The Woods Academy in Bethesda, Maryland, is seeking an experienced, Grade 5 and 6 science teacher for the 2025-2026 school year. The Woods Academy serves approximately 300 students in the Washington DC Metropolitan area, including Montgomery County, Maryland, Northern Virginia, and the District of Columbia. The Woods Academy is a Catholic community that nurtures the whole child through academic excellence, spiritual enrichment, and character development. The school provides a comprehensive education for children from age three to Grade 8 with strong academics, a daily world language program, hands-on technology instruction, and a well-rounded arts program, all conducted in a small classroom setting.
The Grades 5 & 6 Science Teacher will join a team of other subject area specialists and be responsible for planning, implementing, and assessing science instruction for students in Grades 5 and 6. The teacher will focus on creating a stimulating and supportive learning environment, fostering problem-solving and risk-taking. The role involves collaboration with the other Grade 5and 6 teachers, maintaining strong communication with parents, and actively participating in the school community.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities Curriculum Planning and Delivery: . Develop and deliver rigorous, age-appropriate units of study in science, including lab-based learning experiences for students. . Create a positive, student-centered classroom environment that promotes critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
Teaching Methods and Adaptation: . Develop and implement engaging lesson plans aligned with state and national science standards. . Conduct hands-on experiments and investigations to foster inquiry-based learning.
Assessment and Progress Monitoring: . Assess student progress through multiple and varied assessments based on science standards to provide timely feedback to support student learning. . Collaborate with colleagues and parents to integrate content and enhance student achievement across content areas.
Communication: . Keep parents informed of classroom activities through various avenues, such as blogs, report card comments, and a photo-sharing site. . Communicate clear expectations to students, reinforcing the school's culture of high academic and behavioral expectations.
Professional Development: . Attend and actively participate in grade-level meetings and school-planned professional development activities.
. Seek out opportunities for professional development to enhance personal and program goals.
Collaboration: . Assist the Grade 5/6 team in planning, organizing, and executing learning showcases to involve community members in student learning. . Maintain collaborative, respectful, and positive relationships with other members of the Grade 5/6 team and the school community as a whole to foster a culture of collegiality and commitment.
Professionalism: . Contribute to positive school culture. . Active involvement in the faculty evaluation system based on The Woods Academy Essential Expectations and Teacher Professional Growth system.
Other Duties . Serve as an advisor for a small group of middle school students, meeting regularly to build community and develop executive functioning and social-emotional learning skills. . Supervise recess, lunch, and carpool, and fulfill these supervision duties as assigned.
Qualification Requirements
. Minimum: Bachelor’s degree in teaching and/ or science, although a Master’s degree is preferred. . Valid teaching certification is strongly preferred. . Three years or more of teaching experience in the PreK-8 environment. . Demonstrated solid knowledge of science education, especially at the middle school level. . Demonstrated ability to adapt teaching methods to accommodate diverse learning styles. . Demonstrated solid knowledge of best practices in middle grades education. . Demonstrated knowledge and proficiency in technology. . Strong communication and interpersonal skills. . Commitment to ongoing professional development. . Positive and collaborative attitude.
The Woods Academy is an independent Catholic school, offering boys and girls from pre-school through Grade 8 a challenging and supportive educational experience. The Woods Academy is a warm and welcoming community comprised of 300+ students, 200+ families and 60+ faculty and staff. The school is located on six acres in the residential area of Bethesda, Maryland.
