Beginning the 2025-2026 Academic Year
Exempt 1.0 FTE
Reports to: Division Head
All UCDS employees are expected to embody the school’s mission to design a culture of inquiry essential to meaningful learning; cultivate reflective, collaborative, skillful thinkers who ignite positive change in their communities; and engage diverse perspectives in an ongoing effort to shape and share our innovative education model.
Overview
University Child Development School (UCDS) located in Seattle, Washington is an independent school serving 390+ Infant-Toddler, Early Elementary (Preschool, Pre-Kindergarten, and Kindergarten) and Elementary (1st through 5th grade) students. In addition, the UCDS education institution comprises the UCDS Graduate School of Education. UCDS uniquely serves to prepare teachers, educate children, and develop innovations in curriculum and teaching. UCDS’s unique design as a place where both teachers and children learn, where early-career teachers develop their practice, and where experienced teachers research and design curriculum, gives rise to its innovation. The Master of Education program is the evolution of UCDS’ deep history of developing and supporting exceptional educators.
Job Summary
Classroom teachers are full-time, in-person employees that work together in teaching teams with a group of students from several grade levels. The Early Elementary program is organized into six full-day classrooms, for students aged three to five. In the Elementary program, students are served in 1-2 and 3-4 multi-grade classrooms, plus 5th-grade classrooms. Teachers instructing at the elementary level also work in floor-wide teams to plan theme-related curricular projects and field trips. The Classroom Teacher builds generative and collaborative curricula, supports the mission of UCDS, engages in mentorship models, and demonstrates flexibility. Each teacher at UCDS works as a member of a team to design curriculum, instruct students, individualize learning and support school-wide events and programs. In the spirit of innovation, faculty share teaching methods, materials, and assessment techniques within and beyond our school community. The process of building, implementing, evaluating, and revising programs is at the core of UCDS and is required of every faculty member.
Essential Duties & Responsibilities
Art of Teaching:
- Creates and sustains classroom culture based on the mission and values of the school
- Co-creates, implements, and delivers hands-on instructional curricula and daily activities that are appropriate to the grade and developmental level of the students, culturally sensitive, follow an anti-bias perspective, and meet children’s developmental needs.
- Co-creates implements and delivers hands-on instructional curricula which are appropriate to the grade and developmental level of the students
- Employs differentiated teaching strategies to meet the needs of a diverse range of students
- Provides a variety of learning opportunities, methods, and materials, with a strong emphasis on inquiry-based learning and hands-on experiences for the students
- Demonstrates enthusiasm and inspires students to participate fully in the learning process
- Practices thoughtful, respectful, and successful classroom management techniques that support active learning and promote responsibility and self-management
- Advises and works with students, parents/guardians, and other teachers to fully develop a picture of students’ strengths and learning needs
Community:
- Provides and maintains a dynamic and safe environment
- Communicates effectively (verbally and in writing) with others, including administrators, colleagues, staff, and parents/guardians to maintain constructive and professional relationships
- Builds partnerships with parents/guardians through clear written and verbal communication in formal and informal meetings as well as documentation
- Attends school-related events and meetings outside the scheduled school day, i.e. after-school planning, committee meetings, overnight trips, and community events
- Collaborates and works effectively in teams with colleagues
- Employs strong interpersonal skills, including being patient and positive
Reflective Practice:
- Participates in annual goal setting and receives regular feedback, facilitated by the Division Head, Assistant Head of School, and Head of School
- Participates in professional learning opportunities at UCDS, the UCDS Institute, and in the larger community
- Actively completes other duties as assigned
Education &/or Experience
- Bachelor’s degree
- Classroom teaching experience
- A Master’s degree is preferred
- A teaching certificate is preferred
Additional Requirements
- Meet the school’s standards when completing all background screenings.
Compensation & Benefits
Salary starts at $65,851, depending on degree/experience based on the UCDS Faculty Salary Grid.
The school offers a generous and comprehensive benefits package to benefits-eligible employees subject to the discretion of the Head of School, which includes:
- Employer-paid medical, dental, and vision insurance
- Health Savings Account with employer contribution
- Flexible Spending Account
- 403(b) Retirement Plan with available employer matching
- Paid sick leave
- Employer-paid Short-Term and Long-Term Disability Insurance
- Employer-paid Life Insurance
- Employee Assistance Program for employees and their dependents
- Wellness benefit is to be used on items or services that promote wellness
- Professional Development opportunities
- Free parking
How to Apply
If you are interested in applying for this position, click the “apply now” button to submit a resume and cover letter.
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging
UCDS aspires to be a welcoming learning community with a deep commitment and appreciation for diversity in all forms. Diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging are central values at UCDS. From our youngest to our oldest students, we strive to help them develop a worldview that identifies, understands, and values diversity in race, ethnicity, gender, religion, ability, and more. We weave opportunities for these meaningful conversations, experiences, and learning throughout students’ days. Over the past few years, UCDS has continued to refine our approach and review our DEIB programming to continue to improve the ways we support students, parents, and employees by bringing an equity lens to academic and operational systems across the school.
We encourage members of marginalized communities, including Black, Indigenous, and People of Color, as well as members of other underrepresented groups, to apply and potentially become a part of our commitment to creating a diverse and inclusive educational environment.
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Statement
UCDS is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to qualified individuals with disabilities. We will provide reasonable accommodations to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of their job unless doing so would cause an undue hardship. Physical requirements and job duties listed in this posting are essential to the role. If you believe you need an accommodation to perform these functions, we encourage you to apply and discuss potential accommodations with our team. If you require accommodation during the application or hiring process, please contact Dr. Lauryn Mascareñaz, Director of Organizational Development & Personnel, at laurynm@ucds.org.
Notice of Nondiscrimination
UCDS strives to provide equal opportunity to all employees. The school’s policy is not to discriminate in employment based on race, color, sex (including pregnancy), religion, creed, age, national origin, citizenship status, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, gender, veteran or military status or any other status protected under applicable local, state or federal law. UCDS is committed to administering employment decisions, including hiring, promotions, compensation benefits, transfers, layoffs, return from layoffs, terminations, training, sabbaticals, tuition assistance, and other programs, without regard to an employee’s protected status.
All applicants for UCDS employment, both paid and volunteer positions, are subject to criminal background checks.