Long-Term Substitute Lower School Fourth Grade Faculty

Bush; Seattle (WA); On-site; USD 24,000 - 44,000; Full time

Job summary

The Bush School in Seattle seeks a Long-Term Substitute Fourth Grade Faculty member to teach Fourth grade and partner with students and families to support student development. The role is on-site in Seattle, with a focus on diversity and inclusion and collaboration with Lower School staff.

You will work within a team that values experiential learning, inquiry, and reflection, supporting a student-centered classroom and strong social-emotional growth.

Qualifications

• Experience teaching in elementary level preferred.
• Commitment to professional development and ongoing growth in education.
• Ability to work in a team and collaborate with colleagues.

Responsibilities

• Create and sustain a classroom culture aligned with the mission and values of the school.
• Design, prepare, and deliver instructional activities that emphasize experiential learning.
• Teach Reading, Writing, and Social Studies, and build a strong foundation in social‑emotional learning for our students.
• Teach an experiential curriculum that balances inquiry and creativity while meeting end-of-year outcomes.
• Create a child-centered, nurturing, and non-competitive learning environment.
• Provide opportunities for children to thrive and take risks.
• Observe, evaluate, and assess student development, maintaining accurate records of progress.

Skills

Classroom management

Verbal & written communication

Collaboration

Adaptability

Student-centered instruction

Job description

Our diverse workforce includes over 175 faculty and staff, working together to support the school’s mission on behalf of our students. Career opportunities are many and varied. The Bush School is dedicated to valuing different perspectives and backgrounds, inspiring curiosity, motivating employees to take risks, and encouraging compassion and kindness. Our employees enjoy an environment that inspires creativity while being part of a collaborative community. Whatever you do at The Bush School, you are a valued member of our K‑12 community.

Relationships are at the core of all we do which makes a difference for student growth both socially and academically. Get to know some of the extraordinary faculty and staff that make up the Bush community.

Assistant Head of School for K-12 Programs Matt Lai

Everyday in classes, our students are challenged to lean into hard conversations and pushed out of their comfort zones.

What it’s like to work at The Bush School?

Join us each month for a virtual Zoom session to talk about what it’s like to work at The Bush School. We’ll give an overview of the school, talk about the many different roles that educators play within our community, and answer any questions you may have. If you’re interested in learning more about working at Bush, please join us! Please note: anyone can sign up — it doesn't matter if we currently have an opening listed below that interests you.

Sessions will be held on the following dates throughout the year. All sessions will be held from 6:00‑6:45 p.m. Pacific Time.

Long-Term Substitute Lower School Fourth Grade Faculty

Location: Seattle, Washington, United States

Contract

Job Title: Lower School Fourth Grade Faculty (Long-Term Substitute)

Department: Lower School

Reports To: Lower School Director

FLSA Status: Exempt

On-Site: Yes

When Needed: November 2, 2026 – April 2, 2027

FTE: Full‑Time (1.0 FTE)

Pay Range: $24,250 – $44,250

Who Thrives at Bush

You find joy in working with students and alongside a passionate, thoughtful community of educators. You believe deeply that learning is most powerful when it is experiential, and when students learn by doing, exploring, and reflecting, rather than simply being told what to know and remember. You are invested in the growth of children as whole people, supporting their curiosity, sense of purpose, and capacity to contribute meaningfully to their communities, both within and beyond the classroom. You are a lifelong learner who welcomes both support and challenge, and you are excited by the opportunity to continue developing your craft in a collegial, reflective environment. You are energized by contributing your skills and ideas, making a meaningful impact, and being part of something larger than yourself.

Who We Are

Founded in 1924 and located in Seattle’s Madison Valley neighborhood, The Bush School is an independent school serving students from Kindergarten through Twelfth Grade. Bush offers a rich, intellectually engaging program grounded in experiential learning, designed to spark in students of diverse backgrounds and talents a passion for learning, accomplishment, and contribution to their communities. Our curriculum challenges students to think deeply and creatively, preparing them to thrive in future endeavors while remaining rooted in the school’s longstanding core values.

We are committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse community in which every individual can say, “I belong.” We seek educators and staff who are passionate about their work, highly skilled in their practice, and who bring a wide range of perspectives and experiences to our community. We believe deeply in the role education and diverse learning environments play in advancing equity, inclusion, and a shared sense of responsibility for one another.

