MS Mandarin Teacher

Reports to

Middle School Director and Language and Culture Department Chair

William Penn Charter School is a Quaker, all gender, pre-K-12 independent, day school in the East Falls neighborhood of Philadelphia. Established in 1689 by William Penn and members of the Religious Society of Friends, Penn Charter is a community guided by Quaker testimonies and the central belief that there is "that of God" in every person. A school community that honors difference, Penn Charter seeks to be a place where diversity is understood, represented and valued. Our curriculum embraces a plurality of cultures and celebrates an array of voices, instilling in us a deeper understanding and empathy for individuals in this community and the world.

As our mission states, we value scholarship and inquiry. With excellence as our standard, we challenge students in a vigorous program of academics, arts and athletics. Through global connections, civic engagement and a focus on environmental sustainability, we inspire students to be thinkers, collaborators, innovators and leaders. We educate students to live lives that make a difference.

POSITION SUMMARY

William Penn Charter School seeks a full time Middle School Mandarin Teacher to begin in the 2024-25 academic year. The teaching load will likely include courses in 6th, 7th, and 8th grades. Successful candidates must embrace student-centered pedagogy and technology use in the classroom, model curiosity and a desire for professional growth, and exhibit a desire to build positive and meaningful relationships with students, colleagues, administrators, and parents in a manner consistent with the School's mission. Familiarity with the principles and practices of Quakerism and Quaker education is highly desirable. In addition to salary and benefits, teachers have access to a plethora of professional development opportunities via the PC Teaching and Learning Center. 

Essential Functions

• Demonstrate a commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and social justice both in their teaching practice and in building relationships with students and other community members
• A full time teaching load is defined as four classes of 15-20 students each. If the student load is below average, a fifth class may be part of the teaching load.
• Collaborate regularly with members of the Mandarin team and the Language and Culture Department on lesson and unit design, assessment, and departmental initiatives
• Serve as an advisor to approximately ten Middle School students 
• Participate in a co-curricular activity such as coaching, clubs, assisting with a theatrical performance, or community service
• Attend meetings, write comments, and report grades according to predetermined dates on the school calendar
• Consistently use the assignment feature of the HUB (Penn Charter's learning management system) to post homework and dates of assessments and maintain an updated grade book also in the HUB
• Maintain a growth mindset and actively participate in faculty professional development and supervision, including observations and feedback conversations, with support from the assistant head, division director, and department chair 
• Regularly review and update curriculum maps in partnership with teacher colleagues, the department chair, the division director, and the assistant head of school.  
• Other duties as assigned by the Head of School, Assistant Head of School, or their designee such as occasionally proctoring study halls

Competencies

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Ability to build meaningful, professional relationships with students, colleagues, & parents in a manner consistent with the School's mission
• Ability to multitask and prioritize work 
• High energy, initiative, and strong work ethic
• Empathy and patience
• Ability to remain professional and courteous while interacting with students, colleagues, and parents
• A comprehensive understanding of the field of education and language acquisition and a demonstrated willingness to explore and embrace new pedagogical practices, technologies, and developing trends
• Exhibit a passion for teaching Mandarin and working with adolescents
• Proficient in Google Suite & Microsoft Office programs
  
  

Physical demands

• Intermittent or prolonged periods of sitting and standing
• Ability to lift approximately 20 pounds
• Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these essential functions

 Required education and experience

• Near-native to native level fluency in Mandarin, and ability to teach all levels through Advanced Studies 
• Bachelor’s degree in Mandarin, Foreign Language Education or related field 
• Prior teaching experience 
• Knowledge of ACTFL Proficiency Guidelines and Integrated Performance Assessments is also required and experience using each is preferred

Preferred education and experience

• Familiarity with the principles and practices of Quakerism and Quaker education
• Master’s Degree in Education or a field related to the position
• Teacher Certification (preferred, but not required)

Salary and benefits  

William Penn Charter School offers competitive salaries and comprehensive health coverage for employees and their eligible dependents. In addition, the school provides generous retirement savings options, sick leave and holidays (including winter and spring breaks), tuition remission for up to two children at a time, and access to robust professional development opportunities via our Teaching and Learning Center and memberships, workshops, and conferences offered by professional organizations. William Penn Charter School is also a qualified Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program employer.

We will review application materials as they are submitted and interview candidates on a rolling basis until the position has been filled.

Prior to hiring, we ask all potential employees to be vaccinated and protected from the life-threatening impact of COVID 19. At Penn Charter we have supported our community's efforts to eradicate the spread of COVID 19 by facilitating access to Covid-19 vaccinations for all current employees and eligible students.

William Penn Charter School provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.