Lead Teacher, Summer Enrichment Program: Horizons at SCH Academy

Springside Chestnut Hill Academy • Philadelphia, PA

1d

About The Position

Lead Teacher, Summer Enrichment Program: Horizons at SCH Academy 6-week summer program: June 22 - July 31, 2026 Hours: 7:45 AM – 3:45 PM (Monday – Friday) Horizons at SCH: Organization Background Springside Chestnut Hill Academy (SCH) is an independent pre-K-12 school in Northwest Philadelphia serving over 1100 students from over 100 zip codes. Horizons at SCH, established in 2021, is an affiliate of Horizons National, established in 1967. Horizons seeks to advance educational equity by building long-term partnerships with students, families, communities, and schools to create experiences outside of school that inspire the joy of learning. Horizons at SCH partners with the Henry Houston School and Eleanor C. Emlen, offering a summer program to address both schools' achievement and opportunity gaps. At the core of the Horizons program is an exemplary six-week summer academic program that supports a cohort of students in reading, writing, math, and science, paired with field trips, sports, and enrichment activities in the performing and visual arts. Swimming lessons are essential to the Horizons program and will also be offered. After summer, the Horizons at SCH program also includes a year-round component featuring family events, enrichment activities, and regular visits to and communication with students' schools and teachers. Horizons at SCH will launch its fifth season of programming in the summer of 2025 with one class of 15 new Kindergarten students and four classes of returning 1st and 4th-grade students. A new class will continue to be added each summer until the program includes K-8th grades. The student/teacher ratio at Horizons SCH will be approximately 10:1. For more information about Horizons at SCH, please visit https://www.sch.org/school/horizons . Position Purpose: Horizons at SCH Academy seeks a dedicated and effective Lead K-5 Teacher with a dynamic talent for creating and nurturing a lifelong love of learning in children. We seek a talented, passionate, caring professional who will work as a team player to launch this vibrant program, fulfill the Horizons mission, and create a joyous, inclusive, inspiring educational culture. The Lead Teacher will work with a teaching assistant and a reading specialist, and will be supported by the Executive Director. We hope Horizons summer staff members will return to the program for more than one summer as we continue to work together, help our students, and build the program and the community. All Horizons SCH staff must complete state and federal clearances, attend safety training, and participate in approximately four Summer Program planning meetings and professional development sessions leading up to the program's start.

Requirements

• Available for a 6-week summer program from June 22 to July 31, 2026, for the hours of 7:45 AM – 3:45 PM (Monday – Friday).
• Bachelor's degree in education or related field.
• Minimum of three years of experience as a lead early childhood classroom teacher.
• Commitment to Horizons' mission and a belief in its effectiveness in helping students reach their full potential.
• Passion, enthusiasm, and energy for working with young children.
• Willingness, ability, and desire to work collaboratively as a team member.
• Ability and desire to engage students in active learning through non-traditional, hands-on, project-based methods.
• Ability to acknowledge racial disparities in educational opportunities and how they adversely affect children of color in under-resourced communities.
• Commitment to a welcoming, inclusive learning environment for all students.
• Outstanding interpersonal, organizational, and communication skills, including relative comfort integrating technology for record-keeping and communication.
• Must be able to work effectively in a fast-moving environment where unexpected student issues and varying challenges compete for one's attention.
• Must be able to work actively around the classroom for extended periods.
• Must be able to work in a traditional climate-controlled environment and outdoors, utilizing the natural surroundings for outdoor education and experiences.
• Be able to lift up to 30 lbs occasionally.
• Regularly use close and distance vision.
• Frequently stand and talk or hear, and sometimes walk and sit.
• Turn, bend, reach, and occasionally climb.

Responsibilities

• An educator for approximately 15 students during a six-week summer enrichment program.
• Responsible for planning, organizing, and instructing different subject areas using various teaching methods.
• Writes appropriate, data-driven classroom lesson plans, teaches lessons, and provides evaluative feedback.
• Creates a positive atmosphere in partnership with other Horizons lead teachers, teaching assistants, and volunteers.
• Oversees and supervises assigned assistants and volunteers, delegating tasks appropriately.
• Attends all field trips, pre-season training, program meetings, and program family events.
• Participates in daily meals with the students.
• Oversees and encourages the students as they learn to swim.
• Communicates with the Site Director about student progress.
• Works collaboratively with other staff to address family questions or concerns.
• Fulfills any other tasks or duties as requested or assigned by the Executive Director.

What This Job Offers