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The University of Pittsburgh/Falk Laboratory School is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer and values equality of opportunity, human dignity, and diversity. Equal Opportunity Employer, including disability/vets.

Director of Democratic Education

Falk Laboratory School, a coeducational K-8 school in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, seeks a full-time Director of Democratic Education. This is an exciting opportunity for a visionary professional to shape strategy related to democratic education and justice work in a K-8 laboratory school. This is a 12-month position with an anticipated start date of July 1, 2025.

Responsibilities and Duties

Instruction and Implementation

• Collaborate with Falk faculty in developing and implementing inclusive, social-justice-focused curricula and programs at all grade levels.
• Coordinate and teach social justice lessons for middle school students.
• Develop and implement a social justice curriculum for K-5 classrooms.

School Strategy

• With the Director and other members of the administrative leadership team, build a shared vision for school improvement with faculty and staff.
• Oversee the planning of activities and putting programs in place to ensure the attainment of the School’s progressive educational mission and philosophy surrounding justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion.
• Identify, analyze, and apply research findings (e.g., practical school correlates) to promote school improvement.
• Chairs search committees to fill teaching vacancies within the middle school division and works with the leadership team to orient new faculty to the School and its culture/systems.
• Communicate with the various constituencies that make up the School community.
• In collaboration with the Director and administrative leadership team, work to establish goals for and plan professional development activities and weekly faculty meetings.
• Contribute to the school’s long-term faculty and staff recruitment and retention strategy.

Student and Family Concerns

• Develop effective and trusting working relationships with Falk students, faculty, staff, and families, and help the community respond meaningfully to diversity and equity-related issues as they arise, particularly within the student body.
• Ensure student discipline is appropriate, equitable, and just, and follow the Student/Family Handbook and Code of Conduct, as well as within Falk’s progressive educational mission and ethos.
• Conduct conferences about student and school issues with parents, students, and teachers.

School and Community Relations

• Build relationships with diversity coordinators and leaders at other schools—both independent and public—as well as the University of Pittsburgh Office of Equity, Diversity, & Inclusion
• Build relationships with off-campus cultural resource organizations to support the learning experiences of Falk’s students.
• Confidently articulate and share the school’s progressive mission, vision, and values with and to the community.
• Demonstrate awareness of school and community needs and initiate activities to meet those needs.
• Use appropriate and practical techniques to advance inclusion and belonging for all.
• Assist with prospective family school tours during the admissions season. Attend admissions and/or advancement-related outreach events and activities, such as the welcome back family picnic, parent night, prospective parent information events (daytime and/or evening, where applicable), family nights, reunions, and so on.

Professional/Personal Demeanor, Comportment, and Growth

• Continue developing and attaining the necessary professional skills appropriate to the senior leader position in a school setting.
• Demonstrate professional, ethical, and responsible behavior at all times. Serve as a role model/exemplar for all faculty and staff.
• Demonstrate excellent verbal and written communication skills and have the ability to lead meetings with a variety of stakeholders.

Additional

• Other duties as assigned.

Working Conditions

Maintain emotional control under stress; frequent prolonged and irregular hours, with the ability to be on call in high-intensity/crises after-hours. This role requires the individual to move around the school to various rooms frequently.

Minimum Requirements

• Being an experienced and visionary practitioner in leading transformative, organizational change through a social justice lens
• Bachelor’s degree required. Master’s degree preferred.
• Strong preference will be given to individuals who have experience in one or more of the following: Administrative and/or program management; classroom teaching; working with students in grades K-8

Materials can be uploaded to join.pitt.edu. For full consideration, please submit:

1. Letter of application
2. Resume
3. An educational philosophy
4. Three recent letters of recommendation (not older than two years)
5. Unofficial transcripts (candidates may be requested to provide official transcripts at the time of hire)
6. Copy of PA instructional certificate or equivalent

Salary range is competitive and commensurate with experience. Falk Laboratory School, a department in the School of Education at the University of Pittsburgh, offers excellent benefits. Please direct questions to the search committee chair, Dr. Jill Sarada, at [email protected]. The review of applications will begin in the early Spring of 2025.  This is a 12-month position with an anticipated start date of July 1, 2025.

Offer of employment is contingent on the candidate satisfactorily obtaining and passing the following before commencement of appointment: Pennsylvania Department of Human Services Child Abuse History Clearance, Pennsylvania State Police Criminal Record Check, and FBI Criminal Record Check.  Candidates must also submit proof of a negative TB test before their first work day.  Also, as Act 168 of 2014 requires, the candidate must satisfy the requirements on the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Department of Education Sexual Misconduct/Abuse Disclosure Release Form.
 
