Interim 5th/6th Grade Full-time Teacher

Faculty Position

Founded in 1958, Sequoyah School is an independent progressive K-12 day school in Pasadena, California, built on the belief that diversity of all kinds is fundamental to a powerful education. Students find joy and deep learning as they navigate through curriculum while teachers guide problem-centered classrooms that foster curiosity through intellectual exploration and opportunities for application. The school’s mission to challenge the mind, nurture the heart, and celebrate human dignity is evidenced in its place-based program and signature experiences like Field Studies, the Social Innovation Program, Talking Leaves, and more.

Sequoyah’s learning program is designed collaboratively. In K–8, this Lead Teacher would work with the Associate Director of Middle School, subject-area Specialists, and the Director of Teaching & Learning, as well as the Assistant Head of School.

All Lead Teachers are primarily responsible for the academic, social, and emotional learning of a mixed-age class of students. As both designer and advisor, they build a class culture both in the classroom and in the student culture rooted in Sequoyah’s mission and Habits of Mind and guided by the Teaching Guide and Essential Expectations. It’s a culture where students belong, use their voice, make real choices, and learn how to be in a mentoring relationship.

Lead Teachers also help shape the grade-level program as a whole, at a moment when Sequoyah is reimagining the middle years as the bridge of its K–12 education, when students form their identity, gain independence, and begin to own their learning. We are looking for someone excited to help build the best progressive middle school program. They will be excited to extend the program’s interdisciplinary, project-based, and experiential work, building on programs such as Field Studies, Stewardship, and Community Engagement. The goal is a program that meets students where they are, takes their voice seriously, prepares them for a confident move into high school, and fits our K–12 vision.

Position Overview

We are currently accepting applications for the 2026-27 school year.

Roles and Responsibilities

Program Development

Plan and implement language arts, social studies, and spelling curriculum that includes high-quality projects that engage students in deeper learning and change-making.
Look for opportunities to integrate specialists’ instruction with other classroom activities and for opportunities to create emergent curriculum, responsive to student interests and current events.
Design opportunities for students to present learning to authentic audiences through exhibitions, portfolio presentations, publications, or community events.
Create and refine inquiry-based, project-driven units that reflect Sequoyah’s Habits of Mind—including Inquiry, Communication, Collaboration, and Stewardship.
Implement competency-oriented assessment practices that emphasize revision, reflection, and student ownership of growth.
Establish systems for program evaluation and improvement.

Student Experience and Well-Being

Able to complete the remainder of the school year.
Design classroom structures that support the development of early adolescent identity, executive functioning, autonomy, and agency.
Serve as students’ main point of support, building a classroom culture of dignity, curiosity, and growth. Keep the classroom physically and emotionally safe through clear, consistent management.
Use routines that support social-emotional and identity development, including morning meetings, circle practice, advisory, individual check-ins, and one-on-one coaching.
Oversee and participate in one Field Studies trip/semester, ensuring experiences promote independence, empathy, environmental awareness, and curricular integration.
Facilitate the design of programs and partnerships that allow students to practice stewardship and civic responsibility.
Continuously assess and evaluate student progress, keeping in mind subject-area and grade-level expectations.
Provide transparent feedback aligned to Learning Outcomes and Habits of Mind, supporting students in tracking and articulating their own progress.
Design proactively for a full range of learners, including neurodiverse students, for developmental needs. Work with Learning Services to put accommodations in place and to treat variability in learning as normal.

Family and Community Partnership

Communicate regularly and transparently with parents/guardians about students’ progress, including but not limited to: participating in parent-teacher conferences, narrative end-of-year reports, back-to-school nights, admissions events or other events at the request of the administration, sometimes outside of contractual hours.
Perform other duties as assigned by the supervisor.

Qualifications

We are seeking a candidate who:

Holds a Master’s degree or higher in education or a related field.
Has at least 2 years of experience in teaching.
Demonstrates a deep understanding of child development.
Shows commitment to progressive ed/experiential learning.
Is familiar with anti-bias/inclusive instructional pedagogical practices and has fluency in belonging, equity and justice work.
Possesses strong communication and organizational skills with an ability to build trust across students, faculty, and families.
Brings a collaborative, reflective, and adaptable collegial and leadership style.
Has experience with competency-based assessment practices (preferred).

Additional Information

Personal Attributes

Teacher with appreciation for young adolescents as thinkers and community members.
Joyful lover of children with institutional awareness and steady temperament.
Creative problem solver who sees complexity as opportunity.
Passion for field-based, interdisciplinary learning and a belief in the transformative power of community.
Seeker of knowledge of current instructional theories and best practices. Demonstrates a commitment to professional growth by participating in professional development opportunities.
Reflective practitioner committed to continuous growth, feedback, and collaboration for student-centered learning.

Diversity is a founding value of Sequoyah School, and we seek candidates willing and interested in upholding an equitable, inclusive environment. Sequoyah School is also an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate in any phase of employment. We consider applicants without regard to race, color, religion, gender, national origin, sexual orientation, age, disability, marital status, or any other legally protected status.

Hiring Term

2026-27 School Year

Reports To

Assistant Head of School and K-8 Director

Campus Location

K-8 campus

Salary Range

$71,000 to $116,000, depending on experience and education

Benefits

Sequoyah offers competitive salary and benefits.