Employment Opportunities

JOIN A COMMUNITY OF OUTSTANDING EDUCATORS

Allendale Columbia School (AC) is a diverse, co-educational, independent school serving students in grades nursery through 12 that prepares students for the world they will inherit.

Thank you for your interest in employment at Allendale Columbia School. We are committed to attracting and maintaining an outstanding faculty and staff, realizing that the quality of the people who work at a school is central to its success. Application for administrative, faculty, staff, and substitute positions includes a letter of interest and a resume addressed to the contact outlined within the descriptions below. We appoint administrators, faculty, staff, and substitutes on the basis of their experience, educational background, and potential to contribute to the education of our students and life of the school. We seek candidates with a strong background in their academic discipline or area of expertise, an interest in young people, and excellent communication skills. We do not require certification, and we do not use an application form. Allendale Columbia School is committed to a policy of Equal Employment Opportunity.

Administrative Positions

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Head of Lower School
Allendale Columbia (AC) is a thriving, diverse community of learners who engage locally and internationally to create opportunities to design, imagine, learn, and make a positive impact. Serving over 385 students in Little School through Grade 12, AC seeks an experienced, dynamic educator and a curious learner to join a team of professionals responsible for innovative, authentic, and student-centered programming. Reporting directly to the Head of School, and a vital member of the school’s Leadership Team, the Head of Lower School is responsible for leading, inspiring, supporting, and hiring a talented team of approximately 40 faculty and staff. The Head of Lower School is also responsible for creating a culture of collaboration and kindness for our Little, Pre-Primary, and Lower School students and their families to enjoy.

A successful new Head of Lower School at AC will be:
- A community builder who can create a clear vision and forward-thinking direction for the Lower School based on a thorough knowledge of best practices, a growth mindset, strategic thinking, and high energy;
- A warm, compassionate, and thoughtful leader who puts students at the center of every decision;
- A leader with a track record of fostering a happy and thriving Lower School environment;
- An engaging, calm, visible, and inspiring leader;
- An excellent communicator, in all forms, both with students and adults;
- An educator dedicated to creating and embracing meaningful connections with parents;
- A leader who demonstrates the ability to think and act strategically in equal parts;
- An educator who demonstrates a sense of humor; and
- An advocate for the Lower School while working collaboratively with the school’s Leadership Team to establish and execute broader institutional goals.
Job responsibilities will include:
- Developing, upholding, and advancing an affirming, inclusive climate in the lower school that prizes justice, equity, and diversity
- Managing a faculty/staff of 40, including Director of Little School and Pre-Primary, Lower School Dean of Students, teachers and specialists
- Oversight of the Allendale Columbia wrap-around care program, Rainbow Room
- Preparing a master daily schedule and assigning teachers and students to classes and other duties
- Designing and facilitating professional development for Lower School faculty in conjunction with the Director of Curriculum and Innovation
- Supervising, supporting, and evaluating faculty in the development and implementation of curriculum; reviewing and evaluating the Lower School academic program
- Conducting regular meetings with faculty to collaborate, including monthly division meetings
- Overseeing the coordination of the programs of the Lower School; assisting in the planning and the presentation of school assemblies, programs, and informing the entire school community of Lower School programs and activities
- Administering and management of the Lower School budget
- Participation in the admissions process in conjunction with the Director of Enrollment
The ideal candidate will:
- Have at least five years of experience working with Pre-Primary and Lower School students (ages 3-12), preferably in a leadership role.
- Have a master’s degree or higher in elementary education or school leadership.
- Be a natural leader and self-starter, and thrive in a creative role that has room to be defined by the person filling it.
To apply:
Interested and qualified candidates should submit electronically, as separate documents (preferably PDFs), the following materials:
- Formal cover letter of application stating desire to apply.
- Current résumé.
- Statement of leadership philosophy.
- At least three references, including name, title, relationship with candidate, phone number, and email address for each.
Please send any candidate recommendations or referrals to
  Sally Mixsell, Partner, Educators Collaborative, LLC at
smixsell@educatorscollaborative.com or call 203-824-3653.

