We are seeking a Middle School Science Teacher who centers young adolescents while designing learning that is rigorous, experiential, and deeply human. This role calls for a teacher who can facilitate innovative life and physical sciences learning. A strong candidate should be comfortable facilitating heterogeneous classrooms, guiding skills-based and experiential labs, and designing interdisciplinary projects that connect quantitative reasoning with real-world inquiry.

A Barrie, our teachers serve as learning guides; at a most fundamental level, they have

A Different Vision of Rigor: At Barrie, rigor isn’t just about mastering difficult or test-centered content—it’s about learning to ask rich questions that fuel wonder, stretch thinking, deepen understanding, and inspire students to do something with what they’ve learned. We believe that to be truly rigorous, the work that learners do must allow them to engage with complexity, play with possibilities, take intellectual and creative risks, and turn critical thought into thoughtful action. Students should not simply study issues—they should build toward solutions, create work that matters, and take steps toward change in ways that feel personally meaningful and globally relevant.

The Spirit of a Mentor: Guides understand that students can shape their own learning pathways—balancing deep experience in areas of interest with wide perspectives across others. Guides build in time to think, reflect, make goals, and grow self-awareness. Students learn their strengths, practice advocating for themselves and others, and build the confidence to adapt when things don’t go as planned. Guides frame even missteps as successes that foster learning and growth.

The Heart of a Generalist: While they will teach subject-specific courses, guides are energized by teaching across disciplines, helping students make sense of the world as a connected whole rather than a collection of separate subjects. They design hands-on, collaborative, real-world learning experiences that spark insight by crossing boundaries—where science connects to story, math meets making, art informs solutions, and big questions lead to meaningful ideas.

The Desire to be a Mixed-Grade, Mixed-Level, Interdisciplinary Facilitator: Guides are especially at home working with mixed-grade, mixed-level cohorts in which students learn with and from one another. They intentionally structure learning environments so collaboration builds smart thinking, growth, empathy, and strong community.

Core Responsibilities & Competencies

• Teach a full load of mixed-grade, mixed-skill science courses, including life science,  physical science, and physics
• Support skills-based math learning (not direct math teaching)
• Serve as advisor to a small cohort of students, facilitating reflection, goal-setting, belonging, and strong family partnership
• Design and facilitate electives and interdisciplinary offerings as appropriate
• Design rigorous, inquiry-driven learning experiences that may extend beyond traditional disciplinary boundaries
• Differentiate instruction within heterogeneous classrooms using flexible grouping, workshops, and formative assessment
• Assess student mastery through competency-based frameworks and communicate growth clearly and proactively
• Potentially teach within the Global Impact Diploma framework and mentor long-term impact or capstone projects
• Lead and/or support Experiential Education programs, including immersive week-long intensives that may require overnight travel
• Collaborate with the Student Support Team to ensure all learners are supported academically and socially
• Participate fully in staff meetings, curriculum development, professional development, and divisional design initiatives
• Contribute meaningfully to learning exhibitions, showcases, advisory programming, clubs, and the broader life of the division
• Attend required evening and weekend events that strengthen community and program coherence
• Perform shared community responsibilities (e.g., chaperoning, substitute coverage, car circle) that sustain divisional health
• Communicate thoughtfully and effectively with families to build and maintain strong partnerships.
• Actively cultivate an intentionally inclusive community grounded in cross-cultural competency and culturally responsive and sustaining practices

Position Requirements

• A bachelor’s degree in science education or a disciplinary field required (Master's or higher preferred)
• At least 2-3 years of Middle and/or Upper School teaching experience 
• Strong content knowledge in your discipline and flexibility to support learning in other disciplines
• Demonstrated ability to design and facilitate human-centered interdisciplinary and experiential learning experiences
• Strong classroom management and scaffolding skills
• Comfort teaching in mixed-grade, mixed-readiness environments
• Commitment to competency-based growth and authentic assessment
• Skill in building relational trust with adolescents and families
• Collaborative mindset and willingness to engage in iterative program design
• Flexibility and reflective practices
• A belief in the power of restorative practices
• Strong interpersonal, relationship-building, and organizational skills
• Experience with creating & leading Outdoor Education programming is a plus

The Ideal Candidate

• Understands the developmental arc of adolescence and young adulthood 
• Can move fluidly between conceptual science teaching and targeted math skill support
• Believes structure and autonomy are complementary forces in learner growth
• Thrives in collaborative, design-oriented professional cultures
• Communicates with clarity, warmth, and professionalism
• Approaches curriculum design and school change with flexibility, creativity, optimism, and reflective practice

About Barrie School

Established in 1932 as the first racially integrated educational institution in the region, Barrie School is a progressive independent school that inspires excellence, intrinsic motivation, and responsibility through innovation in learning. The school serves to empower our students to expand their intellectual abilities, develop their creative talents, and discover their passions to make a positive impact in a rapidly changing world. Serving a diverse and inclusive student body, our intentional human-centered educational throughline—from Montessori (3 months to Grade 5) to Experiential Learning (Grades 6 to 12)—cultivates challenging educational experiences that unlock intrinsic motivation, critical thought, and innovation, while elevating student voice, responsibility, and belonging. Located close to D.C., Barrie School provides an extraordinary learning environment, integrating local, national, and global educational opportunities. Our verdant, 45-acre campus of open fields, streams, ponds, and forests provides space for learning and play. Barrie encourages students to develop their own interests and unique talents through hands-on, experiential learning that promotes 21st-cen...tury outcomes, including: Analytical and creative thinking and problem-solving Complex written and oral communication Leadership and teamwork Digital and quantitative literacy Global perspectives Adaptability, initiative, and risk-taking Integrity and ethical decision-making Barrie is the first school in the United States to offer the full Global Impact Diploma in its Upper School. It is also home to the Barrie Institute for Advanced Montessori Studies—one of the largest school-based teacher education programs in the country—and Barrie Camp, a Washington, D.C.-area tradition since the 1950s.

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Connections working at Barrie School