Lower School Religion Teacher and Lay Chaplain

  St. Catherine's School is an Episcopal day school in Richmond, Virginia, founded in 1890 enrolling roughly 950 girls age 3 through grade 12. Located on a 16-acre campus in the western part of the city, St. Catherine's core values include pursuing academic excellence, developing character, nurturing spiritual growth, celebrating individuals, and building community.  St. Catherine's School provides a rigorous education that prepares girls with diverse perspectives for a lifetime of learning, leadership, and service in a global community. POSITION OVERVIEW  The Lower School Religion teacher is responsible for developing a flexible religion program rooted in the School’s Episcopal identity and creating a learning environment designed to cultivate each student’s innate spirituality, personal growth and love of learning. This teacher is expected to stay current with best practices in religious education, particularly with girls’ education. Establishing and maintaining positive relationships with parents and other faculty/staff members is essential. The Lower School Religion teacher is expected to collaborate effectively with other faculty/staff members, be the Lower School Religion Department Coordinator, collaborate with department members and the School Chaplain, and support the school’s mission and core values. Supervisor: Head of Lower School and Early Childhood Position Status: Salaried, exempt, full-time, 9 months Hours of Work: Standard work week. Evening and weekend work may be required.  ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES  Developing and teaching a high-quality, engaging curriculum for Early Learners to Grade 4, whose objectives are based on the school’s commitment to its Episcopal identity and core values, and incorporates a strong understanding of developmental stages and a variety of teaching strategies Serving as lay chaplain to the Lower School, delivering messages to students in Chapel in a way that reaches a wide variety of developmental ages and stages, collaborating with the school chaplain to plan and implement special Chapel services, and supporting School families as needed  Supporting colleagues in preparing class-led chapels Communicating with parents through monthly updates, conferences, narrative report card comments, emails, and/or phone calls as needed to discuss students’ progress and explain the school program/curriculum Contributing positively to the School’s culture and community by adhering to the professional standards outlined by the School REQUIREMENTS AND QUALIFICATIONS  Bachelor’s degree in related field from accredited university Experience fostering Episcopal identity and spiritual formation within children is preferred, but not necessary for hiring Experience leading Episcopal chapel/church services as a lay leader Demonstrate adaptability to new and evolving technology, and the ability to show innovation and vision related to the efficient processing of information related to this role  Demonstrate proficiency with oral and written communication PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORK ENVIRONMENT  While performing the duties of this position, the employee is required to sit; stand; walk; use hands to finger, handle and feel objects, tools, or controls; reach with hands and arms; climb stairs; balance; stoop, kneel, crouch and crawl; talk and hear; engage in moderately strenuous physical activity both indoors and out; and smell. The employee may occasionally lift or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this position include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus. Ability to become CPR and First Aid Certified. TRAVEL  Travel is not a requirement for this role.  EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY STATEMENT  St. Catherine’s School does not discriminate on the basis of race, gender, sexual orientation, or national and ethnic origin in the administration of its hiring practices. St. Catherine’s School is committed to providing an inclusive educational environment. We actively engage students, families, faculty and staff from diverse backgrounds and experiences. Our School community respects the differences in ethnicity, race, religion, sexual orientation and socioeconomic status. St. Catherine’s fosters in our students, and experts from all others, respect for the dignity and wholeness of every person. For more information about the school’s Access, Equity and Belonging, please follow this link https://www.st.catherines.org/about/access-equity-andbelonging.  BACKGROUND CHECK STATEMENT  Each employee’s employment and continued employment is contingent upon the authorization for and completion of a successful background check – in the School’s ultimate opinion. Such background checks may involve criminal, credit, abuse and neglect and/or driving records. The School may request authorization for a background check at any time. Failure to authorize the School to conduct a background check may result in an applicant not being considered for a position and an employee to be terminated.   Note:  This position description has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work to be performed by employees within this classification. This position description should not be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties and responsibilities required or assigned to an employee in this position. Nothing contained in this position description restricts St. Catherine’s School’s right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this position at any time.