Upper School Spanish Teacher

Oregon Episcopal School Portland, OR United States Oregon Episcopal School seeks an Upper School Spanish Teacher to begin duties in August 2026. Interested candidates should include a resume and cover letter addressed to Sarah Grenert-Funk (Head of Upper School) when submitting materials.

OUR MISSION

Oregon Episcopal School educates students to realize their power for good as engaged citizens of the world.

ABOUT US

Founded in 1869, Oregon Episcopal School today occupies a wooded 59-acre campus where 880 students in Pre-K through 12th Grade share an excellent faculty, an inquiry-based curriculum, and a strong sense of community. The Upper School also includes a small boarding program of international and domestic students who live and learn together, enhancing the vibrancy of the school community. OES seeks and values employees who continually grow in their work practices. Teaching faculty engage in the Characteristics of Effective Teaching for their ongoing learning in service of students. All other employees engage in professional growth specific to their responsibilities. Together, faculty and staff create a vibrant and diverse community of lifelong learners. As an Episcopal school, we are rooted in a rhythm of gathering and reflection that values and respects all beliefs and cultures. As such, we educate toward a larger purpose – toward inclusion and respect, service and justice, and commitment beyond ourselves.

JOB SUMMARY

The Upper School Spanish teacher at OES teaches inquiry-based Spanish classes to students in grades nine through twelve. The teacher collaborates with colleagues to design and implement curriculum and learner-centered activities that emphasize analytical thinking, research, problem-solving, and collaboration, and that ask students to think deeply and creatively about concepts and applications. Furthermore, they should understand and model the importance of community involvement, ongoing professional learning, and authentic collaboration with other faculty and staff to advance the School’s mission. Teachers are expected to bring an innovative, energetic spirit to the classroom, constantly seeking ways to make problem-solving essential to adolescents. The US Spanish teacher should have a strong facility with technology and a flexible mindset that enriches collaboration and design thinking. Finally, the successful teacher will see students as budding scholars, creators, and engaged human beings. In addition to the qualifications detailed below, the successful teacher will promote the School’s commitment to attracting and retaining a highly talented faculty, possess excellent communication and interpersonal skills, and have the ability to support the School’s educational mission. As professional educators in a dynamic living and learning environment, faculty are required to model professional behavior and observe appropriate adult-student boundaries to support a safe and supportive community for teaching and learning. The ideal candidate will have a demonstrated gift for engaging students and strengthening the inclusive community of OES. Faculty also participate in a variety of activities typical to the independent school environment, including advising, committee work, support of experiential education, and other duties as assigned. In addition to strength in their teaching discipline/area, faculty candidates who bring an interest in dormitory association or coaching are encouraged to apply for these additional opportunities for student engagement and are strongly considered.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES

Create, communicate, and maintain clear, consistent, and appropriate learning objectives and expectations aligned with the World Language Department’s goals and the schoolwide strategic initiatives. Design and deliver engaging lessons that broaden students’ cultural awareness and develop proficiency skills in speaking, writing, reading, and comprehension across multiple levels. Demonstrate strong expertise in Spanish grammar and design interactive learning experiences that maintain high academic rigor. Support students’ grammatical accuracy as a foundation for confident and effective oral and written communication. Provide frequent, constructive, objective, and prompt feedback. Design assessments and learning activities that support student growth. Recognize, respect, and promote the cultural differences and diversity of the individuals in the classroom and community. Collaborate proactively and communicate responsibly and professionally with colleagues, families, and students. Establish and maintain relationships with students and families that promote learning and community building. Differentiate instruction and experiment with effective teaching strategies. Establish and maintain appropriate standards for student behavior using Restorative Practices that promote reflection, problem solving, and support positive self-esteem and relationship building. Engage in our school-wide Learning and Teaching program, including seeking and constructively applying professional feedback. Attend division meetings, grade-level team meetings, and academic department meetings. Participate in the life of the school by attending school activities, events, meetings, and conferences. Engage fully in OES-sponsored DEIA development activities as assigned. Serve as an advisor to a small group of students. Chaperone an opening of school grade level overnight trip. Design and implement an Activity and Winterim course.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

BA/BS or equivalent in Spanish or related field One to three years of experience teaching Spanish or completion of a teaching certification program IT skills: general digital literacy, intermediate to advanced Google Suite, MS Office Suite, database, web applications, video conferencing, etc. as appropriate to job duties, experience with applicable educational technology Experience with and skill in responding to the needs of students of diverse racial, ethnic, gender, socioeconomic, and religious identities and backgrounds Intercultural competence, ability to interact appropriately with persons, of all backgrounds, ability to work effectively on diverse teams, demonstrated commitment to equity, inclusion, and anti-racism Ability to pass a criminal background check and drug screen Intercultural competence, ability to work with sensitivity and effectiveness with students, families, colleagues of diverse backgrounds and identities, demonstrated commitment to equity and inclusion for people of all backgrounds and identities Digital literacy; intermediate to advanced proficiency in MS Office Suite, Google Docs/Sheets and other web-based applications; database and cloud storage solutions, such as Google Drive, ability to troubleshoot common hardware and software issues, and good understanding of data privacy principles, particularly in safeguarding student data and personal information. Video-conferencing experience, as appropriate to job duties; flexibility and willingness to learn as digital tools evolve Ability to pass a criminal background check

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

MA/MS or equivalent in Spanish or related field Experience teaching courses from 9th through 12th grade Five years’ experience teaching at a secondary or post-secondary school Demonstrated and successful history with innovation in the teaching of Spanish, technology integration, curriculum design and inquiry-based learning Experience teaching English Language Learners (ELL), particularly international students Experience developing curriculum with clear learning outcomes, assessments, and feedback systems using a proficiency grading scale.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

Excellent verbal and written communication skills, ability to manage confidential information in compliance with the law and best practices Ability to contribute to strong and positive connections with high school students and to maintain collegial relationships with colleagues Ability to consistently apply principles of equity, inclusion, and anti-racism on a day to day basis in the classroom and in the broader workplace community Ability to collaborate and work effectively on teams Knowledge of educational technology, with an openness to innovation and willingness to learn as tools evolve

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

Ability to sit at computer and keyboard for moderate periods Mobility sufficient to move about the campus, to include climbing stairs Sight and hearing adequate to perform the duties of the job, ability to communicate clearly Ability to lift and carry up to 25 pounds on an occasional basis

SALARY

This is a full-time, academic year position that comes with a competitive salary based on degrees and experience, abundant professional development opportunities, and a generous benefits package. Candidates should send both a cover letter and resume to the hiring committee at Please address the cover letter to Sarah Grenert-Funk (Head of Upper School) when submitting your materials. Oregon Episcopal School does not discriminate in its hiring or employment practices on the basis of race, color, religion, gender (including gender identity or expression), disability, national or ethnic origin, age, sexual orientation, marital status, genetic information, or other legally protected characteristic or status. #J-18808-Ljbffr National Association of Episcopal Schools