For more information or to apply, view this position on the University's Talent Center webpage

The University of Pittsburgh is committed to championing all aspects of diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility within our community. This commitment is a fundamental value of the University and is crucial in helping us advance our mission, which includes attracting and retaining diverse workforces. We will continue to create and maintain an environment that allows individuals to discover, belong, contribute, and grow, while honoring the experiences, perspectives, and unique identities of all.

K-8 Spanish Teacher

Falk Laboratory School, a coeducational K-8 laboratory school in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, seeks a full-time, experienced, and dynamic Spanish teacher (K-8) for the next academic year beginning August 2025. 

The educator filling this role will be responsible for continuing to develop a program that features progressive ideas about Spanish instruction. The successful candidate will have a vision for dynamic approaches to Spanish education, excellent collaborative skills, and a willingness to support and engage in educational research. Demonstrated proficiency in speaking, writing, and reading Spanish will be expected.

Qualifications

• A Bachelor's Degree is required. A Master's Degree or demonstrated work towards a master's degree in Spanish teacher education or a related field is preferred.
• Teaching experience with elementary or middle school students is required—knowledge and experience with ACTFL standards and proficiency levels are preferred.
• Broad experience is advantageous, as participation across disciplines and grade levels is valued at our school; specific experience with middle school students is preferred.
• Highly creative work experience in Spanish Language pedagogy is an asset.

For full consideration, please submit:

1. Letter of application
2. Resume
3. An educational philosophy
4. Three letters of recommendation
5. Transcripts
6. PA teaching certification

The salary range is competitive and commensurate with experience, starting at $50,000. Falk School, affiliated with the School of Education at the University of Pittsburgh, offers excellent benefits.

Please direct questions to the search committee chair, Ms. Diana Dimitrovski, at [email protected]. The review of applications will begin in the early Spring of 2025 and continue until the position is filled.

Offers of employment are contingent on the candidate satisfactorily obtaining and passing the following before appointment: Pennsylvania Department of Human Services Child Abuse History Clearance, Pennsylvania State Police Criminal Record Check, FBI Criminal Record Check, and proof of a TB test.  Also, as Act 168 of 2014 requires, the candidate must satisfy the requirements stated on the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Department of Education Sexual Misconduct/Abuse Disclosure Release Form.

For more information or to apply, view this position on the University's Talent Center webpage

The University of Pittsburgh is committed to championing all aspects of diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility within our community. This commitment is a fundamental value of the University and is crucial in helping us advance our mission, which includes attracting and retaining diverse workforces. We will continue to create and maintain an environment that allows individuals to discover, belong, contribute, and grow, while honoring the experiences, perspectives, and unique identities of all.

Middle School Division Director

Falk Laboratory School, a coeducational K-8 school in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, seeks a full-time Middle School Division Director. The Division Director is the academic and administrative leader of the Middle School division and is responsible for working with students, parents, faculty, staff, curriculum, and program. This is a 12-month position with an anticipated start date of July 1, 2025.

Responsibilities and Duties

Instructional Management

• Monitor curricular content, classroom practices, and pedagogical approaches to ensure that program activities are commensurate with Falk’s mission, vision, and values as an inquiry-based, constructivist, progressive laboratory school for children in middle school grades (6-8).
• Provide instructional resources, materials, and formative and summative professional feedback to support faculty in delivering instruction that aligns with Falk’s mission, vision, and values as an inquiry-based, constructivist, progressive school for children in middle school grades.

Team Supervision and Leadership

• Foster collegiality and team building between and amongst faculty and staff. Encourage their active involvement in decision-making in their respective areas of concern.
• Serve as a primary liaison between the middle school division and the Director, faculty, staff, students, parents, and larger communities (Falk, SOE, University of Pittsburgh).
• Communicate and promote expectations for high-level performance to faculty and students. Recognize excellence and achievement.
• Ensure the effective and quick resolution of conflicts.

School Strategy

• With the Director and other members of the administrative leadership team, build a shared vision for school improvement with faculty and staff. Overseeing the planning of activities and putting programs in place to ensure the attainment of the School’s progressive educational mission and philosophy.
• Identify, analyze, and apply research findings (e.g., practical school correlates) to promote school improvement. 

