You find joy in working with students and alongside a passionate, thoughtful community of educators. You believe deeply that learning is most powerful when it is experiential, and when students learn by doing, exploring, and reflecting, rather than simply being told what to know and remember. You are invested in the growth of children as whole people, supporting their curiosity, sense of purpose, and capacity to contribute meaningfully to their communities, both within and beyond the classroom. You are a lifelong learner who welcomes both support and challenge, and you are excited by the opportunity to continue developing your craft in a collegial, reflective environment. You are energized by contributing your skills and ideas, making a meaningful impact, and being part of something larger than yourself.
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Who We Are
Founded in 1924 and located in Seattle’s Madison Valley neighborhood, The Bush School is an independent school serving students from Kindergarten through Twelfth Grade. Bush offers a rich, intellectually engaging program grounded in experiential learning, designed to spark in students of diverse backgrounds and talents a passion for learning, accomplishment, and contribution to their communities. Our curriculum challenges students to think deeply and creatively, preparing them to thrive in future endeavors while remaining rooted in the school’s longstanding core values.
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We are committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse community in which every individual can say, “I belong.” We seek educators and staff who are passionate about their work, highly skilled in their practice, and who bring a wide range of perspectives and experiences to our community. We believe deeply in the role education and diverse learning environments play in advancing equity, inclusion, and a shared sense of responsibility for one another.
Position Summary/Overview:
?The Bush School is in search of an individual to join our Middle School team as a Middle School Mandarin Faculty member. We are seeking a candidate who is able to support the school’s mission of diversity and inclusion and who has a background that demonstrates an understanding and appreciation of intercultural fluency. We are building a team in which diversity of experiences, backgrounds, and talents are valued in order to work with a diverse community of students, faculty, staff and families. We encourage those of diverse backgrounds to apply.
The Middle School Mandarin Faculty member reports to the Middle School Director and works closely with students and families, and Middle School Faculty and Staff, while also being an active member of the school’s World Languages Department. This position will be responsible for teaching three sections of Mandarin, and teaching in our experiential programs (E-lectives and E-Week) during the academic year.
General Responsibilities:
Create and sustain a positive classroom culture, based on the mission and values of the school
Plan, prepare, and deliver instructional activities for Middle School Mandarin courses that facilitate active learning experiences
Possess the interest, ability, and skills to successfully teach Mandarin to Middle School students (grades six through eight)
Develop and implement an interdisciplinary and experiential curriculum
Value and incorporate diverse perspectives in daily interactions and within the curriculum
Establish classroom expectations that create a safe and comfortable environment for all students
Collaborate and work effectively with other members of the World Languages Department to create common experiences centered on student inquiry
Create and sustain effective family partnerships, for example: communicate with parents/guardians regarding student progress and classroom news via formal fall/spring conferences, written communications, and school portal
Observe/evaluate/assess students’ development and maintain accurate records regarding student progress and areas of growth
Attend and chaperone school related events outside the scheduled school day
Communicate openly, timely, and supportively with students, staff, parents, and other stakeholders regarding student achievement and progress
Participate actively and with curiosity in school/division/department/committee meetings, as well as student community gatherings during the school day
Collaborate with school counselors and learning specialists to plan lessons, curriculum, materials, and resources to effectively serve students with different learning profiles and mental health needs
Utilize technology to support student success (e.g. Google Docs, Google Classroom and Learning Management Systems such as Canvas)
Conscientiously complete other duties as assigned
Required Education, Training & Experience:
Experience teaching Mandarin is required, with three or more years preferred
Experience teaching Mandarin to Middle School students is preferred
A bachelor’s degree is required
A bachelor’s degree in Mandarin or a related field is preferred
A graduate degree in Mandarin, Education or a related field is preferred
Familiarity with ACTFL language learning standards is preferred
A demonstrated commitment to professional development and growth in this area is required
Attend OWL (Organic World Languages) training upon hire and continue to stay current with best practices.?
Required Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:
Familiarity with current learning theories and basic principles of human growth and development and ability to consider them in the design and implementation of learning experiences.? ??
Knowledge of current trends and research in learning and assessment. ??
Ability to effectively manage classroom dynamics to create a positive and productive learning environment for all students. ? ??
Flexibility and adaptability to meet the needs of the children and program. ??
Excellent verbal and written communication skills. ??
Ability to maintain confidential information.? ??
Ability to work collaboratively in a variety of teams. ??
Possible travel (field trips).? ??
Additional Requirements:?
Have a current Adult and Children CPR, First Aid, and AED Certification (or receive one soon after hire date)?
Meet the school’s standards when completing two separate background screenings?
Stamina: Ability to stand and walk for extended periods, manage long days, and support body with core muscles.?
Fine Motor Skills: Using hands to grasp, move, or assemble small objects (e.g., papers, writing).?
Sensory: Clear hearing to distinguish sounds and vision to see differences in color, shade, brightness.?
Ability to sit and keyboard for up to 8 hours per day & lift up to 30 pounds (file boxes).
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DISCLAIMER:
The information presented indicates the general nature and level of work expected of employees in this
classification. It is not designed to contain, or to be interpreted as, a comprehensive inventory of all
duties, responsibilities, qualifications and objectives required of employees assigned to this job. As an
adaptive organization, responsibilities can and will change in alignment with greater efficiencies and
