Middle and Upper School Math Department Chair

Riverdale Country School is a Pre-K through grade 12 independent school in New York City committed to empowering lifelong learners by developing minds, building character, and creating community in order to change our world for the good. Riverdale seeks to reflect the diversity of the New York metropolitan area in its students, faculty, and staff. Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) is the foundational core of community-building that supports the school’s mission and empowers all community members to be their whole selves and thrive-- especially those who historically have been and continue to be marginalized because of their cultural, ethnic, racial, linguistic, national, gender, sexual, spiritual, or socioeconomic identities and their physical, mental, or emotional well-being. Riverdale enrolls about 1,200 students who collectively reside in 117 different zip codes. Approximately 44% of our student body identify as students of color. 

We seek to employ people who engage in all aspects of work with a student-centered approach, an open mind, passion, and a willingness to support the greater community. At Riverdale we recognize that the work of DEIB is iterative and requires a consistent commitment. Ideal candidates display that commitment in their work and/or in their approach to teaching and learning. 

Position Overview

Riverdale’s mathematics department seeks an enthusiastic and collegial mathematics teacher to serve as their next department chair. Our ideal candidate is a pedagogical leader within their discipline, experienced in both Middle and Upper School mathematics education, with a strong knowledge base across the mathematical disciplines from sixth grade through Calculus.

They will lead a cross-divisional department, shepherding curricular development and supervising and supporting excellent teaching and learning. In addition, they are responsible for overseeing the placement process for incoming students and those who want to change levels. Candidates should have a Bachelor’s degree or higher in Math or a related study area from an accredited college or university and at least five years of teaching experience at the Middle and Upper School level.

Our ideal candidate has also discovered natural places to implement diversity, equity, and inclusion work in their curriculum and pedagogy. They are skilled in leading from a place of cultural competency. This position also requires liaising and designing curriculum with the Lower School (PK-5) math teachers to create cohesion and alignment across divisions. In addition to their supervisory responsibilities, department chairs typically teach three classes rather than the usual four and receive a contractual stipend of $10,000.

Department Chair Questions for Application:

Please provide some quick answers to the following questions as part of your application materials.

* What do you believe exemplary practitioners of math do, and why? 

* What encompasses a departmental vision? Offer two or three elements you believe illustrate how a vision becomes visible to others.

* Describe how you have brought a curricular or pedagogical vision from thought to execution and achieved buy-in from colleagues.

*Describe a moment where you coached others through a growth process. 

* Which cultural competencies are essential to a math teacher’s and departmental pedagogy and why?

• Manages departmental staffing, calculates appropriate FTE's and class sections
• Runs monthly department meetings and attends meetings for the department chairs' group once every eight-day scheduling cycle
• In conjunction with the Dean of Faculty, manages the hiring process when vacancies occur in the department, including creating hiring committees, resume reviews, and scheduling candidates for finalist days.
• Manages the substitute coverage spreadsheet for their department
• Evaluates new faculty for their first three years
• Implements the placement process for tracking into foundations, regular, and honors math for new and returning students.
• Responsible for answering parent and dean queries about curriculum, placement, and classroom experiences.
• Supports the creation of new courses and electives and serves on the Middle and Upper School Curriculum Committee, and oversees curricular and pedagogical changes in conjunction with course coordinators and department members.

To apply for this position, please click on the red “Apply for this Job” button. Please submit a resume and cover letter.  If there are pronouns we should use in potential future communications, we invite you to share that information with us.  For information about this position and all open positions, please visit the Careers page of Riverdale’s website.

Benefits of Full Time Work at Riverdale Country School

Working at Riverdale Country School is a purposeful and meaningful career choice that comes with many benefits including:  

Transportation: Shuttle service is available to/from the 242nd St / Broadway subway station. Limited stops are also available near transit hubs in Manhattan including the Metro North Harlem Station and subway lines – 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, N, Q, R, A, B, C, and D. If there is need in the community, we can also run a shuttle from the Henry Hudson Parkway / 246th St bus stop which connects to the #7, #10, and Express Buses to/from Manhattan.

Professional Development: A generous professional-development budget provides for conferences, skills training, and onsite training in areas such as mindfulness, coaching, and diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging.

Grants and Stipends: All employees are eligible for Frankel Fellow grants, known as “passion grants,” which pay for enrichment activities. More than 120 grants have been made to faculty and staff since the program started in 2014. Stipends are available for coaching, affinity group facilitation, advising clubs with significant out-of-school time, and chaperoning trips (including global trips!).

Sabbatical:  Full time teaching faculty are eligible for a sabbatical after 10 years of employment.  

Health Benefits: Riverdale offers and subsidizes health, dental, and vision insurance.  In addition, the school offers a flexible spending account through which employees can use pre-tax dollars to pay for health-related expenses.  

Retirement:  Employees are eligible to join our Defined Contribution retirement plan through TIAA.  The school contributes 7% of an employee's annual salary to their retirement account.  

Vacation:  Riverdale Country School has a generous time-off policy for staff in addition to vacations afforded by the school calendar.  

Salary : $57,850 - $138,414