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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Chief Financial Officer
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 collaborative, nimble, and goal-oriented Chief Financial Officer (CFO) to oversee all aspects of the school’s financial operations. The candidate for this position must have equal parts strategic capacity and operational acumen and should be effective at collaborating and executing with teams throughout the organization.
The CFO plays a vital role in the Allendale Columbia School community. Reporting to the Head of School, they will participate in strategic planning and high-level decision making with the Head of School and Board Committees. The CFO will have direct supervision of the Business Office which is responsible for all aspects of accounting, financial reporting, accounts payable, accounts receivable, payroll, annual audit, etc. Additionally, the CFO will have supervisory responsibility for the facilities and food services operations, along with the financial aspects of the after school program and summer programs. The CFO will play a major role during the planning and implementation of any construction projects and the tracking of related funding needs.

Job responsibilities will include:
- Working with the Head of School to develop the annual school budget, presents a proposed budget to the Board, and actively manages expenses to the budget throughout the year.
- Preparing quarterly dynamic updates to the Strategic Financial Model to provide a basis for budgets consistent with the school’s Strategic Priorities.
- Establishing appropriate financial controls and procedures to manage the resources of the school consistent with the budget.
- Overseeing the business and human resources offices, and leading the operation of facilities, food service, and after school/summer programs.
- Establishing and maintaining relationships with financial institutions and vendors related to accounts payable and accounts receivable including tuition payments, development gift accounting, banking, and investments.
- Managing the school’s financial aid by processing applications and recommending awards to the Financial Aid Committee.
- Managing the school’s insurance and overseeing risk management, including cyber-security
- Serving as the primary contact with auditors, oversees the Business Office Manager, and prepares statements for annual audits.
- Serving as the staff person for the Board Finance Committee, Board Audit Committee, and Board Investment Committee. Actively participates in meetings held by the Board Buildings and Grounds Committee, the Financial Aid Committee, and the AC Leadership Team.
- Actively participating in independent school association events and providing peer school data to the Head of School and Board committees on an annual basis.
The ideal candidate will have:
- A combination of education and experience equivalent to a master's degree in accounting, business, finance, or a related field.
- Experience should include a solid grounding in fundamental finance and accounting systems and procedures; expertise in forecasting and financial modeling; significant depth of experience in financial analysis and reporting.
- At least 5 years of experience in a CFO, Controller or Business Manager role preferred
- Advanced Excel skills, prior experience working in a Google environment, and a strong working knowledge of business accounting policies, procedures, practices, and financial software programs, such as Blackbaud and other accounting software
- The ability to work effectively with trustees, faculty, staff, and external constituents.
- Experience working with external auditors, implementing internal controls, and managing compliance-related issues
- Demonstrated ability to manage personnel with diverse backgrounds and execute all duties with demonstrated sensitivity, and an understanding of the diverse academic, socioeconomic, gender, and ethnic backgrounds of the AC community
- Proof of COVID-19 vaccination
Please email resume and letter of interest to the Executive Assistant to the Head of School, Anita Hagen, at ahagen@allendalecolumbia.org. Write your full name and “Chief Financial Officer” in the subject line. Please do not send a fax or a paper copy.

Faculty Positions

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Kindergarten Teacher
Allendale Columbia School (AC) seeks a collaborative and creative teacher to be part of AC’s Lower School team. The person who is hired for this position will work collaboratively with other teachers, specialists, and the Head of Lower School to provide a strong inquiry-based student-centered program. The ability to assess and address individual needs in foundational skills and facilitate project-based learning are qualities that the successful candidate will possess. This full-time appointment will begin for the 2023-2024 school year.

