3rd Grade Teacher, Beginning 2026-2027 Academic Year

Job Description

Job Description

Collegiate School is seeking a dynamic, relationship‑driven educator who brings joy, curiosity, and deep commitment to the learning and well‑being of children. Our Lower School teachers are at the heart of our mission: they build caring, inclusive communities where every child feels known, valued, and inspired to grow.

This is a full‑time faculty position reporting directly to the Head of Lower School.

General Responsibilities include:

• Establish a climate of respect for each child as an individual and as a member of a classroom community, fostering a caring and inclusive environment that honors each learner

• Maintain a safe, respectful, and inviting learning space grounded in Collegiate’s values and supportive of students’ social, emotional, and physical well-being as essential to learning

• Design and deliver student‑centered instruction using well‑planned lessons based on core standards and essential skills, helping students grow as inquisitive thinkers, responsible citizens, and compassionate leaders, aligned with the Portrait of a Graduate

• Employ appropriate technology and learning tools to enhance teaching and student engagement

• Facilitate and guide learning based on established curricular programs, pacing with grade-level colleagues to design a challenging, relevant, and connected curriculum that reflects shared goals.

• Guide the Assistant/Associate Teacher to ensure effective instructional support, strong classroom management, and a cohesive, student‑centered learning environment built on collaboration and clarity.

• Regularly assess student progress and maintain accurate and comprehensive records to inform instruction and communicate growth.

• Collaborate with colleagues to create a joyful and inclusive school environment while meeting individual needs.

• Work in partnership with parents to develop each student’s skills and confidence as a learner; communicate each student’s growth throughout the year with professionalism and trust.

• Identify and pursue professional opportunities that enhance and extend one’s teaching , modeling the characteristics of a lifelong learner committed to continuous growth.

• Be proficient in the approaches of the curriculum including, but not limited to, language and literacy development, and Responsive Classroom practices that support whole‑child development.

• Understand age-appropriate developmental benchmarks and apply them to instructional planning and responsive teaching.

• Support social-emotional learning with academics, using positive teacher language, interactive modeling, logical consequences, and community-building routines that nurture healthy behavior patterns.

• Build strong, collaborative relationships across the Collegiate community including faculty, staff, students, parents, and applicants through consistent, professional communication that fosters trust and partnership and reflects shared values.

• Participate in all required School events, including those occasionally held outside regular school hours, as an engaged member of the Collegiate community.

• Participate in Admission Open Houses and serve as a positive ambassador for Collegiate, sharing the school’s values, traditions, and commitment to student learning with prospective families.

• Supervise students during assigned duties with attentiveness and care, ensuring student safety while nurturing respectful interactions and healthy behavior patterns.

• Collaborates effectively with an Assistant Teacher while contributing to a cohesive, student-centered classroom environment rooted in shared purpose.

• Applies current best practice strategies in elementary instruction, inquiry-based learning, and social-emotional development; familiarity with Responsive Classroom is preferred

• Supports the grade-level program in alignment with the School’s mission, values, and culture, contributing to an inclusive and welcoming community where all students can thrive.

• Exhibits strong organizational skills, including the ability to prioritize, meet deadlines, and manage multiple responsibilities with adaptability and a collaborative spirit that strengthens team culture.

Successful candidates will possess the following qualifications:

• Holds a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education (required); a Master’s degree and/or Virginia teaching certification is preferred

• Minimum of 6 years demonstrated teaching experience with elementary-age students and a strong commitment to learning curriculum, supporting each student, and inspiring creativity and critical thinking through learner‑centered opportunities.

It is critical that candidates demonstrate a commitment to the School’s Core Values and Mission

HONOR

Personal integrity and devotion to the truth, which make one trustworthy, forthright, responsible and fair.

LOVE OF LEARNING

A creative spirit that promotes intellectual and personal growth through exploration, inquiry and openness to change.

EXCELLENCE

A sustained commitment to meeting high standards of character, achievement and personal accountability.

RESPECT

Fundamental regard for the dignity and worth of each individual.

COMMUNITY

A commitment to responsive and compassionate citizenship and service on campus, in the local community and in the broader world.

Required Competencies:

• Excellent communication skills with the ability to communicate the School’s shared purpose; builds trust among colleagues; is accountable; lives up to commitments.
• Proven cross cultural competency skills demonstrating self awareness, awareness of others and the ability to adopt inclusive perspectives, attitudes and behaviors to drive inclusion and belonging in the ongoing development and maintenance of an inclusive campus community .
• Demonstrates a strong commitment to a servant leadership model focusing on the growth and development of the team to successfully fulfill shared goals.
• Understands the big picture and handles areas of responsibility in a manner consistent with the School’s mission and values. Offers assistance within the office especially during busy times.
• Relates to the Collegiate community including faculty, staff, students, parents and applicants in a cooperative manner.
• Meets deadlines, demonstrates effective use of time and handles multiple assignments simultaneously.
• Understands the need for growth and is receptive to constructive feedback.
• Maintains confidentiality at all times.

Who we are

Collegiate School is a co-educational, independent day school located in Henrico County, within 20 minutes of downtown Richmond, Virginia, for students in Junior Kindergarten through 12th grade. For more than 100 years, Collegiate has nurtured inquisitive thinkers, responsible citizens, and compassionate leaders. Grounded in the values that have sustained it over the course of more than a century, Collegiate provides its nearly 1,700 students with an engaging academic environment dedicated to preparing them for a globally connected and changing world.

The essence of Collegiate School is the richness of relationships among students, faculty, parents, administrators, and alumni in a dynamic learning community with high personal and academic expectations. This exceptional educational environment enables students to develop their potential for intellectual growth, leadership, and service.

Why Collegiate?

Collegiate School is well-regarded for developing students into citizens who lead, serve and shape the world. We do so with the help of a caring faculty and staff who also have opportunities to lead, serve and shape the world, through the young lives they touch.

Below are just a few examples of some of the great advantages of working at Collegiate:

• Excellent professional development opportunities for faculty and staff
• Collaborative working environment
• A rich employee benefits package (which includes free lunch!)
• Opportunities for growth and leadership
• An environment that fosters creative and innovative instruction

The School is committed to a policy of non-discrimination and equal opportunity for all employees and qualified applicants without regard to race, color, gender (including pregnancy), age, religion, national origin, ancestry, sexual orientation, disability, veteran or military status, marital status, genetic information, or any other status protected by applicable law. Employment decisions at the School are based on merit, qualifications and skills.