Lower School Spanish Teacher

at  Graland Country Day School

Graland Country Day School is seeking a Lower School Spanish teacher with experience in elementary classrooms. The Lower School Spanish program provides students with a linguistic foundation and instills a positive attitude toward future language studies. Students in kindergarten through fourth grade engage in thematic units and learn through songs, games, and interactive lessons. The Lower School Spanish teachers are responsible for leading the elementary World Language instructional program, which includes, but is not limited to, planning, developing, implementing, assessing and monitoring the Spanish curriculum.
Reports to: Head of Lower School
Terms: Full-time, exempt, school year, starts August 2024

QUALIFICATIONS

• An experienced educator, preferably with elementary-aged students
• Bachelor’s degree required
• Fluent in Spanish (native or near-native speaker)
• Has familiarity with standard and best practices for learning languages
• Brings experience with the integration of Spanish and other disciplines for units of study at each grade level
• Exhibits the knowledge and ability to understand and develop positive attitudes towards cultural differences and the skills for communication and interaction across cultures.
• Ability to maintain effective relationships with students, faculty, administration, and parents/guardians
• Willingness and ability to pursue ongoing professional development opportunities
• Demonstrates ease with technology programs and tools to engage learners

ABOUT GRALAND

A great school never sits still. It keeps going, growing and evolving. Graland Country Day School is an independent school in Denver that serves students in preschool, kindergarten, elementary, and middle school. Since the school’s founding in 1927, Graland has delivered an intellectually robust, character-based educational experience derived from current research about how children learn.
While so much in the world is changing, the school’s focus remains the same: Graland is faithful to the enduring aspects of its mission while seeking new ways to promote character and intellectual excellence. We inspire students to pursue excellence with passion and intent - academically, creatively and in their personal growth as engaged citizens and thoughtful leaders so that they learn to value individual differences and divergent thinking. We are constantly looking for ways to improve our program and keep it relevant for the next generation of students. Guided by our mission, values, Diversity, Equity and Inclusivity Philosophy Statement and strategic plan, we go to extraordinary lengths to give children the best education possible.
Our current enrollment totals 700, and we have just over 100 faculty members, 70 percent of whom have advanced degrees. Graland’s faculty and staff enjoy a collaborative, supportive environment where each member is encouraged to be a lifelong learner. Professional development, onsite childcare, a desirable location in the heart of Denver and other benefits make Graland a dynamic, inclusive and innovative workplace.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES

Lower School Spanish teachers work with a range of grade levels from kindergarten through fourth grade and are members of the world language department. The Lower School experience at Graland calls for teachers to recognize that working with this age group requires a variety of roles, and a high level of energy and enthusiasm from its faculty.
The following list is not comprehensive of all tasks of the position, but serves as a representative summary of the primary duties and responsibilities.

Graland teachers are responsible for managing and monitoring student learning.

• Creates an environment of respect and rapport
• Shows respect for student levels of development
• Promotes respectful interaction between students
• Employs the Responsive Classroom approach in the classroom
• Establishes a culture for learning
• Maintains high expectations for student learning and interactions among individuals
• Establishes and consistently reinforces clear standards for student conduct
• Manages classroom procedures
• Balances managing student behavior with fostering student ownership for managing their own behavior
• Organizes physical spac