Faculty Recruitment, Retention & Growth

• Chair search committees to fill teaching vacancies within the middle school division and work with the leadership team to orient new faculty to the School and its culture/systems.
• Establish annual goals with faculty concerning professional development and growth, instructional strategies, classroom management.
• Communicate with the various constituencies that make up the School community.
• Observe teachers in their practice, record observations, and conduct pre- and post-observation debrief conferences with individual teachers.
• Make recommendations to the Director on retention, promotion, termination, suspension, or non-renewal of faculty.
• In collaboration with the Director and administrative leadership team, work to establish goals for and plan professional development activities and weekly faculty meetings.
• Stay up-to-date on the University of Pittsburgh faculty collective bargaining agreement concerning current and future personnel matters.

Student and Family Concerns

• Work with faculty and students to develop student discipline management systems that result in positive student behavior, enhance the school climate, and remain firmly within Falk’s progressive educational mission and ethos as a school.
• Ensure student discipline is appropriate, equitable, and just, and follow the Student/Family Handbook and Code of Conduct, as well as within Falk’s progressive educational mission and ethos.
• Conduct conferences about student and school issues with parents, students, and teachers.

School and Community Relations

• Confidently articulate and share the school’s progressive mission, vision, and values with and to the community.
• Demonstrate awareness of school and community needs and initiate activities to meet those needs.
• Use appropriate and practical techniques to encourage community and family involvement, including composing semi-regular middle school newsletters and other communications.
• Assist with prospective family school tours during the admissions season. Attend admissions and/or advancement-related outreach events and activities, such as the welcome back family picnic, parent night, prospective parent information events (daytime and/or evening, where applicable), family nights, reunions, and so on.
• Participate in other community events related to Middle School, such as high school fairs, graduation, etc.

Professional/Personal Demeanor, Comportment, and Growth

• Continue developing and attaining the necessary professional skills appropriate to the senior leader position in a school setting.
• Demonstrate professional, ethical, and responsible behavior at all times. Serve as a role model/exemplar for all faculty and staff.
• Demonstrate excellent verbal and written communication skills and have the ability to lead meetings with a variety of stakeholders.

Additional

• Other duties as assigned. 

Working Conditions:

Maintain emotional control under stress; frequent prolonged and irregular hours, with the ability to be on call in high-intensity/crises after-hours. This role requires the individual to move around the school to various rooms frequently.

Salary range is competitive and commensurate with experience. Falk Laboratory School, a department in the School of Education at the University of Pittsburgh, offers excellent benefits. Please direct questions to the search committee chair, Dr. Jill Sarada, at [email protected]. The review of applications will begin in the Summer of 2024 and continue until the position is filled.

Minimum requirements

• Master’s degree in education.
• Minimum 9 years of classroom experience; administrative leadership experience preferred.
• Experience working with middle school preferred. 

Materials can be uploaded to join.pitt.edu. For full consideration, please submit:

1. Letter of application
2. Resume
3. An educational philosophy
4. Three recent letters of recommendation (not older than two years)
5. Unofficial transcripts (candidates may be requested to provide official transcripts at the time of hire)
6. Copy of PA instructional certificate or equivalent

Offer of employment is contingent on the candidate satisfactorily obtaining and passing the following before commencement of appointment: Pennsylvania Department of Human Services Child Abuse History Clearance, Pennsylvania State Police Criminal Record Check, and FBI Criminal Record Check. If hired, candidates must also submit proof of a negative TB test before their first work day. Also, as Act 168 of 2014 requires, the candidate must satisfy the requirements on the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Department of Education Sexual Misconduct/Abuse Disclosure Release Form.

For more information or to apply, view this position on the University's Talent Center webpage

The University of Pittsburgh is committed to championing all aspects of diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility within our community. This commitment is a fundamental value of the University and is crucial in helping us advance our mission, which includes attracting and retaining diverse workforces. We will continue to create and maintain an environment that allows individuals to discover, belong, contribute, and grow, while honoring the experiences, perspectives, and unique identities of all.

K-8 Substitute Teacher

Falk Laboratory School, a coeducational K-8 laboratory school in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, is accepting applications for Substitute Teacher Positions for the 2024–25 school year. Applications in all certification areas are welcome including Elementary, Secondary, and Subject area specializations. Please direct questions to Molly Hicks, Director of Administrative Operations, at [email protected].

For more information or to apply, view this position on the University's Talent Center webpage