Major Areas of Responsibility:
- Teaching a Kindergarten class in collaboration with another teacher
- Working in collaboration with the Head of Lower School, other teachers, specialists, and staff members to ensure curriculum alignment and appropriate implementation of student-centered learning
- Effectively communicating with parents, AC leadership, faculty, and staff about student needs and progress
- Reporting on student progress through conferences and written reports
- Other responsibilities include: participation in family-style lunch with students, assisting with dismissal, and attending faculty meetings
Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree
- Minimum of two years of experience teaching lower/elementary school-level students
- Must possess excellent communication skills and the ability to communicate effectively with parents and the greater community
- Must have a passion for inquiry-based, student-centered programs and project-based learning
- Be a team player willing to try innovative and creative ways to bring excitement to learning and the classroom
- Proof of COVID-19 vaccination
How to apply:
Please send a cover letter and resume to Martha Harvey, Director of Human Resources, at jobs@allendalecolumbia.org with the subject line “Lower School Teacher.” Please do not send a fax or a paper copy. For more information, visit www.allendalecolumbia.org.
Lower School General Music Teacher
Allendale Columbia School seeks an experienced, dynamic learner to join a team of professionals responsible for innovative, authentic, and student-centered programming. We are seeking to fill the position of General Music Teacher for our students in Pre-Primary through 5th Grade as a Long Term Substitute. This full-time appointment will begin in August 2023, and will last through October 2023.

The ideal candidate will have:
- A degree in music education or the equivalent experience
- Experience teaching in an early childhood (students ages 5 and below) and elementary music program
- Familiarity with the a variety of methodologies in music education and experience implementing them into a classroom setting
- The ongoing desire to learn and collaborate with peers
- An understanding of Project-Based Learning (PBL) and integration of music into PBL units of instruction working collaboratively with colleagues
- Excellent musicianship and artistry as a teacher and performer
- A willingness to design new courses and curricula as education evolves
- The ability to demonstrate growth mindset, optimism, flexibility, and belief that all students can learn
- Be a team player willing to try innovative and creative ways to bring excitement to the lower school music program
- Ability to use Apple TV, SMART Board, iPad, etc. as tools to support and deepen student learning and instruction
- 2-3 years of experience in an independent school is preferred, but not required
- Proof of COVID-19 vaccination
Interested candidates should send a cover letter and resume with the subject line General Music Teacher to jobs@allendalecolumbia.org. Please do not send a fax or paper copy.
Lower School Literacy Specialist
Allendale Columbia School (AC) seeks a collaborative and creative teacher to be part of AC’s Lower School team. The person who is hired for this position will work closely with other teachers, specialists, and the Head of Lower School to further develop our inquiry based, student-centered literacy program.

The ability to assess and address individual needs in foundational literacy skills are qualities that the successful candidate will possess. The Literacy Specialist will focus on enhancing teachers’ abilities to provide instruction that builds students’ literacy skills, addresses our written curriculum and enhances students’ engagement and ownership of their learning. In addition, as a member of a professional community, the Literacy Specialist will participate in professional development and inquiry into his or her own practice.

This full-time appointment will begin in August 2023, and will last through approximately December 2023.

Major Areas of Responsibility:
- Meeting with teachers one-on-one to plan for effective literacy instruction
- Facilitate professional development for teachers
- Helping to select reading materials and writing assignments, and to create lesson plans, rubrics, and curricula
- Understanding of the development of phonemic awareness and phonics instruction
- Observing teachers at work and providing feedback on their teaching techniques, modeling practices that have been proven effective
- Documenting and using data generated by assessment results to help teachers identify areas that may require further instruction, and to keep the Head of Lower School apprised of student achievement
- Monitor the progress of struggling students and offer suggestions for intervention
- Participate as a member of the student success team to develop plans of support for students in need
  Qualifications:
- Masters degree (Reading Specialist endorsement preferred)
- Experience in an educational setting; independent school preferred
- 3 to 5 years’ experience in literacy content area
- Excellent written and oral communication skills
- Comfortable with technology
- Be a team player - a desire to work in a team-oriented environment and collaborate effectively with colleagues
- Proof of COVID-19 vaccination
How to Apply
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.

Staff Positions

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Little School Teaching Assistant
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 part time employment that could fluctuate between the hours of 7:30 am - 6:00 pm
- Have dependable transportation
- Proof of COVID-19 vaccination
How to Apply
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.
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
How to Apply
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.
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.