What are the responsibilities and job description for the Social Studies Teacher - Upper School position at The Overlake School?
Upper School Social Studies Teacher
Pay Range : $61,987 - 118,388 depending combined experience and education
Full Time starting August 2025
To apply for this position, you must have a bachelor's degree or equivalent and must be able to pass required background checks.
School Overview :
Founded in 1967, The Overlake School is an independent, nonsectarian, coeducational, college prep day school. Each Overlake community member is committed to the school's mission to champion students and their vast potential through engaging educational experiences in a diverse and inclusive community. Students are valued as multifaceted individuals and graduate with a passion for learning, ready for any path that contributes to a better world.
Overlake is committed to diversity and does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, national or ethnic origin, socio-economic status, gender, sexual orientation, or disability in the administration of its educational policies, financial aid, employment, and other school- administered programs.
As part of our school's strategic vision, Overlake expects a high level of cultural competency from all faculty. This includes an awareness of one's own identities and how they impact the classroom, as well as a demonstrated commitment to fostering an inclusive, equitable, and just learning environment.
Description : The Overlake School seeks a teacher for Upper School Social Studies. The ideal candidate is an outstanding educator with experience designing and teaching a range of curricula including advanced level courses who will work to ensure student success. This person should contribute enthusiastically to our school community and will work closely with grade level teams as well as with the Social Studies department and teaching partners. A successful candidate will be comfortable fostering supportive student-teacher-family relationships and differentiating instruction for a diverse group of students.
The Social Studies curriculum is grounded in four core values : historical awareness, global perspectives, civic engagement, and social justice. We aim to foster students' curiosity, empathy, and independent thinking by examining assumptions through an inquiry-based approach that uses a variety of sources and perspectives to present concepts and events, with the goal of using the past as a tool to understand the present. A successful candidate will have experience facilitating discussions about a range of historical and contemporary issues, supporting students with research and evidence-based writing, and designing courses that elevate critical thinking and citizenship.
Teaching Responsibilities and Duties : Teach four sections of Upper School Social Studies, lead an advisory (homeroom) of 8-10 students, and actively engage in the community by leading student clubs, chaperone dances, and additional duties as needed. Teachers are also required to attend grade-level team, department, division, and all-school faculty meetings.
Required Qualifications : Successful candidates are teachers who inspire students to think critically and communicate thoughtfully. Further, strong candidates will demonstrate the following :
- Strong background in history and / or related fields, particularly American history and / or modern world history
- A student-centered approach to teaching
- Belief in the critical importance of diversity in the life of the school and excitement about working to build and maintain a classroom that honors diversity of opinion and practices
- Familiarity with differentiated instruction and the ability to engage students at a variety of levels of academic background, particularly in writing
- Ability to communicate well in writing and verbally with colleagues, students, and families
- Experience collaborating in and outside of department and grade-level teams
- Computer literacy and technological proficiency, with an interest in incorporating technology into the classroom
- Competency developing and using rubrics, standards, and essential questions
Desired Qualifications :
Salary : $61,987 - $118,388