1st Grade Elementary Teacher

1st Grade Teacher – Southern Highlands Preparatory School

Southern Highlands Preparatory School is dedicated to equipping students with 21st-century skills for academic and real-world success in a supportive environment tailored to individual strengths and learning styles. Our curriculum balances traditional and progressive education, enriched with subjects beyond the core to educate the whole child. Field trips and after-school programs extend learning beyond the classroom, reflecting our commitment to fostering confidence, self-esteem, and a love of learning.

What We Offer

• Health, vision, and dental benefits
• 401(k) plan with company match
• Employee referral bonus
• Student tuition discount

About the Role

As a 1st Grade Teacher at Southern Highlands Preparatory School, you will create an engaging and supportive classroom environment where students feel challenged, encouraged, and excited to learn. This role is ideal for an educator who is committed to high academic expectations, meaningful student engagement, and helping students build the confidence, independence, and foundational skills needed for continued success.

In this role, you will provide well-rounded instruction across core academic subjects while supporting each student’s academic, social, and emotional development. You will design lessons that are rigorous, developmentally appropriate, and responsive to individual strengths and learning styles, helping students grow as critical thinkers, problem solvers, collaborators, and confident learners.

You will also:

• Deliver engaging, standards-based lessons across core elementary subjects, including reading, writing, mathematics, science, and social studies.
• Create a positive, structured, and inclusive classroom environment that supports academic growth, curiosity, and student confidence.
• Differentiate instruction to meet diverse learning needs and provide targeted support for individual and small-group learning.
• Use a variety of instructional strategies, including hands-on activities, discussion, technology, projects, and real-world applications.
• Support students in strengthening reading comprehension, writing, problem-solving, communication, and organizational skills.
• Monitor student progress through formative and summative assessments and adjust instruction as needed.
• Provide timely, constructive feedback to guide student growth and encourage a strong sense of ownership in learning.
• Build positive relationships with students based on trust, respect, accountability, and encouragement.
• Communicate regularly with families about student progress, classroom expectations, and learning goals.
• Collaborate with colleagues to align curriculum, support schoolwide goals, and contribute to a strong elementary program.
• Maintain classroom organization, instructional materials, student records, and a safe, welcoming learning environment.
• Participate in ongoing professional development aligned with SHPS’s mission and educational model.

What We’re Looking For

• Bachelor’s degree required, ideally in Elementary Education, Education, or a related field.
• Teaching certificate or credential preferred.
• Experience teaching upper elementary students preferred, especially in a private or independent school setting.
• Strong knowledge of elementary instructional best practices and age-appropriate learning strategies.
• Ability to design and implement engaging instruction across multiple subject areas.
• Skill in using assessment data to inform instruction and support student growth.
• Effective classroom management that fosters respect, engagement, accountability, and independence.
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills with students, families, colleagues, and school leadership.
• Commitment to continuous learning, reflective teaching practice, and the success of every student.
• Must be able to work in person at the school campus.