English Teacher

Riverdale Country School, a Pre-K through Grade 12 independent all-gender school in New York City, is dedicated to inspiring students to live meaningful and purpose-driven lives. The school achieves this by fostering a culture of academic excellence, critical thinking, and curiosity, supported by a diverse and inclusive community. Riverdale emphasizes both high challenge and high support in its approach to education, encouraging students to engage deeply in interdisciplinary learning, research, and experiential education, both inside and outside the classroom and beyond our campuses. This holistic approach aims to develop well-rounded individuals who are prepared to make a positive impact on the world.

At Riverdale, we strive to reflect the diversity of the New York metropolitan area in our students, faculty, and staff. We believe that a diverse and inclusive community enriches the educational experience and is integral to our mission. With a student body of approximately 1,300 students from 117 different zip codes, Riverdale is a vibrant community where 48% of our students identify as students of color.

We seek to employ educators and leaders who bring a student-centered approach, passion for their work, a commitment to DEIB, and a desire to contribute to the growth and development of our entire school community.

Position Overview:

Riverdale’s English Department seeks an enthusiastic and collaborative teacher of English who is excited to teach both Middle School (6 - 8) and Upper School (9 - 12) courses. The ideal candidate will be committed to the interdisciplinary work we value within the department and in the school. Riverdale’s educational culture values openness, curiosity, and a willingness to learn from colleagues and students, as well as through more formal professional development. Riverdale’s English curriculum seeks to develop in students a love of reading, an appreciation of writing as a way to enhance understanding of their own ideas and those of others, and the disposition to consider literature as a way to better understand themselves and the world. In addition to emphasizing close reading, critical thinking, and analytical and creative writing, teachers are expected to support students as they learn to speak and listen thoughtfully and with an open mind. Our website offers an overview of our Middle School and Upper School English curriculum.

A Bachelor’s degree or higher from an accredited college or university in English or a related field and at least two years of past teaching experience in the middle and/or upper school are required for this position. We seek teachers who are eager both to join our year-long, grade-level courses as well as to contribute to the depth and complexity of our curriculum, whether that be through new electives, interdisciplinary work, or collaboration with colleagues on the curriculum of grade-level courses. Candidates should also demonstrate a commitment to creating an inclusive classroom that nurtures the diverse learners within it. All full-time teachers participate in the life of the school community through advising, leading activities, service learning, and other co-curriculars.

To apply for this position, please click on the red “Apply for this Job” button. Please submit a resume and cover letter. If there are pronouns we should use in potential future communications, we invite you to share that information with us. For information about this position and all open positions, please visit the Careers page of Riverdale’s website.

Benefits of Full-Time Work at Riverdale Country School

Working at Riverdale Country School is a purposeful and meaningful career choice that comes with many benefits including:

• Transportation: Shuttle service is available to/from the 242nd St / Broadway subway station. Limited stops are also available near transit hubs in Manhattan including the Metro North Harlem Station and subway lines – 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, N, Q, R, A, B, C, and D. If there is need in the community, we can also run a shuttle from the Henry Hudson Parkway / 246th St bus stop which connects to the #7, #10, and Express Buses to/from Manhattan.
• Professional Development: A generous professional-development budget provides for conferences, skills training, and onsite training in areas such as mindfulness, coaching, and diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging.
• Grants and Stipends: All employees are eligible for Frankel Fellow grants, known as “passion grants,” which pay for enrichment activities. More than 120 grants have been made to faculty and staff since the program started in 2014. Stipends are available for coaching, affinity group facilitation, advising clubs with significant out-of-school time, and chaperoning trips (including global trips!).
• Sabbatical: Full-time teaching faculty are eligible for a sabbatical after 10 years of employment.
• Health Benefits: Riverdale offers and subsidizes health, dental, and vision insurance. In addition, the school offers a flexible spending account through which employees can use pre-tax dollars to pay for health-related expenses.
• Retirement: Employees are eligible to join our Defined Contribution retirement plan through TIAA. The school contributes 7% of an employee's annual salary to their retirement account.
• Vacation: Riverdale Country School has a generous time-off policy for staff in addition to vacations afforded by the school calendar.