traditions, embrace the present, and continue always to move forward. Founded in 1884, Annie Wright Schools serves students from age three through high school. The Lower and Middle Schools offer co-ed programs for Preschool through Grade 8. In Grades 9 through 12, boys and girls attend separate Upper Schools, with options for both day and boarding students from Tacoma and around the world. We are proud to be an International Baccalaureate World School, delivering IB programs in every division.

Position Description

The Classroom Teacher in the Lower School at Annie Wright is an enthusiastic educator, passionate about supporting our youngest students in their beginning journey into school. Leading with joy, they understand that learning through play is the work of the preschool student, and the teacher’s role is to guide and support. The Classroom Teacher is experienced in creating learning opportunities in the classroom where students can practice and acquire social and emotional skills, as well as foundational academic skills. 

Through inquiry and discovery about themselves and the world around them, the Classroom Teacher leads the students through the Primary Years Programme. Guiding students on this pathway of learning includes the development of conceptual understandings, relevant knowledge and skills, and the attributes of a life-long learner and global citizen. The Classroom Teacher cultivates curiosity and exploration surrounding the themes of Who we are, How we express ourselves, How the world works, and Sharing the planet. The Classroom Teacher, in short, helps instill a sense of belonging in every student.

The Classroom Teacher honors the agency of each learner and incorporates their questions and interests into classroom activities and inquiries, building an awareness in each student of the learning process. They employ strategies to help students build resilience and growth mindsets that enable them to meet challenges with tenacity and endurance. The Classroom Teacher understands that the development of skills at this unique age can be unbalanced and works to meet the student where they are, acknowledging that the learning journey over the course of a school year is quite remarkable for a three or four-year-old. Working with students, this person creates a nurturing and stimulating learning environment where inquiry-led and play-based learning flourish. 

The work of a Classroom Teacher is unique and is most successful when done as part of a team. They actively engage with the grade level teaching team, Specialist teachers, the Primary Years Programme Coordinator, and students, in a continual process of creating, refining, implementing, and reflecting on the transdisciplinary units of inquiry that captivate, illuminate, and stretch both students and teachers. This collective work culminates in the completion of in-depth unit planners, which document and hold teaching teams accountable for teaching and learning best practices. Through regular collaboration with the teaching team, the Student Support Team, and the family, the Classroom teacher understands that the student is best served when they are kept at the very center. Drawing on their strengths and supporting the students’ whole selves, the Classroom Teacher creates a positive learning environment so that all students can thrive.

Position Overview: Duties & Responsibilities

The Lower School Classroom Teacher, Long-Term Sub:

• teaches in alignment with the mission and philosophy of Annie Wright Schools and with the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme (PYP) framework; 
• designs and teaches PYP units and educational experiences in collaboration with other grade-level teachers, subject specialist teachers, the PYP coordinator, and learning specialists;
• collaborates with other faculty, the Director of Lower School, Specialist Teachers, and the Lower School Counselor to develop programming and monitor student progress; 
• builds and maintains a professional relationship with parents, providing them with feedback through weekly grade level blog posts, conferences, written Progress Reports, and other correspondence as needed; 
• participates in collaborative planning and faculty meetings and fulfills other duties as assigned. 

Salary & Benefits

This position offers a salary of $1,520 per 40 hour week (prorated based on any time missed). Benefits available to the hired candidate for the Classroom Teacher, Long-term Substitute include the following, subject to the terms of the applicable benefit plan:

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Employee Assistance Program
• Life insurance
• Accidental death & dismemberment insurance
• Long-term disability insurance
• Washington State Sick Leave
• Eighteen (18) paid Holidays in 2026
• A 403(b) retirement plan with a 6% company match, with a 3% employee contribution

Application Process

Annie Wright Schools remain firmly committed to a policy of equal employment opportunity. Annie Wright shall hire, promote, transfer, terminate, and make all other employment-related decisions without regard to an employee’s race, color, creed, sex, religion, age, national origin, marital status, sexual orientation, political ideology, presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability, or any other basis prohibited by law. Annie Wright Schools are actively seeking to create a more culturally diverse school community, and accordingly, applicants of color and underrepresented backgrounds are encouraged to apply. 

To apply, email a cover letter, resume, email, and telephone contact information for 3-5 professional references, and this completed and signed application, all in PDF format, to Mrs. Erin Gann, Executive Assistant to the Head of Schools, at erin_gann@aw.org. In accordance with Annie Wright Schools’ strategic focus on issues related to social justice, candidates should anticipate being asked to address how their past work, as well as future contributions, might serve to advance Annie Wright’s commitment to a more diverse and inclusive community. Applications for this position will be accepted until filled.

Qualifications

The Lower School Classroom Teacher, Long-Term Sub, will demonstrate key elements of the listed expertise and experiences. This is an aspirational list, and Annie Wright Schools encourages candidates to apply who may not currently possess, but are working on building, all of these qualities. The Classroom Teacher:

• holds a BA in Education or a related field;
• has a minimum of three (3) years of experience in early childhood education;
• is familiar with the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme; 
• demonstrates familiarity with best practices in learning, differentiation, and teaching; flexibility; an understanding of and enthusiasm to work with and care for Lower School students; and the desire to collaborate as part of a team.
• is a strong communicator and empathetic listener;
• practices cultural humility in personal interactions;
• And, is eligible to work in the United States. Note: Under our current employment policies, we are unable to sponsor work visas and do not offer positions to candidates who are not yet eligible to work in the United States.

Physical Requirements

• Must be able to sit and stand for extended periods;
• Must be able to move comfortably around a classroom and outdoor playground space, accessing materials and assisting students as needed;
• Must be able to navigate the stairs on campus;
• Must be able to sit and stand for extended periods;
• Must be able to communicate and exchange information with teachers, young children, and families. 

About Annie Wright Schools

Tradition meets innovation at Annie Wright Schools, where we honor our rich history and traditions, embrace the present, and continue always to move forward. Founded in 1884, Annie Wright Schools serve students from age three through high school. The Lower and Middle Schools offer co-ed programs in Preschool through Grade 8, while separate Upper Schools for boys and girls offer day and boarding options in Grades 9 through 12, welcoming students from Tacoma and around the world. We are proud to be an International Baccalaureate World School, delivering IB programs in every division.

Connections working at Annie Wright Schools