Career Opportunities

Friends School Boulder is a progressive co-educational PS-8th day school serving students from the Boulder, Colorado area. We offers a challenging curriculum guided by strong values of collaboration and creativity, mindfulness and social and emotional learning, cross-curricular and project-based instruction, and diversity, social justice & service learning.

Faculty and staff are highly engaged and enjoy flexibility, autonomy, and a collaborative working environment.

Friends School offers a wonderful opportunity to work in a close-knit environment that supports lifelong learning, best practice, and personal growth. Friends provides a unique and connected community where learning is at the center of every day for teachers and students alike.

The connections between our students and the adults in our community are the heart of Friends School. If you believe you would be a good fit for our school, we welcome your interest. Please send your resume and letter of interest to jobs@friendsschoolboulder.org and we will be in touch with you soon. Current job openings are also listed below.

Full-time Friends School employees are eligible for an excellent benefits package including competitive salaries, medical, dental, vision and life insurance, 403b retirement plan benefits, professional development, tuition remission for employees with children attending Friends School, and time off for major holidays, school breaks, and vacation time. Please direct specific questions about employee benefits to our Business Office at:
303-499-1999 x256.

Friends School is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer.

Current Job Openings

Friends School continuously screens applicants for teaching positions. If you are interested in a teaching position at Friends School, please submit your resume and letter of interest to jobs@friendsschoolboulder.org. Indicate all grades and/or subjects that you are interested in and qualified to teach. Salary is commensurate with experience, degree, and position. Friends School offers a competitive compensation package including medical, dental, life insurance benefits, 403b plan and generous paid leave. 

 

We are no longer taking resumes for this position.

 

Friends School Boulder is a dynamic, progressive, co-educational, preschool-8th, day school and teacher education program serving approximately 165 students (PS-8) and 20-30 student teachers from the Boulder area. Guided by our vision, Challenging minds, nurturing spirits, and honoring individuality, Friends School is committed to educating the whole child, nurturing every aspect of development — academic, social emotional, and physical — and to fostering well-rounded citizens who are prepared with the knowledge, skills and values to thrive in a dynamic world. Graduates from our well-established teacher education program are eligible for a Colorado state teaching license and can earn a Master’s Degree in partnership with CU Denver. Friends has a reputation for being a welcoming and inclusive community where students and adults build lasting friendships that serve as a strong foundation of success and fulfillment in school and life. 

Job Overview

Friends School is seeking a highly motivated, experienced administrator to take on the exciting role of Teacher Preparation Program Director. Friends School is a designated agency with the state of Colorado for training Early Childhood and Elementary teachers. This role is perfect for a visionary leader who is passionate about impacting education through teacher education. The Director oversees all aspects of the Teacher Preparation Program. The Director plays a pivotal role in shaping the program’s future and ensuring the success of aspiring educators. Reporting to the Head of School, the Director is a key member of the Senior Leadership Team (SLT).

If you are a forward-thinking leader who is passionate about transforming teacher education and preparing the next generation of exceptional educators, we invite you to apply for this role. Together we can shape the future of education and make a positive impact on the lives of countless students. 

Key Qualifications and Qualities

  • Preferred advanced degree
  • Experience in program administration, including managing relationships with multiple stakeholders
  • Demonstrated ability to build relationships, mentor, and guide teachers across grade levels, coupled with a passion for teacher education
  • Experience in and a commitment to high-quality progressive education
  • Strong knowledge of current trends, best practices, and policies in teacher education
  • Proven ability to think strategically, develop innovative initiatives, and lead change in a dynamic educational environment
  • Commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging
  • Strong program leadership and management skills, with the ability to inspire and motivate faculty, staff, and students
  • Excellent communication and interpersonal skills

 

+Responsibilities including but not limited to:

Strategic Leadership

  • Work with Head of School to develop and articulate compelling vision for the TPP that supports the school’s overall mission and goals
  • Stay informed about the latest research, policies and trends in teacher preparation and adapt the program accordingly
  • Create and implement a plan to guide the growth and advancement of the program, incorporating innovative approaches and best practices consistent with high quality progressive education
  • Oversee the design, development and enhancement of the curriculum, ensuring alignment with Friends School’s mission and values, state standards, accreditation requirements, and community needs
  • Build and nurture partnerships with local school principals, mentor teachers, advisors, University of Colorado Denver, state licensing body and other stakeholders to create meaningful field experiences and placement opportunities for teacher candidates
  • Collaborate with faculty and staff to ensure the delivery of high-quality instruction and experiential learning opportunities
  • Partner with Head of School and Director of Development to cultivate strong alumni connections 

 

Instructional Leadership

  • Lead two Saturday Seminars per month in a hybrid, in-person/remote learning environment while collaborating with professors and instructors in the field of education.
  • Guide Teacher Candidates through the certification and licensure process of CDE.

