Position: Lead 4th Grade Teacher
Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences is one of Maine’s first approved public charter schools. We are located in Gray, Maine, and serves students grades Pre-K through eighth grade.
- We believe that children are capable, competent, innately curious and that they are the co-constructors of their own learning. Our school maintains a deep respect for children and childhood.
- We believe in teachers as facilitators of learning, closely observing children, assessing understanding through a variety of approaches, and using this knowledge to help students extend their thinking.
- We believe in learning as a social endeavor, taking place in the cultural context of the child, family, school, and broader community. We see school and family as partners in a child’s education.
- We believe that social and emotional development are important cornerstones of education. Our students learn to respect diversity, problem solve social conflicts, and be advocates for themselves and others.
- We believe in connecting students to the larger world through relationships with community resources and the natural environment. We help students cultivate a sense of place and an understanding of the interconnectedness of the world in which they live.
- We believe in the importance of documenting student work and experiences in order to make learning visible to students, families, and our school community.
Description & Responsibilities
We are looking for an inspired and confident teacher that believes in what we believe in, with substantial progressive teaching experience at the upper elementary level, to facilitate learning in our 4th Grade class. The position will start in August 2025.
- FACILITATE LEARNING: Teach whole and small group lessons across multiple domains of learning. Utilize both direct instruction and student-led explorations and projects to meet Common Core benchmarks established within our curriculum framework. Provide a classroom environment that supports community and individual learning. Assess students to gauge progress and inform curricular and instructional decisions.
- BUILD CLASSROOM COMMUNITY: Create a safe, respectful, culturally sensitive, responsive learning community. Encourage thoughtful dialogue that challenges student thinking. Explicitly teach social and emotional skills, including problem-solving and self-regulation strategies.
- CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION: Use both published and self-created curricula to meet the needs of students and fulfill Common Core benchmarks within our curriculum framework. Experience with any of the following is helpful: Lucy Calkins Units of Study in Writing, Eureka Math, Interdisciplinary Units of Study, Project-Based Learning, and Reading Workshop Model.
- PARTNER WITH FAMILIES: Develop constructive relationships with families. Communicate regularly about student progress and challenges, curriculum, projects and classroom events.
- PROFESSIONALISM: Model professional behavior in accordance with job responsibilities, policies and procedures, and the expectations of professionals working in a collaborative community.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS:
- Bachelor’s degree
- Certification or working towards certification at the Elementary level.
- At least 3 years of classroom teaching experience.
- Current authorization to work in the United States
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:
- Experience with any of the following: Project-based curriculum, emergent curriculum, or interdisciplinary studies.
- Differentiating instruction to meet the needs of a range of learners in a classroom setting.
- Experience with Responsive Classroom and/or Restorative Practices.
- Must love the outdoors, as classrooms go outside 1 x per week 2.5 hours in nature based learning.
SALARY & BENEFITS:
- Competitive Salary
- Professional Development.
- Supportive work environment
APPLICATION PROCEDURES:
Deadline to submit: Friday, May 30th, This position begins August 2025 (Mandatory, 3-day training in August)
If you are interested in this position, please email directly to Jacinda Cotton-Castro with your cover letter and resume.
jacinda@fiddleheadschool.org
Fiddlehead School provides equal employment opportunities (EOE) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability or genetics.
Maine State Law requires ALL school employees to be fingerprinted and pass a Criminal History Record Check (CHRC). A copy of your CHRC MUST be uploaded as part of your application to be considered.