Position Summary/Overview:

The Bush School is in search of an individual to join our Lower School team to teach Fourth grade for a long-term substitute position. We are seeking a candidate who is able to support the school’s mission of diversity and inclusion and who has a background that demonstrates an understanding and appreciation of intercultural fluency. We are building a team in which diversity of experiences, backgrounds, and talents are valued in order to work with a diverse community of students, faculty, staff and families. We encourage those of diverse backgrounds to apply.

The Lower School Fourth grade Faculty member reports to the Lower School Director and works closely with students and families, as well as Lower School faculty and staff. This position is responsible for teaching Fourth grade and partnering with students and families to support student development.

General Responsibilities:

• Create and sustain a classroom culture aligned with the mission and values of the school
• Design, prepare, and deliver instructional activities that emphasize experiential learning
• Teach Reading, Writing, and Social Studies, and build a strong foundation in social‑emotional learning for our students
• Teach an experiential curriculum that balances inquiry and creativity while meeting clear end‑of‑year, grade‑level outcomes
• Create a child‑centered, nurturing, and non‑competitive learning environment
• Provide opportunities for children to thrive and take risks
• Respect and support each child as an individual while fostering a sense of belonging within a group and community
• Develop students’ self‑confidence and self‑esteem
• Differentiate instructional resources and methods to meet the varying needs of students
• Value and incorporate diverse perspectives in daily interactions and within the curriculum
• Collaborate with the school counselor to establish and maintain social‑emotional learning and student wellness
• Work closely with the learning coordinator to support diverse learning styles and needs in the classroom
• Establish positive classroom expectations using a responsive approach to behavior management, creating a safe and comfortable environment for all students
• Build and sustain effective partnerships with parents/guardians, including proactive communication between home and school
• Observe, evaluate, and assess student development, maintaining accurate records of progress, including drafting detailed and thoughtful report cards
• Communicate effectively with families regarding student progress and classroom updates
• Demonstrate willingness to plan and prepare outside the scheduled school day as needed to ensure high‑quality instruction
• Collaborate effectively with colleagues and contribute to team‑based work
• Proactively participate in professional development opportunities at The Bush School and within the broader educational community, including weekly Wednesday afternoon faculty and all‑staff meetings
• Conscientiously complete other duties as assigned

Required Education, Training & Experience:

• Experience teaching in elementary level preferred
• Demonstrated commitment to professional development and ongoing growth in education
• Interest in developing team‑based skills and best practices with students
• Comfort working in a student‑centered classroom environment, including establishing expectations and protocols for shared space, tools, and materials
• Ability to hold students accountable for progress, outcomes, and attendance

Required Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

• Familiarity with current learning theories and basic principles of human growth and development, with ability to consider them in the design and implementation of learning experiences.
• Knowledge of current trends and research in learning and assessment.
• Ability to effectively manage classroom dynamics to create a positive and productive learning environment for all students.
• Flexibility and adaptability to meet the needs of the children and program.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Ability to maintain school expectations and rules while participating in off-campus events and experiences with students
• Ability to maintain confidential information
• Ability to work collaboratively in a variety of teams

Additional Requirements:

• Have a current Adult and Children CPR, First Aid, and AED Certification (or receive one soon after hire date)
• Meet the school’s standards when completing two separate background screenings
• Fulfill mandatory reporting obligations for suspected child abuse or neglect, consistent with Washington State law and school policy.
• Stamina: Ability to stand and walk for extended periods, manage long days, and support the body with core muscles.
• Fine Motor Skills: Using hands to grasp, move, or assemble small objects (e.g., papers, writing).
• Sensory: Clear hearing to distinguish sounds and vision to see differences in color, shade, brightness.
• Ability to sit and keyboard for up to 8 hours per day & lift up to 30 pounds (file boxes).

DISCLAIMER:

The information presented indicates the general nature and level of work expected of employees in this classification. It is not designed to contain, or to be interpreted as, a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, qualifications and objectives required of employees assigned to this job. As an adaptive organization, responsibilities can and will change in alignment with greater efficiencies and mission metrics.

The Bush School is an Equal Opportunity Employer

The Bush School does not discriminate in matters of employment, recruitment, admission or administration of any of its programs on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, disability, gender, gender identity, gender expression, or genetic information. In addition, The Bush School does not discriminate in matters of employment on the basis of age or marital status.

*This position requires applicants to be, at the time of application, legally authorized to work in the United States. The Bush School does not offer visa sponsorship for this position and will not consider applicants who require visa sponsorship.