McLean School in Potomac, Maryland announces a search for an Assistant Head of the Lower School and Coordinator of Learning Services.

The School

McLean School recognizes that all children are natural learners, but that they learn in different ways. The School’s Abilities Model® provides a more useful way to understand how student minds work, and how to support their learning. This approach recognizes each child for their strengths, providing support in areas of need and fostering resilience, transforming how students view themselves and their futures. McLean focuses on what a child can do, not what they can’t—all within a college preparatory program that incorporates challenging academics, championship sports teams, theater and visual arts, robotics, service learning, and more.

The School does not employ the traditional “Learning Specialist” that requires students to be pulled out from their classroom. Instead, every teacher is a specialist in learning. McLean has a Coordinator of Learning Services in each division who works seamlessly with students, teachers, and parents. In the Lower School, the Coordinator of Learning Services also serves as the Assistant Head. Expert faculty members teach the way students learn in smaller classes, embedding support in the classroom. These supports combine in different ways for different learners, evolving along with the student as they grow. This approach of scaffolding and gradual release builds confidence and resilience along with important learning habits. Comprehensive wellness and mindfulness programming also helps reduce stress and increase focus in learning and in life.

Reaching all corners of the McLean experience, the School’s commitment to diversity and equity is an extension of its mission to make education accessible, stimulating, and meaningful to a broad range of learners. McLean embraces diversity and values the integrity of all individuals. This recognition enriches the community and encourages students to be better leaders and more responsible citizens.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Assistant Head of Lower School and the Coordinator for Learning Services is responsible for understanding, monitoring, and advocating for students with diverse learning profiles. The Assistant Head also works with the Head of the Lower School to lead the Lower School faculty and support parents as the School fulfills its educational mission.  

S/he:

• Builds a relationship with each child to ensure they feel understood, nurtured, and challenged.
• Acts as a liaison between parents, teachers, and outside support providers.
• Assists classroom teachers and students who need extra support in all academic areas.
• Incorporates specialized training and knowledge in special education to communicate and support Lower School faculty members and provide them with testing information, recommendations, strategies, and accommodations, as needed.
• Serves on the Lower School Admission Committee, assisting in the discussion and decision making about student applicants.
• Assists the Head of Lower School regarding the hiring, retention, and the assignment of faculty and creates student schedules.
• Works with the Middle and Upper School Coordinators of Learning Services and Assistant Heads to maintain consistency and collaboration.
• Ensures that teachers are familiar with and adhere to school policies in all areas of school operations. 
• Schedules and attends new parent meetings and family conferences and maintains records and correspondence pertaining thereto. 
• Schedules and attends all Lower School team meetings and shares information with teams accordingly.
• Maintains student discipline and follows through with correspondence and/or recordkeeping relating to discipline. 
• Keeps the Head of Lower School fully informed on student and faculty issues and all other relevant matters. 
• Performs other duties as assigned by the Head of Lower School. 
• Cultivates a strong relationship with parents to support their students.
• Assesses needs for outside tutors and schedules these services, as needed. 

Qualifications, Experience, and Education

• Has demonstrated the leadership qualities and personal characteristics necessary for working effectively with students, teachers, and parents.
• Has extensive experience working with students with learning challenges.
• Is creative, responsive to change, and has strong written and verbal communication skills. 
• Is willing to work independently as well as a collegial member of a team and community.
• Possesses strong organizational and follow-up skills.
• Displays a collaborative spirit and growth mindset.
• Is committed to professional development for self and others. Cultivates a strong relationship with parents to support their students.
• Has at least three years of successful experience as a classroom teacher at the Lower School level and/or two years of successful experience at an Administrative level.
• Holds Bachelor’s Degree in education or special education. A Master’s Degree in education or special education is preferred.  

If interested, please send a cover letter and a current resume to Robin Speller, Executive Support Manager, at rspeller@mcleanschool.org.

McLean School, a K-12 co-educational independent school in Potomac, Maryland, seeks applicants for an Upper School AP Physics (part A), Physics and Math Teacher position to begin in August 2022. The ideal candidate will be able to create and teach an Advanced Physics class (through which some students may opt to take the AP Physics C exam, but which would not be required to follow the AP curriculum specifically) and will be able to teach advanced math classes. The ability and willingness to teach additional science classes such as Chemistry would be ideal. Overall, we are looking for a teacher with a creative mindset and an interest in helping to design more creative and less traditional science classes.

The AP Physics, Physics, and Math Teacher will have an appreciation for students with mild to moderate learning challenges, and ADHD, and will seek to build self-confidence in our students as they learn to advocate and to prepare for success in college and beyond. This position requires a dynamic science educator with vision and patience. Most important, the individual will subscribe to our Core Values, our Mission, and our Philosophy, and will seek passionately to uphold and promote them. Additional duties will include sponsoring an Upper School club or committee, advising a group of students, assisting with projects and school wide-initiatives.

McLean School has for over sixty-five years been helping bright students realize their full potential by providing a comprehensive college preparatory program that emphasizes small classes and differentiated instruction. Through our Abilities Model®, we embrace both traditional learners and ones with mild to moderate learning challenges. We recognize and teach to individual strengths, responding to areas of challenge, but never defining students by them.

Interested applicants should send a cover letter and résumé to Head of Upper School, Chapin Miller, at cmiller@mcleanschool.org.

McLean School seeks applicants for a Grades 5 & 6 Science Teacher beginning in August 2022.

McLean School is an independent, co-educational, K-12 day school in Potomac, Maryland serving the Washington, DC metropolitan area. McLean School has for over sixty-five years been helping bright students realize their full potential by providing a comprehensive college preparatory program that emphasizes small classes and differentiated instruction. Through our Abilities Model®, we embrace both traditional learners and ones with mild to moderate learning challenges. We recognize and teach to individual strengths, responding to areas of challenge, but never defining students by them.

The Grades 5 & 6 Science Teacher will teach multiple sections of science in grades 5 and 6. The ideal candidate will have a background in science and/or teaching. We welcome candidates who are committed to student-centered pedagogy, differentiated instruction, and multi-sensory learning. Successful candidates must be willing to collaborate, innovate, and grow as teachers. Most important, he or she will subscribe to our Core Values, our Mission, and our Philosophy and will seek passionately to uphold and promote them.

Interested candidates should send a résumé, statement of educational philosophy, and cover letter to Assistant Head of School for Educational Programs and Head of Middle School, David Roth at droth@mcleanschool.org.

McLean School (mcleanschool.org), a K-12 co-educational independent school in Potomac, Maryland, seeks applicants for Substitute Teachers immediately. College degree preferred.

McLean School has for sixty-five years been helping bright students realize their full potential by providing a comprehensive college preparatory program that emphasizes small classes and differentiated instruction. Through our Abilities Model®, we embrace both traditional learners and ones with mild to moderate learning challenges. We recognize and teach to individual strengths, responding to areas of challenge, but never defining students by them.

This position requires a candidate that can teach to a diverse population of students who possess a wide range of learning strengths and challenges. Most importantly, the McLean Substitute Teacher will subscribe to our Core Values, our Mission, and our Philosophy.

Interested applicants should send a résumé to fengelking@mcleanschool.org.