Summer Literature Teacher

Rainier Scholars is a comprehensive academic enrichment program that supports students over a 12‑year journey – from 5th grade to college graduation. We seek to serve those who are most under‑represented on college campuses and have the greatest number of barriers to achieving a college education: 85% qualify as low‑income, 90% would be the first in their family to earn a college degree.

Our program offers rigorous academics, leadershipdevelopmentand personalized support for scholars, providing access to educational pathways and myriad opportunities previously unimagined.

With a budget size of $10 million, a staff team of 50+ full‑time employees and 720+ scholars and families whom we currently serve in Seattle and Tacoma, Rainier Scholars has established a positive brand for our unwavering commitment to education, proven success rate, and sustainable impact. We grow new generations of diverse college graduates, career professionals, and community leaders.

The Summer ILiterature

Teacher facilitates the educational success of rising fifth graders with the greatest number of barriers to college graduation, whether that be socioeconomic, racial, family education level, first‑generation/immigrant, etc. Through intensive classroom instruction and academic enrichment opportunities, the Summer ILiterature

Teacher prepares students for rigorous middle and high school programs in public schools (Seattle, Renton and Highline), independent schools and other private schools. Rainier Scholars teachers seek to accomplish the following goals in curriculum, instruction and assessment:

• Exposure to challenging content that students will see in rigorous academic settings
• Development of advanced skills that will allow students to perform at top levels
• Exposure to and examination of themes that are relevant to the journey of a Rainier Scholar

The Rainier Scholars literature curriculum builds students’ reading, speaking, and writing skills. In the first summer, students learn how to annotate fictional texts, participate in seminar‑style discussions, write complex sentences, and perform dramatic readings. While reading Sylvia and Aki by Winifred Conkling, students explore the essential question:
How do you know where you belong?

• Participate in opening and closing faculty meetings on 6/22/26, 6/23/26 and 8/6/26.
• Teach two sections of Summer ILiterature (16:1 student‑teacher ratio) Monday through Friday from 6/24/26 to 8/7/26 in either the morning or afternoon.
• Develop curriculum in accordance with best practices and in collaboration with team of teachers and Academic Director.
• Provide frequent written and oral feedback on student progress and work, respond to academic difficulties of students, work collaboratively in response to parent concerns and conduct progress conferences at appropriate times.
• Respond to student questions via phone call until 8:30 pm (students are trained to leave voicemails when a teacher is unavailable).
• Chaperone Day of Play and Rattlesnake Ledge field trips.

REQUIRED:

• Bachelor’s degree from a competitive college or university.
• Minimum of 3 years teaching or other proven equivalent experience in independent or public school.
• Highly organized, interested in collaboration, and possess strong listening and communication skills.
• Passion for working with a diverse group of young people.

DESIRED:

• A master's in education, those with course subject area expertise, as well as those with experience teaching at the elementary and middle school level with diverse populations.
• Demonstrated proficiency in UbD unit design (Understanding by Design, Wiggins & McTighe, 2005).

This is a flat‑rate position with compensation of $9,075. Due to the nature and length of the summer program, this role includes one personal day that meets the Paid Sick and Safe Time (PSST) requirements under Washington state law. If there is more than one day of absence, the additional time will be deducted from the final pay to compensate for substitute coverage.

Rainier Scholars is an equal opportunity employer committed to an equitable and inclusive environment for scholars, families, and staff. We welcome applications from all backgrounds and strongly encourage people of color, first‑generation college graduates, and people from working‑class backgrounds to apply.