Middle School French & Spanish Teacher

Position Summary

Rowland Hall is currently seeking to hire a Middle School French and Spanish Teacher to work on our Lincoln campus in Salt Lake City, UT. This is a full-time Middle School teaching position, four sections of language instruction and a grade-level advisory - note that it is often two sections of French and two sections of Spanish but may change based on student course selection. The anticipated start date is January 8, 2024

School Overview

Rowland Hall is an independent school in Salt Lake City serving over 1,030 students in preschool through twelfth grade. Driven by our vision of developing people the world needs, we believe in a transformational education that gives students agency and purpose, connects them to their global community, and empowers them to make the world a better place for all.

Rowland Hall sets the standard for teaching and learning excellence through our academic and co-curricular programs, including experiential learning opportunities, artistic self-expression, and a competitive athletic program that challenges students inside and outside the classroom. We foster curiosity, compassion, and joy throughout the learning process, and graduate young adults who know how to think critically.

Located near the base of the stunning Wasatch Mountain Range and adjacent to the University of Utah, a world-class research university and medical center, Rowland Hall attracts a diverse community of families. The school focuses on recruiting and retaining high-quality employees by offering extensive professional development opportunities, salaries that are competitive with local districts and market rates, and a close-knit, supportive community.

Middle School

Rowland Hall Middle School (grades 6–8) serves approximately 240 students and is focused on the academic, emotional, and social growth of students. The Middle School runs a weekly schedule, seeing each class three times. Most Middle School teachers serve as grade-level advisors, working on grade-level teams with dedicated collaboration time set aside throughout the week to discuss students, curriculum, instructional practices, and professional growth. All Middle School teachers lead or co-lead a club, activity, or affinity group. The Middle School has a growing experiential learning program with grade-level class trips, Winter Sports, and taking students into the field for science and exploration classes when appropriate. We have an extensive grading system with Mission-Based Grading focusing on our academic standards as well as the habits and attitudes we want students to demonstrate. The Middle School runs a 1-1 device program, sixth graders using iPads and seventh and eighth graders using MacBook Air laptops. We are a Google Apps school and teachers are expected to host their curriculum in the Canvas LMS. As a Middle School, we are committed to our diversity, equity, and inclusion work both for our personal and professional growth as well as finding appropriate connections within the curriculum. The Middle School capitalizes on the strong collaborative nature of the teachers to enhance the curriculum further by exploring interdisciplinary connections and having our students engage more within the Salt Lake City community.

Primary Job Responsibilities

The job entails planning and teaching dynamic, age-appropriate lessons, communicating regularly and proactively with students, their families, and colleagues, and contributing positively to the overall school culture while fulfilling duties as assigned (recess and lunch supervision, field trip supervisor, club sponsor, etc.). Students select a world language (Spanish, French, or Chinese) upon entry into Middle School and commit to the study of that language through the 8th grade. The Middle School World Language Program instills an appreciation for language learning and fosters an identity as a member of the global community. Students develop cultural competency through the skills of communication with the goal of language application beyond Rowland Hall. Our language program aims to balance four components of language acquisition: reading, writing, speaking, and listening. Students are extensively exposed to the sounds and writing of authentic language and make great strides in their language acquisition. Being able to differentiate instruction and meet the needs of students is key as classes are based on grade level and not ability.

Skills and Requirements

• The ideal candidate can teach both middle level French and Spanish.
• A Bachelor’s degree and French & Spanish classroom experience working with adolescents are preferred.
• The ideal candidate is focused on the learning and well-being of students. In addition, a Rowland Hall teacher has excellent interpersonal skills, a sense of humor, and a commitment to reflecting on their practices and continuously improving them.
• Strong candidates will also show interest in engaging with the school community while advocating for students, supporting parents, and collaborating with faculty and staff.
• Has a proven written and verbal proficiency in French and Spanish; has strong knowledge of French and Spanish cultures, preferred.
• Has the experience, ability, and interest to work with Middle School students; is a flexible thinker who is eager to learn and experiment with new concepts, ideas, and evidence-based practices.
• Demonstrates cultural competence in and a commitment to issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion.
• Has a strength in curriculum development and innovative researched instructional practices; values and seeks out professional learning and development opportunities.
• Demonstrates proficiency using a learning management system, web-based applications, and other online resources.

The requirements listed below are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to:

• lift up to 35 pounds;
• be able to move around a classroom and outdoor space easily for hands-on demonstrations and to support students in their work;
• work in a team environment and support the strategic priorities of the school;
• exhibit classroom management and organizational skills that balance a fun, creative environment for students while maintaining a safe learning environment.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Rowland Hall is an equal opportunity employer, and as such, believes that each individual is entitled to equal opportunity without regard to sex, color, race, ancestry, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, physical disability, marital status, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected under federal or state anti-discrimination laws. Rowland Hall’s equal employment opportunity practices extend to recruitment, hiring, selection, compensation, benefits, transfer, promotion, training, discipline, and all other terms, conditions, and privileges of employment.