Substitute Teacher

Association of Independent Schools in New England; Cambridge (MA); On-site; USD 22,000 - 33,000; Full time

Job summary

Fayerweather Street School in Cambridge, MA seeks reliable substitute teachers for PK–8 to cover absences and support students’ academic, social, and emotional well-being throughout the day. The role emphasizes adaptability, warmth, and a commitment to progressive, student-centered education.

You will implement lesson plans, maintain a positive classroom, and collaborate with teachers and administration to ensure continuity of learning.

Qualifications

• Experience with school-age children in childcare or education.
• Ability to complete all required background checks.
• Commitment to supporting a progressive education environment.

Responsibilities

• Provide classroom coverage for absent teachers, including following lesson plans and carrying out assigned classroom activities.
• Provide recess coverage and lunch duty as needed as part of the day’s assignment.
• Create a supportive, caring, and inclusive classroom environment where students can learn and interact positively with one another.
• Demonstrate enthusiasm, flexibility, and a willingness to adapt to the needs of different classrooms and students.
• Establish and maintain effective classroom management and promote a positive learning environment.
• Communicate clearly and professionally with school administration, teachers, and students.
• Bring a warm, energetic, and engaging presence to the classroom, along with a good sense of humor.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Collaboration

Organization

DEI awareness

Community building

Progressive education

Job description

Fayerweather seeks reliable, energetic, and passionate educators to serve as substitute teachers for students in Grades PK–8. The Permanent Substitute Teacher will provide classroom coverage for absent teachers and support students’ academic, social, and emotional well-being throughout the school day.

In this role, the substitute teacher will implement lesson plans provided by classroom teachers, maintain a positive and supportive learning environment, and collaborate with teachers and the school administration.

Main Responsibilities

• Provide classroom coverage for absent teachers, including following lesson plans and carrying out assigned classroom activities.
• Provide recess coverage and lunch duty as needed as part of the day’s assignment.
• Create a supportive, caring, and inclusive classroom environment where students can learn and interact positively with one another.
• Demonstrate enthusiasm, flexibility, and a willingness to adapt to the needs of different classrooms and students.
• Establish and maintain effective classroom management and promote a positive learning environment.
• Communicate clearly and professionally with school administration, teachers, and students.
• Bring a warm, energetic, and engaging presence to the classroom, along with a good sense of humor.

Skills And Qualifications

• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
• Strong collaborative and creative problem‑solving skills.
• Self-motivated, organized, and attentive to detail, with a strong commitment to follow-through.
• Demonstrated cultural awareness and responsiveness, as well as an understanding of and commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
• A strong appreciation for community and the importance of building authentic relationships.
• Demonstrated knowledge of and appreciation for the philosophy and practices of progressive education.

Requirements

• Experience working with school‑age children in a childcare, school, camp, or similar educational setting.
• Ability to successfully complete all required background checks.

Fayerweather Street School has a rich and progressive history of successfully educating students for over 50 years. Fayerweather Street School (FSS) is a co‑educational independent day school enrolling approximately 200 students in Pre‑Kindergarten through 8th grade. Located in the Fresh Pond neighborhood in Cambridge, Fayerweather offers a progressive, hands‑on experiential learning environment where the pace of childhood is respected, and where children develop a love of learning, know how they learn best, and have a voice and agency in their school community. We help young people develop the knowledge, skills, and awareness to flourish in a complex, diverse, and increasingly interdependent world. We believe that truly knowing each child is the heart of a great education, and we are committed to building a diverse, welcoming, and equitable community in which compassion, humor, and respect are woven throughout the curriculum and spirit of the day.