 

Recruitment and Admissions

  • Develop and implement strategies for attracting and recruiting diverse, talented individuals who are passionate about becoming progressive educators 
  • Partner with the Director of Marketing and Communications to implement effective marketing and outreach initiatives to raise awareness of the program and attract prospective students
  • Lead the admissions process, ensuring teaching candidates possess the potential to become exceptional educators

 

Program Evaluation and Accreditation

  • Oversee process for ongoing program evaluation, including collection and analysis of data to assess student outcomes and program effectiveness
  • Ensure compliance with accreditation standards and requirements, leading the preparation of accreditation reports and site visits
  • Utilize evaluation findings to inform enhancements, making data-driven decisions to improve learning and program outcomes
  • Possess a comprehensive understanding of grant compliance, management, and reporting.

 

Why work for Friends School:

This is an exciting opportunity for a dynamic and experienced education professional to lead at a well-respected progressive independent school. The successful candidate will have a passion for education and a commitment to advancing the school’s mission. The Director of Teacher Preparation Program receives a robust compensation package including competitive salary, TIAA retirement benefits, comprehensive health insurance, life insurance, professional development, tuition remission, and time-­off benefits.

If Friends School is Right for You:

We encourage you to apply if progressive educational and teacher education are your passions. Additional information about Friends School can be found at www.friendsschoolboulder.org. Local candidates are encouraged to apply. Out-of-area candidates will be considered who can relocate without relocation assistance.

Compensation: 

Salary range is $92,000 – $102,000 and pay is commensurate with experience, degree, and position. Friends School offers a competitive compensation package including medical, dental, life insurance benefits, 403(b) plan and generous paid leave. 

Friends School is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

How to Apply: 

If you possess the above skills and qualities, please send a cover letter outlining why you are interested in the position along with your resume to jobs@friendsschoolboulder.org. Please indicate the Director of Teacher Preparation Program in the subject line. Final candidates are subject to background and credit check. We will contact top candidates for an interview. No phone calls please.

 

We are no longer taking resumes for this position.

 

Friends School is currently seeking a visionary Lower School Program Head to lead our preschool through 5th grade beginning in July 2024. With a lower school student body of 100 – 120 students, we are dedicated to providing an exceptional educational experience that aligns with our mission, vision, and values, with a specific emphasis on mindfulness-based social and emotional learning, play-based preschool curriculum and gold standard project-based learning.

The ideal candidate will have a vision for leading a program, a deep understanding of child development and progressive pedagogy, and a strong desire to be a part of a collaborative leadership team. Our program is  engaging, and comprehensive, fostering social and emotional skill development alongside academic learning. Join us in advancing our mission and providing a thoughtful and challenging education for our students.

RESPONSIBILITIES, OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES

The Lower School Program Head should be prepared to collaborate with a forward-thinking and devoted school community to fulfill Friends School’s Mission, Vision, and Values and to lead the preschool and elementary programs wisely and confidently into the future by embracing current challenges and seizing new opportunities. These include but are not limited to:

  • Partnering with the Head of School to continue the development of our unique Preschool program to its full potential.
  • Continued support of a robust social and emotional learning program.
  • Building upon the culture of collaboration and professional growth while working to strengthen the connection between preschool and elementary and bridging the partnerships with the middle school resulting in a unified program, PS-8.
  • Evaluating existing programs and making necessary changes to ensure Preschool and Elementary students are developing the skills, competencies, and mindsets necessary to thrive in Middle School, High School and beyond.
  • Leading a joyful, diverse, energetic, and purposeful Preschool and Elementary where everyone, without exception, belongs.
  • Advocating for Preschool and Elementary children within our PS – 8 context with a commitment to restorative justice and fostering intrinsic motivation. 
  • Working collaboratively within a passionate and engaged Senior Leadership Team (SLT).
  • Being a visible presence for students, faculty, staff, and parents/guardians; fostering community and acting as chief ambassador of our Lower School.
  • Recruiting, managing, inspiring, supporting, and retaining excellent, diverse, and mission-aligned faculty and staff.
  • Continuing care and support of all students including those who represent neurodiverse students.
  • Partnering with the Director of Enrollment to promote Preschool and Elementary to prospective families.


