Private School Staff Job Description

What a good one includes

• A captivating summary of your school's founding mission, values, and student community to immediately capture the right candidate's interest.
• A clear outline of your preferred teaching philosophies, whether that is Montessori, International Baccalaureate, Harkness, or progressive experiential learning.
• A detailed, prioritized list of classroom or administrative responsibilities, including prep time, grading, advisory duties, and student supervision.
• Specific details on required participation in the school's broader life, such as coaching sports, leading clubs, or attending boarding school residential shifts.
• A precise list of required certifications, degrees, background clearance standards, and preferred years of experience in an independent school setting.
• A descriptive section highlighting the soft skills, emotional intelligence, and collaborative mindset needed to thrive among your faculty.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Using generic public school templates that fail to highlight the unique mission, autonomy, and community-driven culture of independent schools.
• Failing to specify mandatory coaching, club advising, or weekend boarding house duties, which leads to misaligned expectations and early turnover.
• Overloading the description with an unrealistic list of credentials that intimidates highly qualified, non-traditional educators who would be a perfect fit.
• Focusing solely on daily tasks while neglecting to share the school's unique ethos, resulting in transactional applications rather than mission-driven educators.

Frequently asked questions