Interim First Grade Classroom Teacher

Sidwell Friends, a coeducational Quaker day school in Washington, DC, seeks a First Grade Classroom Teacher to join our Lower School community for the second semester of the 2025–26 school year (February–June). This is a five-month, full-time position covering an employee leave of absence.

The successful candidate will join a collaborative first-grade team of three classrooms, each led by a single classroom teacher and serving 16 students per class. Our Lower School program is grounded in the Quaker belief in the inherent worth and potential of every child. We strive to cultivate joyful, rigorous learning environments where students feel known, challenged, and supported as learners and community members.

The Lower School at Sidwell Friends fosters a deep love of learning and provides students with a strong foundation in reading, writing, mathematics, and social studies. Teaching and learning are characterized by intellectual curiosity, purposeful play, and meaningful inquiry. Students are encouraged to think deeply, ask thoughtful questions, take intellectual risks, and connect their learning to the world around them. Quaker values—such as integrity, reflection, community, and respect for each person’s Inner Light—inform all aspects of our work with children.

• Demonstrate a student-centered, whole-child approach to teaching and learning
• Have strong skills in differentiation and supporting diverse learners
• Show a commitment to culturally responsive and inclusive teaching practices
• Are grounded in research-based best practices, particularly in literacy and mathematics
• Bring strength in language arts and math instruction (familiarity with programs such as Fundations and Illustrative Math is a plus)
• Value collaboration, reflection, and professional growth
• Bring flexibility, warmth, a sense of humor, and strong communication skills to their work

• Supporting students’ social-emotional wellbeing
• Partnering thoughtfully and proactively with families
• Assessing and documenting student learning and growth
• Participating in Meetings for Worship, faculty meetings, duties, and school events
• Collaborating closely with grade-level colleagues and other Lower School faculty
• Supporting admissions and community life as appropriate

• Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education or a related field (required)
• Advanced degree preferred
• Minimum of three years of successful elementary teaching experience

• Starting salary is $49,677.

To be considered, qualified candidates must upload a cover letter, resume, and three references through our online application system (Clear Co). To learn more about our school, please visit https://(Use the "Apply for this Job" box below)..

Sidwell Friends School affirms the centrality of diversity and inclusion in all aspects of academic and campus life. Honoring a multiplicity of voices, we celebrate shared joys and address tensions productively. Together, we are guided by Quaker testimonies and seek to answer the question, 'How do we nurture a sense of belonging in our community and demonstrate our commitment to a just world.'