KEY QUALIFICATIONS AND QUALITIES 

The successful candidate for Lower School Program Head at Friends School will be a mission- and community-driven leader who embodies and demonstrates most, if not all, of the following skills, qualities, characteristics, and experiences:

  • Master’s degree in Education or a related field, preferred.
  • Demonstrated ability to lead a team,  develop and implement initiatives that are consistent with the mission, vision and values of our school. 
  • Must complete necessary courses and applications to maintain Colorado Department of Early Childhood Large Center Director qualifications on PDIS platform 
  • Extensive experience in progressive education, with a demonstrated commitment to play-based,  experiential and/or project-based learning
  • An educator and learner who leads with expertise in child development, passion for students and teachers, and openness to new ideas and best practices in curriculum and pedagogy.
  • An advocate for both Preschool and Elementary children with an understanding of and ability to work effectively within the complexity of a Preschool – Eighth grade school.
  • Demonstrated commitment to and experience with supporting an equitable and inclusive school culture.
  • An engaged, visible presence with students, faculty/staff, and parents/guardians.
  • An effective communicator in writing and public speaking and with all constituencies.
  • An emotionally intelligent, joyful leader who is transparent, approachable, collaborative, empathetic, and humble.
  • Education Technology Literacy, including digital citizenship, and proficiency with spreadsheet tools, student information systems, and data analysis tools.

 

View the full job description here. 

Salary Range:  Salary range for this 100% FTE position is $95,000-$115,000 and pay is commensurate with experience, degree, and position. 

How to Apply: Send cover letter and resume to jobs@friendsschoolboulder.org. Please indicate the position you are applying for in the subject line. Deadline: Submit by February 19, 2024.



Friends School Boulder is a progressive co-educational Preschool – Grade 8 day school serving students from the Boulder area. Friends offers a challenging curriculum guided by strong values of collaboration & creativity, mindfulness and social & emotional learning, cross-curricular & project-based instruction, and diversity, social justice & service learning. Faculty and staff are highly engaged and enjoy flexibility, autonomy, and a collaborative working environment.

Friends seeks an Elementary Lead Teacher who possesses a deep understanding of child development and progressive pedagogy, appreciation for the importance of practicing mindfulness and actively teaching social & emotional skills, and a commitment to diversity social justice & service learning and a demonstration of cultural competency. The successful candidate is devoted to the School’s mission and program and possesses passion and imagination they will bring to our school community.

The Elementary Lead Teacher reports to the Lower School Program Head and is a member of the Lower School team. The Elementary Lead teacher is responsible for their classroom in all areas. This involves developing, implementing, and differentiating a comprehensive age-appropriate curriculum for math, reading, writing, handwriting, spelling, science, history/social studies, and project-based learning. The Lead Teacher is responsible for cultivating a community of learners in the classroom who respect and care for one another. The Lead Teacher is responsive and works collaboratively with the other classroom and specialist teachers and administrators. The Lead Teacher participates fully in the life of the school.

Lead Teacher Responsibilities, including but not limited to:

  • Maintain congruence between the school’s mission and all activities.
  • Promote and advance the cognitive, emotional, social and physical well-being of all students.
  • Stay current with research and practices related to child development, different learning styles, Mindfulness-based Social and Emotional Learning (MBSEL), DEIB, innovation, and progressive pedagogy.
  • Develop, implement and document curricula that puts the above research into practice and challenges each student to realize their full potential.
  • Maintain records of all taught curriculum including detailed planners of Gold Standard Project-Based Learning (PBL) units
  • Implement classroom management strategies in alignment with our philosophy – informed by Responsive Classroom approaches, with an emphasis on intrinsic motivation.
  • Support student learning through community connections, including but not limited to: inviting speakers to visit or planning and attending day or overnight trips.
  • Regularly assess and provide evidence of student learning and growth as outlined in the handbook.
  • Communicate with families as described in the handbook. Communications may include, but not limited to: Conferences, check-ins, newsletters, family visits.
  • Educate parents about the Friends School values and program through all correspondence and parent educational events.
  • Connect and work with outside professionals (therapists, tutors, etc.) to meet student needs.
  • Mentor and meet regularly with a Teacher Candidate as outlined in TPP Guidelines
 
General Expectations for All Employees
These general expectations represent the core responsibilities and set a high standard for all employees at Friends School:

 

Alignment with Mission:

  • In all ways, elevate and celebrate the school and contribute to its success by supporting communications, development, admissions and retention and the overall image of the school.
  • Consistently demonstrate commitment to maintaining congruence between the school’s mission and all professional activities.
  • Demonstrate commitment to and experience with supporting an equitable and inclusive school culture.
  • Proactively foster diversity, equity, and inclusion among students, faculty, and staff.