Faculty Positions

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AC Little School Assistant (Full-time)
Allendale Columbia’s Little School is a unique environment that provides children an early childhood education guided by the Reggio-Emilia Approach. We are seeking a creative, collaborative, energetic, and hard-working individual to be an assistant teacher in our Toddler (18 months through 3 years old) classroom for a full-time position. Our Reggio-Emilia approach believes that a child's development occurs through their interest, investigation, exploration, and experimentation of the world around them. We employ a combination of curriculum and guided projects allowing children to follow their natural curiosity while being introduced to new topics and ideas which we believe leads to a love of learning.

Responsibilities include:
- Assist teachers with the implementation of learning activities and materials
- Maintain a positive and engaging learning environment with teacher guidance
- Greet students and families while assisting them with routine procedures such as arrival activities and breakfast monitoring, bathroom breaks, mealtimes and help at dismissal
- Assist the teachers with administrative tasks such as attendance, documentation of the day (mealtimes, play, rest, bathroom) for families
- Arranging center tables for activities and sitting with students to assist them with tasks
- Encourages students to develop self-help skills and reinforce these skills as directed by the classroom teachers
- Assist in the supervision of children during playtime while inside and outside
Education and Experience:
- Be at least 18 years of age
- Have a high school degree or equivalent education
- Have at least 1 year of experience working with children and/or a certificate in early childhood education or currently working towards the completion of one
- Submit to various background checks including those completed through the New York Department of Children and Family Services
- Be CPR, First Aid, and Blood Borne Pathogen certified or obtain certification upon hire
- Complete a Tuberculosis test and physical and provide a physician’s documentation of both
- Possess a strong work ethic, be punctual, and have minimal absences
- Have an awareness of the unique needs of young children and have appropriate expectations of their abilities
- Be available for full time employment that could fluctuate between the hours of 7:30 am - 6:00 pm
- Have dependable transportation
- Proof of COVID-19 vaccination
Interested candidates should send a cover letter and resume to jobs@allendalecolumbia.org. Please do not send a fax or paper copy.
Middle/Upper School Counselor
The Middle and Upper School Counselor serves as a critical member of the school community. The counselor delivers and monitors interventions to support students in meeting and surpassing their individualized goals. The role will include providing core services to students and staff in prevention, consultation, intervention, and assessment. The counselor will work as part of the student support team and work closely with faculty and staff. The ideal candidate will have school experience and outside of school clinical experience.

The essential duties of a school counselor include, but are not limited to:

Provide direct services to the school community including:
- Serve as a resource for students, faculty, and families related to social and emotional challenges
- Individual and group counseling (school-based and mandated)
- Develop and implement curriculum for social and emotional development/intervention with students.
- Refer, monitor, and evaluate individuals and families to external resources and services
- Provide crisis intervention and behavior management to expedite students’ return to classrooms for learning and to build students’ ability to meet all social, emotional and academic expectations
- Administer records, documentation, and other compliance activities.
- Engage with outside providers related to specific student needs and challenges
- Make referrals when necessary to outside providers
- Collaborate with other support team members and be a resource to one another
- Communicate all necessary information to appropriate members of the school community
- Participate in team meetings about students’ and their needs.
- Attend division meetings and full faculty meetings; participate in school-wide and division-based committees and ad hoc committees where necessary.
Diversity and Equity Commitments:
- Understand and participate in all school-wide diversity and equity initiatives
- Examine support services through the lens of race, identity, equity, and privilege.
- Develop a SEL curriculum in conjunction with Director of Curriculum and Innovation, and Director Equity and Community Engagement of that provides students with an opportunity to recognize their many identities
Staff and Reporting Relationships:
The counselor reports to the Upper School and Middle School Division Heads. They also work collaboratively with the Dean of Students, occupational therapists, speech and language therapists, faculty, and other support staff.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
- LMSW, LCSW, LMHC, or LMFT preferred
- 3-5 years of direct experience; independent school experience a plus
- Strong oral and written communication with parents, children, and colleagues
- Commitment to equity and justice, including knowledge and skills related to cultural competencies
- The ability to create a classroom environment where students feel safe, supported and challenged
- Strong collaboration and teamwork skills
- Growth mindset and ability to use feedback to improve practice
- Ability to prioritize multiple competing urgent tasks
- Proof of COVID-19 vaccination
Please send resume to Martha Harvey, Director of Human Resources, at jobs@allendalecolumbia.org. Please include your full name and “Middle and Upper School Counselor” in the subject line. Please do not send a fax or a paper copy.

