Spartanburg Day School is a nationally recognized, nonsectarian independent school enrolling approximately 600 students from 2k through grade 12. Founded in 1957 as the first independent school in Upstate South Carolina, Spartanburg Day School has provided an unparalleled educational experience for 69 years. Our unique community offers a vast array of academic and co-curricular options, all set within a charming and rapidly growing college town in the heart of the South Carolina Upstate.
Spartanburg Day School is currently seeking a dedicated Lower School STEM / Inquiry Teacher for the 2026-2027 school year. Our mission is to provide a superior educational experience, within a community of trust, that prepares students for a life well lived.
This mission is upheld by five core values that inform every facet of our School:
- Excellence: Challenging every student to achieve their finest level of academic and personal success.
- Individuality: Empowering students to be their true selves in a community that promotes trust, accountability, and independence of thought.
- Leadership: Motivating students to be meaningful contributors to society who exemplify responsibility, compassion, and service.
- Curiosity: Cultivating the true desire to learn through thoughtful discovery in an environment safe for both failure and success.
- Passion: Inspiring students and faculty alike to find joy in educational exploration and embody an enthusiasm for lifelong learning.
POSITION SUMMARY
This position supports the Frontiers program and is designed for an educator with a strong background in mathematics and science, a commitment to hands-on, inquiry-based learning, and a passion for providing a superior and rigorous educational experience. This position is responsible for designing and delivering academically rigorous instruction that emphasizes mathematics, science, and research-based learning. The program prioritizes inquiry, collaboration, growth mindset, and experiential learning, encouraging students to think deeply, ask meaningful questions, and take ownership of their learning.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
- Design and implement a unique enrichment program in mathematics, science, and research that emphasizes academic rigor, critical thinking, collaboration, data interpretation, and creative problem-solving for all participating students.
- Develop, create, and revise curriculum as needed to meet the evolving needs of the Lower School (Kindergarten–Grade 4), align when appropriate with the International Baccalaureate (IB) framework, and remain relevant in a rapidly changing, global context.
- Design new instructional units rooted in student questions, interests, and authentic, real-world problems. Units should foster curiosity, encourage inquiry, and promote critical thinking and problem-solving.
- Design and implement advanced, interdisciplinary units that exceed grade-level expectations and promote higher-order thinking in mathematics, science, and research.
- Employ inquiry-based instructional practices that promote questioning, exploration, experimentation, problem-solving, and data analysis.
- Create a learning environment that values productive struggle and views failure as an essential component of the learning process. Encourage students to take intellectual risks, learn from mistakes, and reflect meaningfully on their learning.
- Foster collaboration through group investigations, engineering and design challenges, data analysis, and academic discussions.
This position will provide mathematics and science support and resources to Lower School classroom teachers as part of a collaborative instructional model. This support may include, but is not limited to:
- Providing push-in or pull-out mathematics instruction for students who require additional support as well as for students who demonstrate advanced proficiency and require further challenge, allowing for differentiation and individualized learning experiences.
- Designing and delivering stand-alone lessons or enrichment opportunities (e.g., Kindergarten habitat units, sensory science units).
- Providing instructional resources such as lesson ideas, experiments, and materials to support classroom teachers’ IB units, with a specific focus on mathematics and science integration.
- Collaborating with classroom teachers, when requested, to develop lessons and extend IB units in ways that deepen learning and support student growth.
KEY STRENGTHS & QUALIFICATIONS
- Bachelor’s degree in math or science (Master’s preferred)
- Exceptional interpersonal skills demonstrating the ability to respond thoughtfully to the diverse needs of students and their families.
- Ideally suited for a 1st or 2nd-year teacher who is eager to receive mentorship while contributing fresh, innovative perspectives to a signature Frontier program.
- Excellent work ethic, modeling respect, honesty, and integrity.
Interested applicants should submit a cover letter, resume and three professional references to careers@sdsgriffin.org
*Salary will commensurate with education and experience
Spartanburg Day School is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability or veteran status.