Summer Academy Lead Teacher (Grades 1-5)

Overview

Horizons Greater Washington (HGW) seeks dedicated and effective candidates with classroom experience and a penchant for cultivating students’ lifelong love of learning for the role of Grades 1-5 Lead Teacher in our five-week Summer Academy enrichment program.

Work Location

Norwood School

8821 River Road

Bethesda, MD 20817

Schedule

The typical daily schedule will be Monday through Friday 8 am to 3:15 pm. For staff members who are riding the bus for bus duty, your schedule will adjust accordingly, based on bus schedules.

2025 Program Dates

Staff Orientation: 06/23/2025-06/26/2025

Summer Program: 06/27/2025-08/01/2025

• There will be no program on Friday, July 4th in observance of Independence Day

About Horizons Greater Washington

Horizons Greater Washington (HGW), an affiliate of Horizons National, advances its mission of educational equity by building long-term partnerships with students, families, communities, and schools to create experiences outside of school that inspire the joy of learning. HGW supports over 400 students in grades 1-9 with year-round programming, developing the whole child through experiences that build problem-solving skills, foster awareness of community responsibility, and instill respect for self and others. By spanning from first to ninth grade, the program nurtures long-term connections between diverse learners and dedicated staff who support them throughout the year. HGW program design and staff practices follow a Positive Youth Development approach, emphasizing engagement, interaction, support, and a safe environment as key components that meet the needs of youth. The five-week Summer Academy is Horizons’ core program, blending high-quality academics – with an emphasis on literacy, math, and STEAM – with social-emotional learning, swimming, hands-on projects, high-quality art lessons, and confidence-building challenges to boost engagement and improve outcomes.

Position Description

HGW seeks dedicated and effective candidates with classroom experience and a penchant for cultivating students’ lifelong love of learning for the role of Grades 1-5 Lead Teacher. Each Lead Teacher will work with a teaching assistant and/or program support staff, volunteer classroom assistant, and certified reading specialist to deliver an engaging, inquiry-based curriculum in small classes of no more than 20 students. Additionally, Lead Teachers are supported by a Site Director and the HGW administrative team. Lead teachers leverage their experience and expertise in project-based instruction, behavior management, and differentiation to ensure students have a highly impactful summer learning experience. Successful applicants will be flexible and creative in response to students’ interests and needs, passionate about Horizons’ mission and building transformative relationships with young people, and self-driven, demonstrating a commitment to quality and growth.

Core Duties and Responsibilities

Teaching & Student Engagement

• Implement Horizons’ high-quality, culturally responsive, project-based curriculum with effective teaching strategies to bolster student progress throughout our five-week summer enrichment program.
• Engage approximately 15-20 students in daily lessons that promote active, student-centered learning in math and reading and project time.
• Analyze student assessment data to inform decision making and improve instruction, consulting with the Site Director and Reading Specialists as necessary.
• Lead already planned experiential learning experiences and accompany students on field trips.
• Collaborate with teaching assistants and/or program support staff to deliver lessons and activities.

Classroom & Program Management:

• Establish and maintain a classroom environment conducive to learning. HGW’s programs adhere to the Pyramid of Program Quality designed by the David Weikart Center for Youth Program Quality. All HGW staff strive to support the domains of Engagement, Interaction, Supportive Environment, and Safe Environment to support the needs of youth.
• Maintain daily attendance records, execute and follow lesson plans from normed Horizons curriculum, and provide formative feedback to the Site Director on a consistent basis.
• Assist in the administration of student assessments.
• Supervise students during daily meals and recess.
• Prepare and submit a final evaluation of each student’s progress prior to the end of the program.
• Meet regularly with the Site Director (and Program Director as needed) to proactively accomplish goals and problem solve as issues arise.
• Ensure compliance with state and organizational regulations and policies.

Professional Development & Team Building

• Attend a four-day orientation session prior to the start of the program (as noted in the dates above) Attend Family Night, Faculty Meetings, and other activities, including those that may fall outside the program hours.

Required Qualifications and Competencies

In addition to having a steadfast commitment to Horizon’s mission, the ideal candidate will possess classroom experience in project-based instruction, behavior management, and differentiation. Candidates must also be flexible, organized, and self-driven.

• High School Diploma or GED required
• Equivalent experience to BA/BS degree
• Knowledge of best practices for classroom management as well as social-emotional learning and the ability to implement specific strategies for developing children’s non-cognitive skills such as focus, determination, empathy and self-discipline
• Proven ability to plan and deliver engaging, challenging lessons for school-aged children
• Excellent communicative, organizational, and time management skills
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively as a member of a multidisciplinary team

Preferred Qualifications and Competencies

• BA/BS degree from an accredited college or university preferred but equivalent experience considered
• Position-relevant teaching credentials are strongly preferred, but equivalent content expertise or teaching experience will be considered in lieu of certification
• Experience teaching elementary and/or middle school-aged students in a classroom setting is strongly preferred
• Knowledge of effective teaching strategies for second language learners is preferred

Compensation

This is a salaried position, ranging from $5,357 to $6,482 for six weeks, with a 40-hour work week at hourly pay rates ranging from $22.32 to $27.01. The specific pay for each teacher is determined by our teacher pay model that accounts for education and academic year teaching experience to ensure equity across all teachers.

There is an opportunity for the staff to earn a bus bonus of $30 per ride.

How to Apply

Please fill out our online application which will include uploading a current copy of your resume. Applications will be considered on a rolling basis, with interviews beginning in mid-January. Final candidates will be subject to a reference check.

Background Check Requirements

All offers of employment to employees 18 or over are contingent on the successful completion of the background checks described below:

• • Fingerprinting (FBI) (MD & DC)
  • MD Criminal Database Background Check (MD)
  • Maryland Child Protective Services Clearance (MD)
  • DC Child and Family Services Agency (CFSA) Child Protection Registry (CPR) (DC)
  • Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) Criminal Background Check (DC)
  • National Sex Offender Registry (DC)

All offers of employment at Horizons Greater Washington are contingent upon clear results of the above suitability checks. Background checks will be conducted on all final candidates immediately after acceptance of employment offer and on all employees who are promoted, as deemed necessary.

COVID-19

Horizons Greater Washington is committed to providing and maintaining a workplace that is free of known hazards. As such, we strongly encourage our employees to receive the latest COVID vaccination to minimize the risk of infectious disease in our workplace.

Environmental and Physical Conditions

The environmental factors and/or physical requirements of this position include the following: While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to have ordinary ambulatory skills sufficient to visit other locations; and the ability to stand, walk, stoop, kneel, crouch, and manipulate (lift, carry, move) light to medium weights of up to 20 pounds. Requires good hand-eye coordination, arm, hand and finger dexterity, including ability to grasp, and visual acuity to use a keyboard. The employee frequently is required to be in one position for long periods of screen use, reach with hands and arms, and talk and hear both in person and over devices. The employee interacts in close spaces and frequently with children and other staff. May be in situations which require conflict resolution. The employee must have visual, auditory, and physical ability to respond quickly to critical incidents involving students and act in an emergency situation. Work is performed in a school environment with artificial light and air, with occasional trips off-site to parks, museums, etc.

Horizons Greater Washington is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate in employment opportunities or practices on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, marital status, personal appearance, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, family responsibilities, political affiliation, disability, genetic information, matriculation, source of income, place of business or residence, pregnancy, homeless status, or any other status protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.