St. James is seeking engaging and passionate educators motivated by an opportunity to bring high quality, intentional instruction to our school community, serving students grades 4 through 8. St. James is a holistically framed school, prioritizing the opportunity to offer top of the line, community based middle school education to our neighboring students and families. We are so much more than a school, join our team!
Schoolhouse Support Specialist
This unique position is a melding of Instructional and Wellness Supports. The Schoolhouse Support Specialist will act as the designated coverage person for staff absences and extended leaves. In addition to the coverage duties, they will support the Wellness Team by helping to implement and maintain our integrated wellness approach to discipline.
Instructional Support Responsibilities
The Instructional Support Specialist serves as a steady, caring presence in the school community, ensuring that learning and connection continue seamlessly in any classroom. This role supports students’ academic growth and emotional well-being by fostering positive relationships, maintaining consistency, and upholding the school’s values of respect, inclusion, and care. As a flexible member of the instructional team, the Instructional Support Specialist serves as a Building Sub, helping to create a supportive environment where every student feels seen, safe, and ready to learn.
- Build positive, respectful relationships with students while providing a consistent and supportive classroom presence in the absence of the regular teacher.
- Foster an engaging and inclusive learning environment by adapting lessons and routines to meet students’ academic and social-emotional needs.
- Support students’ learning and well-being across grade levels and subjects, maintaining continuity and care throughout the school day.
- Collaborate with teachers, staff, and the wellness team to promote a sense of belonging, safety, and respect across the school community.
Content awareness may be required in any of the following areas.
English Language ArtsMathScienceSocial StudiesMusicArtReligionTechnologyAdditional Key Responsibilities :
Able to adhere to the hours of the position’s scheduleImplements curricular resources to develop responsive lesson plans for a variety of student ability levels.Uses authentic and varied forms of assessmentCreates a warm, palpable classroom environmentAble to problem solve, think critically and keep students in the forefront of planningCommunicates often with parents / guardians, especially about student successSchedules and attends parent / guardian conferences and home visitsIdentifies student needs and cooperates with other professional staff members (counselors, teachers, nurse, chaplain, support staff ) in a one team effort to assess and help students reach successDisciplines effectively, compassionately and consistentlyTeaches 4 days of Saturday school per school yearTeachers are encouraged to serve on school committees / groups (e.g. School Culture Committee, Racial Equity Team, Student Services Team, Talent Recruitment Advisory Committee, Faculty Staff Choir, etc.)Required to attend school wide events, including, but not limited to : Board Meet & Greet, Fall Staff Retreat, All Saint's Day Full School Mass, Thanksgiving Family Feast, Advent Family Event, Christmas Mass, Epiphany Mass, MLK Day of Service, Absalom Jones Mass, Ash Wednesday Service, Palm "Sunday" Mass, Maundy Thursday Mass, Good Friday Service, Easter Mass Monday, Feast of St. James the Less, Pentecost Mass, Baccalaureate, Commencement, Staff Retreat, and all weekly Masses (majority of these are during the school day)Qualifications / Requirements :
Master's Degree or Bachelor's Degree (education degree preferred)Middle School Teaching Experience preferredDesire to work in a small school community that values hard work and long hoursFBI, Child Abuse and PA Criminal ClearancesAbout St. James School
Mission Statement : St. James is a faith-based educational community deeply rooted in transformative loving relationships.Vision Statement : A world without inequities.Values Statement : St. James…Believes … that every person is a child of God
Recognizes … that every moment is an opportunity for learning
Understands … the value of listening, discerning, and growing together
Strives … to create disruptive change around educational, wealth, health, and other disparities
Honors … the dignity of every human person
Partners with … other advocates for social justice
The School serves students and families who are most in need, providing a full scholarship to every student. Students benefit from small class sizes, an extended day, robust music programs, extensive social-emotional support, and 11-month school year (Sept. - July).The Graduate Support Program is a lifelong commitment to every child. It prepares students for future success and supports them along the way – through high school, college, careers, and beyond.The Welcome Table designs community actions and creates spaces for members of the school and broader community to access essential needs and experience a community of sharing.The Church of St. James the Less seeks to be a place to encounter God, build community and grow personally with weekly mass and worship services.Learn more at : www.stjamesphila.orgCommitment to Anti-Racism Education : So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation : everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation. (2 Corinthians 5 : 17-18)St. James School is committed to partnering with others to dismantle systemic racism and to build an antiracist multicultural diversity within our school community and beyond. Through teaching a more complete and unbiased history, St. James School will arm students, graduates and employees with the tools and knowledge to better engage complex issues like systemic racism and privilege and to hopefully solve them rather than contributing to them.
Application Requirements :
Qualified candidates should submit a resume, cover letter and salary requirements for consideration. We regret that we cannot respond to every applicant. Only those of interest will be contacted.
Equal Opportunity Employer :
St. James School is an equal opportunity employer and makes employment decisions on the basis of merit. St. James School seeks to have the best available person in every job. St. James School policy prohibits discrimination based on race, color, creed, sex, marital status, age, national origin, physical or mental disability, medical condition, ancestry, religion, sexual orientation, or any other consideration made unlawful by federal, state, or local law, ordinance, or regulation. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including hiring, training, promotion, discipline, compensation, benefits, and termination of employment. All unlawful discrimination is expressly prohibited.