Staff Positions

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Part-Time After School and Vacation Day Teacher

Allendale Columbia, a diverse, co-educational, college prep independent school serving over 420 students in grades nursery through twelve, seeks an experienced, dynamic learner to join a team of professionals responsible for innovative and authentic programming! We are seeking to fill the position of Part-Time After School and Vacation Day Teacher in our Rainbow Room After School Program. Hours for this position are 2:30 – 6:00 p.m. after school days for the 2022-2023 school year, and 8-hour vacation days when school is not in session.

The Rainbow Room teacher will be working with our Pre-Primary students. The teacher leading this group has a focus on reading stories, playing games, and doing projects that include arts and crafts.

All Rainbow Room teachers help to generate games and projects; facilitate group games; play sports and engage in other types of play with the students; as well as lead projects such as cooking, writing, arts and crafts, photography, treasure hunts, and more. Important skills include the ability to help resolve conflicts and help students to try new things in the safety and comfort of our nourishing environment. Rainbow Room teachers instill cooperative community values, such as using manners and having empathy for their peers and community as a whole. Most importantly, Rainbow Room teachers try to make the after school time as fun as it can possibly be! A Bachelor's degree and experience with children are preferred.

Please send a cover letter and resume to jobs@alledalecolumbia.org with the subject line Rainbow Room Teacher for 2022-2023. Please do not send a fax or a paper copy.
Director of Little School and Pre-Primary
Allendale Columbia (AC) is a thriving, diverse community of learners who engage locally and internationally to create opportunities to design, imagine, learn, and make a positive impact. Serving over 385 students in Little School (18 mo-36 mo) through Grade 12, AC seeks a creative, collaborative, energetic, and hard-working individual to be the next Director of the Little School and Pre-Primary programs. Allendale Columbia’s Little School, AC3s and Pre-K programs are unique environments that provide children an early childhood education guided by the Reggio-Emilia approach to education. Our Reggio-Emilia approach believes that a child's development occurs through their interest, investigation, exploration, and experimentation of the world around them. The Director would oversee approximately 80 students and 17 faculty. We employ a combination of curriculum and guided projects allowing children to follow their natural curiosity while being introduced to new topics and ideas. This is a 12-month administrative position that reports directly to the Head of Lower School.

Major Areas of Responsibility
- Oversees hiring, training, scheduling, and overall day-to-day operations of the Little School, AC3s and Pre-K classrooms
- Serving as an active teacher in the Little School room each day
- Assists the Director of Admissions in the admission process for the testing, interviewing, and evaluating of applicants for enrollment
- Oversees the academic, social, and emotional well-being of early childhood students in partnership with the faculty, counselors, and learning specialists
- Oversees Rainbow Room Junior, our school year wrap around program for our 3 and 4 year old children from 2:30-6:00 p.m.
- Adheres to the record-keeping required by state licensing through the Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) of New York
- Operates childcare software HiMama or SeeSaw and utilizes it to the fullest potential, encouraging faculty to do the same
- Coordinates activities/working relationship between parents and the staff and faculty
- Leads staff meetings and participates in outside meetings, professional development, etc.
- Maintains a professional relationship with staff and faculty while still being approachable, warm and friendly
Qualifications / Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree, including or in addition to 12 credits in Early Childhood, Child Development or a related field; one year of full-time teaching experience in a child care center, family or group family day care home or other early childhood program; and one year of experience supervising staff in a child care program or a related field of work
- Proven record of recruiting, retaining and motivating a teaching staff to go beyond the basics of their teaching experience
- Extensive study of Reggio-inspired practices and exposure to many different Reggio-inspired schools through visitations, educator exchanges, professional development, etc.
- Highly organized and detail-oriented individual
- Excellent interpersonal skills and depth of experience teaching and leading a range of early childhood and elementary school grades and supervising and supporting faculty
- Technologically savvy with an understanding of Google Suite
- Communicate proactively, efficiently and effectively with parents, faculty and colleagues
- Visionary personality and perspective needed to carry the school forward. Strong, independent self-motivated individual who is confident in running a early childhood education program and has a clear vision and direction
- Proof of COVID-19 vaccination
How to Apply
Please send your resume and cover letter to Martha Harvey, Director of Human Resources, via jobs@allendalecolumbia.org. Visit www.allendalecolumbia.org for more information about the school. Only qualified candidates will be notified regarding their submission. Thank you in advance for your interest in leading a visionary Reggio-inspired program.
Food Service Staff Member
Allendale Columbia School is seeking a full time employee to work in the Food Service Department from 6:00 a.m. - 2:30 p.m, Monday through Friday, on school days only. The award-winning Allendale Columbia Food Service Department is committed to providing nutritious, sustainable meals to our community of students, faculty, and staff.

