Upper School Physics Teacher

Upper School Physics Teacher
Westtown School is seeking a full-time Upper School Physics Teacher to begin in August 2024. Responsibilities will consist of teaching four classes, advising a small group of students, serving on two school committees, participating in the co-curricular program by coaching interscholastic sports, facilitating lifelong fitness programs such as yoga, or collaborative activities such as robotics or service network. Upper School faculty members contribute to our residential program as either Dorm Parents or Dorm Affiliates. Residential responsibilities include a weekly duty night and a rotation of weekend duties throughout the school year. Housing may be available for faculty participating in the Upper School residential program but is not guaranteed.
Westtown School is an independent, Quaker co-educational, pre-K to 12, college preparatory day and boarding school located in suburban West Chester, PA, approximately 30 miles from Philadelphia. Situated on a beautiful 600-acre campus, Westtown offers a program where our committed faculty and staff inspire and prepare our students to be stewards and leaders of a better world.
As Westtown strives to fulfill our commitment to becoming an anti-bias, anti-racist (ABAR) school, we are seeking culturally competent educators with a demonstrated commitment to equity, justice, and belonging who are eager to engage in ongoing professional development in these areas. This will be evidenced in their approach to curriculum and pedagogy, their ability to foster and develop inclusive communities, and their personal and professional interactions with diverse groups of students, families, faculty, and staff.
Major Duties and Responsibilities

• Teaches four courses each semester including:
  
  • Upper-level Physics with Calculus courses (Electricity and Magnetism Adv; Modern Physics Adv)
  • Core Physics classes (Physics 1 & Physics 2)
  • Electives in physics-related topics such as Engineering, Astronomy, or Robotics
• Develops culturally competent and responsive lessons and learning activities that promote problem-solving, creative thinking, collaboration, and effective communication skills while encouraging risk-taking in learning;
• Potential role in the robotics co-curricular program, experience with the FIRST Robotics Competition is a plus;
• Actively involves students in the classroom through group work, project-based learning, exploration, questioning, discussion, and other cooperative teaching techniques;
• Helps students hone the essential skills of critical thinking, communication, and empathy, and empowers them to draw out those skills in other people;
• Supports students' social-emotional and identity development;
• Contributes to building and sustaining an inclusive school community and a program that embodies diverse cultures and perspectives;
• Communicates effectively with all constituents - students, colleagues, administrators, and parents;
• Contributes to students' development of Quaker values;
• Engages in decision-making aligned with Quaker process in service to the school community;
• Integrates technology seamlessly into teaching strategies and practices, including the use of a learning management system;
• Contributes to students' development outside the classroom through co-curricular activities, student life, and residential life;
• Enthusiastically seeks out and participates in school-sponsored and self-selected professional development opportunities to grow as an instructional leader and community member.

Opportunities
Westtown is eager to support employees in their personal and professional growth and development. The school encourages employees to stay current in their fields and advance in terms of their professional development through opportunities such as:

• Affinity groups for faculty and staff that speak to the diversity of identities and experiences;
• Participation in a robust professional development program featuring internal and external facilitators and experts;
• Sponsorship to attend the NAIS People of Color Conference;
• Partnership in a new faculty orientation and mentorship program;
• Funding for professional organization memberships;
• Sponsorship to attend and present at professional conferences, panels, and forums;
• Financial assistance for employees seeking advanced degrees and coursework to support their professional growth;
• Sabbatical leave program to support the professional growth and personal renewal of teachers, after completing qualifying years of service;

Qualifications

• 3-5 years of relevant classroom teaching experience at the high school level;
• Bachelor's degree required; an advanced degree is preferred;
• Familiarity with Google products and the integration of a learning management system, preferably Canvas, into best teaching practices;
• Enthusiasm for full participation in the academic, co-curricular, and residential duties required of a full-time Upper School faculty member;
• Appreciation and understanding of the unique developmental, social, and academic needs of high school students;
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills;
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work effectively with a wide range of constituencies in a diverse community;
• A demonstrated commitment to inclusive Quaker pedagogy based on cultural competence, commitment to social justice, and respect for all voices;
• A strong affinity for the mission of Westtown School and an appreciation for Quaker values and how these inform community processes and interactions.

We strive towards every student, faculty, and staff member feeling a sense of belonging at Westtown and strongly encourage applications from educators of color, LGBTQ+ educators, and educators from communities that are historically underrepresented in independent schools.
For additional information about Westtown School and to explore current career opportunities, please visit our website westtown.edu/careers. Interested applicants can apply online by submitting their resume, cover letter, and three professional references, directly to the specific job posting on the faculty employment portal.