The Waverly School seeks a transformational educator to serve as a full-time high school Science instructor for the 2025-2026 academic year. The science instructor will be responsible for instructing students in physical sciences, chemistry, environmental science or physics. The instructor will have demonstrated experience with safely teaching students in a lab science format, this includes deepening each student’s skill in scientific writing, research and exploration. In addition, the instructor will have skills to organize relevant and meaningful field trips and support students in getting involved in the local scientific community. The successful candidate understands progressive education, demonstrates an active commitment to social justice education,  and uses both as a platform to deepen curiosity and engagement for high school students.

Waverly is a highly collaborative environment and there is an expectation to work closely with middle and high school science teachers. Teachers are expected to teach a diverse range of learners and people and have the ability to support students throughout the year. Each high school faculty member also serves as an advisor, club mentor, and is present for student supervision and participates in school trips. The successful candidate demonstrates an active and meaningful commitment to professional development, supporting the work of other professionals and being comprehensively involved in the academic and co-curricular lives of high school students.

Primary Responsibilities:

·        Plan and design curriculum that aligns with Waverly’s scope and sequence and as aligned with the school mission and philosophy

·        Use teaching strategies that include small and large group instruction, hands-on experiential learning, inquiry-based learning, integrated learning

·        Use Responsive Classroom or Culturally Responsive Teaching pedagogy and techniques to set-up, run and develop a consistent, caring classroom environment

·        Facilitate an advisory, teach an elective

·        Provide supervision of students outside the classroom – i.e. lunch periods, dismissal, waking to and from other campuses

·        Collaborate with high school faculty and learning support educators

·        Use formative and summative assessment tools to meet student’s learning needs

·        Monitor and document student progress throughout the year and evaluate learning development

·        Lead parent/teacher conferences

·        Write and edit semester reports that include checklists and narrative writing

·        Chaperone field trips, outdoor education trips (including overnight trips), or other experiential learning opportunities

·        Build and maintain positive relationship with parents and other community members

·        Have regular communication with parents-via email and newsletters

·        Support admissions and other school events (i.e. parent education nights, graduation, etc.)

·        Attend special events during evenings and weekends

·        Attend and participate in weekly faculty meetings (after school) and occasional workshops, in-service opportunities, and other training seminars

·        Adhere to policies and procedures as outlined in the employee and faculty handbooks

·        Complete other duties as assigned by the Division Director or Head of School

Requirements:

·        At least 2 years of middle school or high school science instruction

·        Ability to communicate complex scientific concepts and procedures to high school students

·        Regular reporting on student progress and performance in written and verbal formats

·        Collaboration with members of the Science department and high school faculty

·        Positive attitude, excellent communication and organizational skills

·        Ability to design a culturally responsive curriculum that attends to the needs of diverse learners.

 

Desired Traits:

• Preference for experience in progressive educational setting
• While not required, the ability to communicate effectively in Spanish, Chinese, Armenian, French, Hindi, Urdu and/or Korean will be particularly useful in this diverse region of California.

 

Physical Demands and Abilities

●       Work in person, on campus during school hours

●       Work with frequent interruptions

●       Maintain emotional control under stress

●       Must be able to stand, lift, push, pull, stoop and bend for short periods of time.

●       Regularly work on repetitive tasks.

●       Occasionally lift 15-45 pounds.

●       Prolonged periods of standing and walking throughout classrooms and between several campus locations

●       Regularly spend long hours sitting and using office equipment and computers

●       Regularly move up and down stairs

 

Other requirements

• Initial and continued employment background investigation required – fingerprints via Live Scan
• Initial and continued TB Assessment required for employment in CA schools

Salary Range: $50,000.00 – $90,000.00 annually

School Contact:

Interested candidates should submit their letter of interest, statement of educational philosophy, and resume to:

Vella Cagle
Director of Human Resources
vella@thewaverlyschool.org

 

School Information:

The Waverly School is a progressive, coeducational, college preparatory school in Pasadena, CA, serving students and their families from preschool through 12th grade. Established in 1993, Waverly fosters lifelong learning in a child-centered and intellectually challenging environment. With nearly 350 students, Waverly offers an exceptional faculty, thoughtful programs, and expressive students within three adjacent campuses. Its one-acre farm is within walking distance. Waverly is economically diverse and culturally rich; our families live in many Los Angeles area neighborhoods. The Waverly School is fully accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges and the California Association of Independent Schools and is a member of The Alliance, POCIS, and A Better Chance. The school is within walking distance from the Metro L (Gold) Line Del Mar station.

The Waverly School is an equal opportunity employer dedicated to a policy of non-discrimination based on the race, color, creed, religion, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, pregnancy, transgender, transsexualism, sexual orientation, age, national origin, citizenship, primary language, military or veteran status, physical handicap, disability, medical condition, mental disability, genetic characteristic or information, ancestry, or based on any other consideration made unlawful by federal, state, or local laws.