 

Collaborate and Build Community:

  • Actively promote and advance the cognitive, emotional, social, and physical well-being of all students, fostering a nurturing and inclusive learning environment.
  • Communicate effectively with parents, ensuring that all correspondence and parent educational events reflect and educate about Friends School values and programs.
  • Preserve and participate in school traditions and rituals.
  • Support student learning by actively engaging with the community, events, and fostering connections that enhance the overall educational experience.
  • Maintain common spaces and outdoor environment and materials attractively and in support of learning.
  • Cover classes or responsibilities during absences of other teachers as appropriate/necessary.

 

Advancing Self and School:

  • Participate in regular meetings to address routine matters and stimulate an exchange of educational and philosophically-aligned ideas.
  • Engage in ongoing professional development by setting yearly goals, participating in staff development opportunities, and contributing to the exchange of philosophically-aligned ideas in regular meetings.
  • Set personal and professional yearly goals with the appropriate supervisor and complete the annual evaluation process in partnership with the supervisor.
  • Attend all full-staff meetings and school events (unless excused by HOS).
    Participate in the school’s hiring processes as appropriate/necessary.
  • Other duties as assigned

 

Qualification Requirements:

  • Possess joy, a growth mindset, and a sense of humor and commitment to working collaboratively
  • Bachelor’s degree; Master’s degree in education preferred
  • A minimum of 3 years of experience as a lead teacher preferred
  • Proven success at working collaboratively
  • Exceptional written and oral communication skills
  • Excellent organizational and presentation skills
  • Technologically knowledgeable and skilled

 

Compensation:
Salary range for this 100% FTE position is $49,000-$65,000 and pay is commensurate with experience, degree, and position. Friends School offers a competitive compensation package including medical, dental, life insurance benefits, 403b plan and generous paid leave.

Friends School is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

How to Apply:
If you possess the above skills and qualities, please send a cover letter outlining why you are interested in the position along with your resume to jobs@friendsschoolboulder.org. Please indicate Elementary Lead Teacher in the subject line. Final candidates are subject to background check. We will contact top candidates for an interview. No phone calls please.

We are seeking highly energetic and enthusiastic individuals to be a part of our summer camp team as lead instructors and assistant instructors. Camps for students ages 3-14, run from June 7-July 26. Hours are flexible. View the job description here. Compensation:  $16-20/hour commensurate with position and experience. Email vsoto@friendsschoolboulder.org or call 303-499-1999 x250.

Friends seeks AfterCare Teachers for our AfterCare program that provides after school care for students, ages 3-12. It begins after the regular school day and ends promptly at 5:30 PM. Time in AfterCare is structured with an after school snack, playtime either outdoors or in the Great Room, and a choice time. The AfterCare Teacher supervises students in the AfterCare program and performs the following duties: 

  • AfterCare hours: Monday-Thursday 3:00-5:30 pm, Fridays 1:00 – 5:30 pm.
  • Report for duty hours: Monday-Thursday 2:45pm, Friday 12:45pm
  • Prepare attendance sheets for classroom teachers
  • Take attendance every 1/2 hour
  • Plan and implement appropriate games and activities
  • Keep attendance sheets accurate and current
  • Prepare and supervise snack according to snack procedures
  • Record billing in database
  • Keep Director notified of problems and concerns occurring 
during AC
  • Clean up and lock all AC areas at the end of each day 
according to written closing procedures
  • Attend annual health training classes.
  • AfterCare teachers must have current training in CPR/AED, First Aid, and Universal Precautions.
  • Candidates must be able to pass a background check and meet the physical requirements of the position.


Compensation: Starting at $16/hr based on experience

How to Apply: Please complete an application and email or call Veronica Soto at auxprograms@friendsschoolboulder.org or 303-499-1999 x250

Friends School is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Friends School is looking for fun, energetic, and responsible people who would like to be on our substitute teacher list. We are in need of half-day and full-day substitutes from Preschool through 8th grade. Elementary and middle school subs must have teaching experience and/or a teaching degree. Preschool, Kindergarten and PE subs may be working alongside another teacher and while they are not required to have teaching experience and/or a teaching degree, experience with children is required. A flexible schedule is required with the ability to provide coverage for both planned and short-notice absences of our lead teachers from preschool through grade 8.

Salary Range: Our sub pay is $75 for a half day, $150 for a full day.

How to Apply: Please email your resume, letter of interest, references, academic disciplines and age levels for which you can provide substitute coverage to substitute@friendsschoolboulder.org.  We will contact you for a brief interview and tour. Following an interview and background check, successful applicants will be added to our substitute teacher list.

Friends School is currently accepting applications for Teacher Preparation Program Candidates. We offer a one-year program in a residency model leading to Colorado teacher licensure. We offer programs for both Elementary and Early Childhood Certification. Learn more and apply here.

Challenging minds. Nurturing spirits. Honoring individuality.