The Girls’ Middle School

Imagine a school where each day is alive with learning and the spirit of adventure. Since its founding in 1998, The Girls’ Middle School (GMS) has been committed to progressive education and innovative programming, meeting the needs of a wide range of middle school students who make up our vibrant, inclusive community. Our project-based curriculum encourages creative problem-solving, collaborative teamwork, and independent thought. GMS educates girls* during a pivotal time in their lives. Students develop self-knowledge, confidence, and leadership skills supported by a staff highly attuned to their changing emotional and social needs. GMS encourages girls to find their voices, take risks, and become self-reliant. Learn more about GMS: www.girlsms.org.

• At GMS, “girls” refers to cis girls, trans girls, non-binary youth, gender non-conforming youth, gender queer youth, and any girl-identified youth.

Mission

The Girls’ Middle School educates girls at a crucial time in life. We create an inclusive environment where academic growth is nourished. A GMS girl discovers her strengths and expresses her voice while respecting the contributions of others.

The Position

The Girls’ Middle School is seeking a passionate middle school educator to entrepreneurial skills to 7th graders, work closely and collaboratively with the 7th grade team, and participate in a range of activities that support GMS’s innovative and engaging programming.

Note: This is a half-time position with the possibility of becoming full-time with the addition of teaching Computer Science and serving as an advisor.

Teaching at GMS

At the core of GMS is our extraordinary faculty. Every teacher at GMS has a passion for working with middle school girls and believes in the fundamental value of the middle school experience. They are attentive to, value, and support every student in the school. The GMS teachers are middle school specialists and subject matter experts, bringing passion to their work and sharing it with the students. Whatever interests a GMS student – from physics to programming, sculpture to skateboarding, musical theatre to metal shop – there is an adult ready to help them advance that interest as far as they can go.

Teaching at GMS means participating in a joyful, inclusive, and respectful community of students and adults. You will be surrounded by passionate, mission-driven faculty who appreciate autonomy in creating learning experiences while thriving in a collaborative environment. Our teachers enjoy opportunities to create multi-faceted, interdisciplinary projects and participate in fun field trips and travel experiences.

The Entrepreneurial Program at The Girls’ Middle School

The lessons acquired from the GMS Entrepreneurial Program are some of the school’s most profound and long-lasting. The program builds on an insight underpinning all instruction at GMS: Project-based work offers the chance to go beyond content mastery. The students develop crucial skills in critical thinking, collaboration, creativity, and problem-solving.

A year-long, interdisciplinary learning experience, our seventh-grade entrepreneurship course challenges teams of students to design a novel physical product that they then manufacture and market to both investors and customers. During the year, each team launches a small company with seed funding from the school. The course apex is a celebratory night during which students present their companies to a panel of respected Silicon Valley investors and sell their products to assembled community members.

As they progress through the program, students develop strength in multiple areas, including leadership and teamwork, creativity and product design, project and time management, mathematics and economics, communications and marketing, and public speaking. Just as importantly, they finish the program with an understanding of their own capabilities as contributors, leaders, and stronger self-advocates. They learn that they can be creators of products as much as they are consumers of them.

Key Qualifications

• Teaching experience with middle school students preferred

• Undergraduate degree in a relevant field of study

• Prior work experience at a startup or as a maker is a plus

• Familiarity with entrepreneurship, product design cycle, and computer programming

Skills & Qualities

• Commitment to experiential, project-based learning, narrative assessment, and other progressive pedagogies

• Enthusiasm for the values and mission of The Girls’ Middle School

• Demonstrated skill designing equitable and inclusive educational experiences and learning environments that incorporate themes of diversity and belonging

• Ability to manage and leverage parent volunteers in and out of the classroom

• Openness to feedback and a growth mindset

• Eagerness and ability to work in a highly collaborative environment

• Passion for supporting girls in discovering their strengths and finding their voice

• A sense of humor and love for the middle-school age

• Excellent organizational and communication skills

Equity, inclusion, and belonging are at the heart of our mission. The Girls’ Middle School was founded on the core belief that diverse and inclusive communities are strong communities. We are committed to creating a school culture that welcomes all aspects of each individual’s identity. We welcome applications from those with experience outside the educational field. We are actively seeking individuals who value equitable education and are committed to fostering an environment of belonging for our diverse student body.

The Girls’ Middle School is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action employer committed to a policy of equal treatment and opportunity in every aspect of its hiring and promotion process without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sexual orientation, partnership status, gender and/or gender identity or expression, marital, parental or familial status, national origin, ethnicity, veteran or military status, age, disability, or any other legally protected basis.

Compensation and Benefits:

Comprehensive Employee Health Benefits (full medical, dental & vision coverage)

Retirement matching

Access to engaging and personalized professional development

The Girls’ Middle School uses a competitive salary scale. The salary for this position ranges from $70,000 to $110,000 annualized for a full-time position, commensurate with experience.

Please send resume/CV and letter of interest to the Assistant Head of School, Megan Gilbuena, at employment@girlsms.org.