Humanities Teacher

The Frederick Gunn School; Washington (CT); On-site; USD 38,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

The Frederick Gunn School seeks a full-time Humanities Teacher to join our boarding community, teaching four English-focused courses across grade levels. The role emphasizes close reading, critical thinking, and character development within a values-driven curriculum.

We expect engagement with diverse student backgrounds, collaborative planning with colleagues, and ongoing assessment. The position offers a 10-month, exempt salary with comprehensive benefits and potential for residential life

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Education, Humanities, or a related field.
• Experience teaching History or English in a school setting.
• Ability to teach close reading and historical thinking.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to engage students from diverse backgrounds.

Responsibilities

• Teaches up to four Humanities courses with interdisciplinary lessons.
• Prepares syllabi, quizzes, tests, and rubrics aligned with school philosophy.
• Uses Blackbaud LMS to post materials and track progress.
• Provides extra help, review sessions, and student support.
• Regularly assesses progress and provides constructive feedback.
• Creates an inclusive, engaging classroom balancing rigor and support.
• Collaborates with colleagues within and outside English department.
• Contributes to curriculum planning and evaluation.
• Writes clearly and compassionately in materials and interactions.

Skills

Close reading

Historical thinking

Student engagement

Strong communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Education, Humanities, or related field

Job description

The Frederick Gunn School, founded in 1850, is a co-ed boarding and day school for students in grades 9-12, as well as a post-graduate year. Mr. Gunn had a deep appreciation for the natural world, believing that in nature students understand themselves as humans and their place in the world. He took a principled stand against slavery and spurred students (and the town at large) to examine their beliefs. In addition to the habits and skills students will need in college and life beyond, we teach them to follow Mr. Gunn’s example: to cultivate wisdom, to be trailblazers, to act with conviction, and to value character as highly as intellect and achievement.

Our continuous focus on moral character development intentionally engages all members of our school in the work of creating an inclusive and equitable living and learning ecosystem. Community and citizenship are at the heart of our aspiration to both social justice and academic excellence, with individual diversity integral to the strength of that community. When we embrace difference and pursue school life with respect, equity, and compassion, we build a foundation for engaged citizens.

In keeping with the tenets of our founder Frederick Gunn, who was himself a prominent abolitionist and progressive educator, The Frederick Gunn School seeks to provide a pluralistic learning environment for all inclusive of (but not limited to): culture, ethnicity, gender identity or expression, national origin, learning differences, physical difference, political affiliation, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, and socioeconomic differences.

We invite applicants who resonate with our mission and who will foster an environment of cultural and intellectual richness and an active participant in advancing equity and inclusion.

Position Summary

The Frederick Gunn School is seeking an engaging and passionate full-time Humanities Teacher to join our faculty. This role is responsible for teaching 4 sections within the Humanities department (across all grade levels), with a primary focus on English curriculum, close reading, and critical thinking skills across high school grade levels. As an active member of our boarding school community, the teacher will embody our school values, bring enthusiasm, energy, and a genuine commitment to fostering student growth inside and outside the classroom.

Primary Responsibilities

• Teaches up to four Humanities courses: Delivers dynamic and interdisciplinary lessons that integrate intellectual, emotional, and ethical dimensions of inquiry, fostering holistic growth in students.
• Prepares course materials: Develops syllabi, quizzes, tests, writing assignments, and rubrics that align with the school’s philosophy of education, promoting balanced intellectual development.
• Utilizes the school’s learning management system (Blackbaud): Posts relevant course materials, maintains gradebooks, and tracks student progress in ways that enhance engagement and collaboration, ensuring transparency and communication.
• Provides guidance for student growth: Offers extra help, review sessions, and personalized support that not only promotes academic progress but also fosters character development and emotional resilience.
• Regularly assesses student progress: Evaluates and reports on student performance, offering constructive feedback that encourages both intellectual and moral development.
• Creates an inclusive and engaging classroom environment: Cultivates a space where academic rigor is balanced with emotional support and students’ diverse learning needs, ensuring an atmosphere conducive to exploration and growth.
• Uses diverse pedagogical approaches: Employs a variety of teaching methods to meet different learning styles, fostering an environment of intellectual curiosity, critical thinking, and personal reflection.
• Aligns with the school's educational philosophy: Strives to integrate the school’s core values into lessons and interactions, ensuring that the English department’s goals reflect a commitment to balanced, meaningful education.
• Collaborates with colleagues: Works cooperatively with fellow teachers both within and outside the English department, contributing to a holistic and integrated learning ecosystem.
• Contributes to the development of the academic program: Actively participates in the planning, implementation, and evaluation of the school’s curriculum, ensuring it reflects the values of moral character development and engaged citizenship.
• Writes clearly, effectively, and compassionately: Communicates in a manner that fosters understanding, empathy, and intellectual growth, whether through written materials or direct interaction.

Please note that future responsibilities would include potential residential life responsibilities, additional co-curricular (2 seasons) and potential housing.

Preferred Knowledge and Skills

• Bachelor's degree in Education, Humanities, or a related field.
• Demonstrated experience in teaching in the History or English disciplines is preferred.
• Experience teaching critical skills such as close reading and historical thinking
• Ability to effectively engage and motivate students of diverse backgrounds.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.

Job Details

This is a 10-month, full-time, exempt opening, paid on a salary basis. Opening to be filled as soon as possible. Position to start post-Thanksgiving. Offer of employment will be contingent upon a successful background check.

Compensation

The Frederick Gunn School offers an attractive compensation package that includes hourly/salary wages that are commensurate with experience. The employment package also includes excellent benefits, including; medical, dental, vision and retirement plan contributions.

Salary Range: $38,000 - $60,000 annually. Final compensation placement for this role is determined by a structured pay scale based upon the candidate’s educational degree level (Bachelor’s, Master’s, or PhD/JD) and verified years of relevant teaching experience.

The Frederick Gunn School is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Except in cases of a bona fide occupational qualification or need, or except as otherwise permitted or required by law, The Frederick Gunn School does not discriminate against applicants for employment on the basis of race, color, religious creed, age, sex, marital status, pregnancy, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, present or past history of mental disorder, intellectual disability, learning disability or physical disability, gender identity or expression, genetic information, victims of domestic violence or any other protected class status under applicable law with respect to hiring, compensation, promotion, discharge from employment or other terms and conditions of employment. Position announcements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by employees assigned to the job title and the education and skills required. Descriptions are not intended to be a complete list of all responsibilities, duties and skills that are required or may be required in the future.

The Frederick Gunn School conducts background checks on all job candidates upon acceptance of a contingent offer, which includes using a third-party administrator to conduct the checks.