Major Areas of Responsibility:
- Meal/snack preparation for students in grades nursery-12 and employees as assigned by the Food Service Director
- Meal/snack preparation and delivery of food to AC’s The Little School
- Delivery of meals to specific locations when necessary
- Put away deliveries as needed with items weighing up to 50 pounds
- Work with kitchen equipment including, but not limited to, ovens, steamer, slicer, dish machine, and steam jacket kettle
- Work in the dish room and wash pots and pans as needed
- Maintain a clean work environment
- Clean kitchen equipment
- Sweep and mop the floor as needed
- Perform other duties as assigned by the Food Service Director
Qualifications:
- A positive attitude and ability to work as a member of our team
- Strong customer service skills
- Ability to read and comprehend a standardized recipe
- Strong preference will be given to those who possess ServSafe certification
- Ability to work in the hot environment of the dish room/kitchen
- Ability to stand, lift, and bend for most of the shift
- Ability to, with advance notice, work evening functions
- Proof of COVID-19 vaccination
  
  Please send resume to Martha Harvey, Director of Human Resources, at jobs@allendalecolumbia.org. Please include your full name and “Food Service” in the subject line. Please do not send a fax or a paper copy.
Substitute Teacher
Allendale Columbia is seeking experienced and dynamic educators to join a team of professionals responsible for innovative, authentic, and student-centered learning in various subject areas for Lower, Middle and Upper School grade levels (Nursery - Grade 12).

Duties to Include the Following:
- Carry out lesson plan instructions from the classroom teacher, and/or create lesson plans in absence of a prepared lesson
- Take attendance according to school procedure each morning
- Supplement lesson plans with your own class activities if lessons end early
- Create and maintain a discipline and classroom control that fosters a safe and productive learning environment
Qualifications:
- Experience working with students
- Experience/skills in working with collaborative relationships
- Good knowledge of behavior management techniques with children
- Flexibility and patience with an ever-changing schedule day to day
- Ability to communicate effectively, orally and in writing
- Ability to establish and maintain effective professional relationships with teachers, administrators, and family members
- Ability to use good judgment
- Be available for full-time employment that could fluctuate between the hours of 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
- Proof of COVID-19 vaccination
Interested candidates should send a cover letter and resume to Martha Harvey, Director of Human Resources, at jobs@allendalecolumbia.org. Please do not send a fax or paper copy.

Benefits

Benefits for full-time Allendale Columbia School employees include medical and dental insurance for the individual, TIAA/CREF retirement plan contributions, life insurance, generous support for professional development, lunch in the Dining Commons, and partial tuition remission for qualified children. All faculty members are issued a laptop.

Allendale Columbia School, as an equal opportunity employer, does not discriminate in its hiring of employees on the basis of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, religion, creed, national origin, citizenship, marital or veteran status, age or disability. We actively seek diversity among faculty and administration as well as among students.

To view our Title IX Compliance Policy Statement, click here.