Career Center

Job Title: Middle School Humanities Teacher

Reports to: Head of School

Classification: Full-Time 10-month position 

Start Date:  August 14, 2023

At Virginia Beach Friends School (VBFS) we believe in knowledge, character, and community. These touchstones guide students through their VBFS education grounded by the Quaker testimonies of Simplicity, Peace, Integrity, Community, Equality, and Stewardship (the S.P.I.C.E.S). It is the goal of a VBFS education that all students strive to become life-long learners who understand their place in a global community and want to make the world a better place.

VBFS seeks a full-time Middle School Humanities teacher to teach grades 5th through 8th for the 2023-24 academic year. The Middle School Humanities teacher will embrace an interdisciplinary approach to teaching all English and history courses for VBFS middle school students. Candidates must see themselves as team players and individuals looking to make a direct and immediate impact within a small, caring community that values nurturing each individual student above all else. VBFS currently has a student population of fewer than 150 students with a desire to expand. 

The Middle School Humanities Teacher will be in charge of the complete implementation of a wholistic English and history curriculum under the direction of the Academic Dean that includes:

• Year one of history for 5th and 6th grade students covers the earliest hominids and the origins of settled life. Guided by the eight attributes of civilizations, students will explore ancient worlds, including:  Mesopotamia, Egypt, Greece, China, Rome, and Africa.
• Year two of history for 5th and 6th grade students begins to learn about the first Americans and ends the year with a study of the American Civil War.
• Year one for 7th and 8th grade history, students study the history of the United States from the Civil War through the end of WWII.
• Year two of the 7th and 8th grade history curriculum focuses on United States history with a deep dive into the US Constitution and all aspects of government.
• Through 5th and 6th grade, the Middle School English program focuses on the development of reading comprehension, writing, speaking, and listening skills through use of a wide variety of teaching techniques and activities. 
• During the 7th and 8th grade years, all Middle School English classes are designed to produce effective communicators who approach all situations as critical thinkers. The VBFS program is centered around the essential components of language: reading, writing, speaking, and listening.  Students analyze and respond to a variety of fiction and nonfiction selections throughout the four year program. Students write in a variety of modes while mastering the essentials of vocabulary, grammar, and composition with an emphasis on critical thinking and articulating ideas through written and spoken word.

Direct responsibilities for the Middle School Humanities teacher include:

• Implementation of an English and history curriculum that actively incorporates the Friends Testimonies through an interdisciplinary approach with experiential learning at the forefront.

• Provide a safe and nurturing environment for all students.
• Adapt instruction for a wide-range of abilities. 
• Differentiate instruction to meet student needs.
• Monitor student progress and maintain appropriate records.
• Provide feedback to students, parents, and administration regarding student progress.
• Prepare daily lesson plans.
• Engage students in the subject matter through hands-on learning and project based learning opportunities.
• Communicate academic and behavioral expectations to students.

The following are job requirements for interested candidates: 

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field (Master’s degree preferred).
• A minimum of 5 years of teaching experience.
• 2+ years of administrative experience (preferred)

Candidates with a background in Friends education or experience working at a Quaker educational institution are encouraged to apply. 

About Virginia Beach Friends School

Virginia Beach Friends School (VBFS) is a Quaker co-educational independent school serving students ranging from Pre-K through Grade 12. Located just miles from the Chesapeake Bay yet situated in the heart of the bustling Hampton Roads metropolitan area, our school's unique location allows students to learn by doing. Whether harvesting oysters in local riverbeds for environmental science or creating a curated art show as a Senior Project - VBFS students see their learning come to life. Plus, our balanced student to teacher ratio allows instructors to deliver an unprecedented level of attention to each individual learner, ensuring student success no matter the age or academic level. Founded in 1955, Friends continues a 350-year tradition of Quaker educational principles committed to an inquiry-based curriculum and experimental learning. VBFS is as much of an idea as it is a location. We have progressed from a simple gathering of children to the thriving community that it is today. We not only serve students from the greater Virginia Beach area, but students from Chesapeake, Norfolk, Suffolk, and even exchange students from Europe to Asia and even South America. But above all e...lse, VBFS is a community that values diversity and inclusivity, as our student body represents a wide variety of religious faiths, backgrounds and cultures. In keeping with the Quaker philosophy of honoring each individual, students representing different ethnic, cultural, religious and socioeconomic backgrounds are challenged daily to respect and learn from one another.

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