Upper School Physics Teacher
THE POSITION
The Park School of Baltimore seeks candidates for a full-time physics (Core 9) teacher with excellent academic credentials and a strong record of leading major initiatives. An orientation compatible with Park’s commitment to progressive educational practices is essential. This position starts in Fall 2024.
The physics (Core 9) teacher will play a unique and visionary role in the Upper School science department. While computer science and engineering currently exist within the Upper School, there is growing demand for thoughtful, organic growth of engineering and computer science within the department and the division. We are seeking a dynamic, innovative individual with an eye for creative and collaborative problem solving and program development.
Devoted to intellectual inquiry, a collaborative spirit of learning, and an appreciation for the diversity of human experience, The Park School of Baltimore is a community founded on positive expectations of our students and respect for individual differences.
We cultivate children’s innate curiosity by nurturing their interests and engaging them as active participants in their own education.
We support young people in becoming confident questioners and responsible citizens of the world.
The Park School is a non-sectarian, independent, coeducational day school of 840 students from Pre-Kindergarten through Grade 12. Founded in 1912 as one of the early progressive schools, The Park School continues to practice a distinct educational philosophy. The core values today, as in 1912, are a belief in children’s capacity to love learning, to grow academically and emotionally when inspired by highly qualified, caring teachers, and to develop self-discipline, confidence, and creative problem-solving skills through deep exploration and constant challenge. At every grade level, from Pre-Kindergarten through Upper School, Park actively encourages questioning and conversation as essential elements of the learning process. The school philosophy emphasizes a belief in positive expectations and expects that students, as they mature, will take increasing responsibility for their own learning.
The science department has a newly required curriculum in 9th and 10th Grade. Core 9 integrates physics with computer science and engineering. Core 10 fuses biology with chemistry, while offering students the opportunity to apply their engineering and/computer science knowledge to the study of life. The full-time position includes teaching a combination of Core 9 courses, engineering electives, and/or robotics classes, as needed by the department. We are especially interested in a dynamic, innovative person with an eye for creative and collaborative problem solving and program development.
UPPER SCHOOL SCIENCE DEPARTMENT MISSION
The science department engages and challenges students to develop the ability, confidence, and enthusiasm to inquire about the natural world. The science department supports these goals by promoting a durable understanding of the natural world through the integrated study of chemical, biological, and physical principles. Rather than seeing each of these as separate disciplines, we encourage students to grapple with their interaction and mutual influence.
In our classrooms, we emphasize processes of inquiry and thoughtful analysis over rote recitation. Students learn to question what they observe, to look for evidence for and against a particular viewpoint. The emphasis on scientific process encourages an open-minded and rigorous independence of thought that students then bring to bear on the world around them.
The science department feels strongly that students should have the opportunity to pursue advanced work. We feel that this is best accomplished by offering a rich elective program with curricula designed to meet the interests and passions of students.
QUALIFICATIONS
For all Park School positions, quality of mind and a passion for teaching and working with students are essential qualifications. While new faculty come from a variety of independent and public school backgrounds, commitment to the assumptions of progressive education is essential. We also seek teachers who will tend to student’s diverse academic, emotional, and social needs. Finally, we seek teachers who will engage fully in this professional role, as our curriculum develops over time. In terms of academic and work experience, we seek candidates who have:
- A degree in physics, engineering, or relevant teaching experience.
- Interest in and/or experience with integrating engineering or coding in the science classroom.
- Demonstrated experience in collaborative curriculum development.
- Some experience with, or a willingness to develop, exciting electives within areas of expertise and interest.
- Teaching experience at the Upper School level preferred.
- Openness to cultural competency work.
- Orientation to progressive education and pedagogy.
- Openness to cross-divisional teaching preferred.
ADDITIONAL CONSIDERATIONS
- In addition to dynamic classroom teaching, successful candidates may have experience in one or more of the following: original research, program development, science immersion experiences, robotics, or grant writing.
- Knowledge of the complementary nature of physics, engineering and/or computer science, and energy for interdisciplinary curriculum design.
- Interest in building projects and/or opportunities for civic engagement that give students opportunities to demonstrate their understanding in the greater Baltimore community.
RESPONSIBILITIES
All Upper School science department courses include formal and informal assessments and written reports. In addition to a full-time teaching schedule, the new faculty member will attend weekly faculty and department meetings, serve on school-wide committees, and share in regularly assigned duties such as Advisory and X-Block Activities (clubs). The teacher participates fully in the life of Park’s Upper School as well as the Pre-K-12 science department.
SALARY AND BENEFITS
Park salaries and benefits are highly competitive with those in other leading independent schools. For new appointments, salaries reflect experience and training equated to Park’s scales.
In addition to normal retirement and health benefits, the school offers the following distinctive programs:
- Faculty and Curricular Advancement (FACA) Program: This program supports summer professional work by faculty on a distinctive scale. Established in 1989, FACA is supported by a $5.6 million endowment; currently, over 40% of all Park faculty participate in projects annually. Grants cover full salary and benefits for group or individual projects selected through a formal review process.
- Tuition Remission: Under current policy, employees who have been at Park full-time for two years are eligible to receive full tuition remission for their children who attend Park. All candidates, including employee children, must meet Park’s standards for admission. (During the first two years of employment, faculty may apply for aid through the need-based tuition assistance program.)
APPLICATION PROCESS
Due to the large volume of incoming résumés, we cannot accept phone calls. Send a letter of interest, personal statement, and résumé. Please indicate whether you plan to attend any national recruitment forums. Please also indicate whether there are any special circumstances that will affect the timing of your search, availability for interviews, and decisions for the coming year.
CONTACT
Priscilla Morales, Associate Head of School
The Park School
2425 Old Court Road
Baltimore, MD 21208
academicresources@parkschool.net
The Park School of Baltimore does not discriminate against employees or applicants for employment on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin, religion, ancestry, gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, or any physical or mental disability unrelated to a reasonable performance of an employee’s duties.
COVID-19 – Please note: Park School currently requires proof of COVID-19 vaccination, subject to legally required exemptions, as a condition of employment.
