Upper School Generalist Teacher (Leave Replacement)

Mary McDowell Friends School; New York (NY); On-site; USD 70,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

Mary McDowell Friends School in Brooklyn, NY seeks a full-time Upper School Generalist Teacher (Leave Replacement) starting November 2026 to support students with learning disabilities.

The position requires adapting curricula across core subjects, coordinating with therapy staff, and fostering an inclusive, developmentally appropriate classroom. Strong collaboration and a commitment to equity are essential.

Qualifications

• MA in Special Education or Education required.
• Licensure as a speech-language pathologist (CCC-SLP) is a plus.
• 3–5 years of direct teaching experience with students with learning disabilities.
• Strong oral and written communication with parents, children, and colleagues.
• Ability to create a classroom environment where students feel safe, supported, and challenged.
• Strong collaboration and teamwork skills.
• Growth mindset and the ability to use feedback to improve practice.
• Familiarity with new technologies; GSuite and Veracross a plus.

Responsibilities

• Adapt and deliver curricula across core subject areas (English, Math, Science, and Social Studies).
• Implement targeted instructional strategies and scaffolding to meet diverse learning needs.
• Formulate multi-sensory entry points to ensure active engagement.
• Maintain a structured, inclusive learning environment.
• Support students in developing self-advocacy and executive functioning.
• Coordinate with speech-language pathologists and counseling teammates to integrate therapies.
• Collaborate with division directors/academic dean to address student needs.
• Write, edit, and submit trimester reports, grades, and evaluations.

Skills

Special ed knowledge

Strong communication

Collaboration

Growth mindset

Tech familiarity

Equity & justice

Adaptability

GSuite

Education

MA in Special Education

Education degree

SLP licensure (CCC-SLP) a plus

Tools

Veracross

GSuite

Job description

Description

Mary McDowell Friends School (MMFS) invites applications for a full-time Upper School Generalist Teacher (Leave Replacement) beginning November 2026.

Position Overview

The US Generalist teacher supports the mission of the school by overseeing the safety and well-being of the students in advisory, content area classes, core classrooms, and homeroom classes by monitoring and stimulating educational and social-emotional growth within the framework of the school’s mission by designing a challenging, creative, and developmentally appropriate curriculum to teach students with learning disabilities. The Quaker beliefs, testimonies, and practices are integrated into our work with students, colleagues, families, and the broader community.

Essential Responsibilities and Duties:

• Adapt and deliver curricula across core subject areas (English, Math, Science, and Social Studies) as needed to meet diverse learning needs.
• Implement targeted instructional strategies and scaffolding to accommodate varying cognitive levels, learning speeds, and skill sets.
• Formulate clear, multi-sensory entry points into lessons to ensure active engagement and meaningful skill development.
• Establish a structured, inclusive, and positive learning environment that supports both academic and social-emotional growth.
• Support students in developing self-advocacy, executive functioning skills, and independent learning habits.
• Coordinate with service providers (e.g., speech-language pathologists, counseling team members) to integrate therapeutic strategies into classroom instruction.
• Collaborate with division directors/academic dean to address students’ needs
• Write, edit, and submit timely trimester reports, grades, recommendations, evaluations, and other requests as needed
• Act as the advocate for homeroom students, supporting each student in their relationships with other teachers
• Supervise homeroom students when participating in division-wide and school-wide activities such as silence, assembly, and meeting special guests
• Participate fully in the life of the school, including professional development, MMFS committees, weekly faculty meetings, regular supervisory meetings, and all school silence and staff meetings
• Supervise student activities, including study hall, student trips (including overnight trips), advisory, student clubs, etc.

Diversity and Equity Commitments:

• Understand and participate in all school-wide diversity and equity initiatives
• Examine administrative practice through the lens of race, identity, equity, and privilege
• Provide an equitable framework for leadership decisions
• Support a school culture that allows for social identities to feel welcome

Supervisory Responsibility

This position has no supervisory responsibilities.

Position Type/Expected Hours of Work

This is a full-time exempt, ten-month position that follows the academic calendar. Days and hours of work are Monday through Friday, 7:45 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. with a half-hour paid lunch; faculty meetings occur every Wednesday from 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. Evening and weekend work may be required as job duties demand and will be scheduled in advance.

Travel

On occasion, travel between campuses is necessary for meetings, which are scheduled with advance notice and are within walking distance from each other. School trips are also scheduled with advance notice, and teachers are required to chaperone day-long and overnight school trips.

Work Environment & Physical Demands

This position requires the ability to maintain the physical capacity required to navigate the school environment and to ensure the safety of the students. The ability to open filing cabinets and bend or stand for long periods of time, as necessary. Classroom locations vary based on student schedules; this position ascends/descends stairs to teach from different rooms in the building.

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Requirements

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• MA in Special Education or Education
• Licensure as a speech-language pathologist (CCC-SLP) is a plus.
• 3-5 years of direct teaching experience with students with learning disabilities
• Strong oral and written communication with parents, children, and colleagues
• The ability to create a classroom environment where students feel safe, supported, and challenged
• Strong collaboration and teamwork skills
• Growth mindset and the ability to use feedback to improve practice
• Familiarity with new technologies; GSuite and Veracross a plus
• Commitment to equity and justice, including knowledge and skills related to cultural competencies

We offer a rewarding work experience in downtown Brooklyn, NY, where we encourage employees to bring their whole selves to work. We recognize, appreciate, celebrate, and honor our diverse community as we build an awareness of who each individual is and who we are collectively.

In compliance with NYC’s Pay Transparency Act, the annual base salary range for this position is $70,000–$80,000. Mary McDowell Friends School considers factors such as (but not limited to) the scope and responsibilities of the position, the candidate’s work experience, education, and training, essential skills, internal peer equity, and market and organizational considerations when extending an offer.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Employment at Mary McDowell Friends School is based solely on qualifications and competence for a particular position, without regard to race, color, ethnic origin, nationality, age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, veteran status, disability, familial status, or any other category protected by the law. Mary McDowell Friends School’s policy of non-discrimination extends to all employment practices, including but not limited to hiring, transfer, promotion, training, compensation, benefits, layoffs, and termination.