Science & Technology Teacher (Middle School)

Windward School•Los Angeles, CA

13h

About The Position

Windward School, a grade 7-12 college-preparatory, independent day school in vibrant West Los Angeles, seeks an experienced and innovative educator to join our Science & Technology Department. A nationwide leader in educational models and practices that excite students about learning, Windward is committed to building a nurturing, inclusive culture. We welcome teachers and staff members who bring skills, qualities, and experiences that demonstrate an understanding of and ability to support our work fostering a diverse school community. At Windward, we are dedicated to cultivating an environment that encourages and supports growth and belonging amongst all community members. Windward teachers, parents, and administrators work together to inspire our students to be responsible, caring, well-informed, ethical, prepared, and well-balanced young adults. For more information on what Windward has to offer, please visit windwardschool.org/about/careers. While course assignments for the teacher will depend on their background, the most likely courses include some combination of one or more of the following courses: 7th Grade Principles of Science 1, 8th Grade Principles of Science 2, and Middle School Engineering. Specific course assignments of five classes may be flexible and may also change from year to year based on the department’s needs and teachers’ strengths and interests. Candidates can view the full curriculum for the department in Windward’s Curriculum Guide. Principles of Science 1 is a 7th grade science course with lab-based activities. Students learn how to safely use laboratory equipment and collect data while performing laboratory investigations and use technology to organize, illustrate, and analyze data, and to effectively communicate results of their experiments. Students study human biology and health with an integrated focus on environmental science through engineering and technology. Principles of Science 2 is a team-taught, 8th grade course . During the first half of the course, students explore the theory of plate tectonics by examining tectonic processes and analyzing patterns in volcanology, seismology, geography, and geochronology data collected. In the second half, students conduct a variety of experiments dealing with simple and compound machines. Throughout the year, computer science and electronics fundamentals are seamlessly integrated into the earth & physical science curriculum by building circuits and writing programs within the context of earth and physical sciences. Students split their class time evenly between the two areas of study, receiving instruction in each case from a teacher dedicated to that area. This innovative dual curriculum serves to prepare students for further study in both physical science and computer science. The Middle School Engineering class meets during the school day and covers basic design and building through successive design challenges. This project based class emphasizes prototyping, rapid testing and redesign, potential for integration of simple circuit and programming tools, and supporting our design, making, and engineering courses in the upper school. In the Science & Technology Department, students and teachers work together to develop a growth mindset, and deepen skills and understandings in critical thinking, scientific reasoning, and problem solving. Laboratory and inquiry-based courses support and challenge students to better understand their own learning processes and to acquire increasingly sophisticated strategies as learners. Teachers in our department strongly value collaboration within the department and with colleagues across disciplines. In addition to professional development opportunities, the Science & Technology department utilizes cutting edge technologies for conducting research, running experiments, and otherwise implementing lab-based learning for all students, with assistance and material preparation from two full time lab technicians.

Requirements

A Bachelor’s degree in a laboratory science; an advanced degree is preferred.
Have a minimum of 3-5 years experience teaching
A strong understanding of the developmental needs of Middle School students and a desire to work with this age group
Strong organizational skills
Be cognizant of current trends, pedagogy, research, and topics of importance in science education and be willing to apply it in the classroom and share with other teachers
Participate actively in the life of the school
Be comfortable working in a highly collaborative environment
Be open to professional growth and development
Communicate effectively with students, parents/guardians, and colleagues
Have excellent technology skills and experience integrating technology into the curriculum