Job Description
C. & E. Merdinian Armenian Evangelical School is a PreK–8 faith-based educational community committed to nurturing academic excellence, spiritual growth, and strong moral character. Rooted in Armenian Evangelical values, our mission is to educate the whole child’s mind, body, and spirit within a supportive, inclusive, and family-centered environment. This is an exceptional opportunity for an educator seeking to join a team-oriented and professional learning community and to serve as a member of one of our dynamic lower elementary grade-level teams. We welcome candidates whose professional goals align with our mission and who are passionate about shaping young learners during their most formative years. Position Overview The Lower Elementary Lead Teacher (Grades K–2) is responsible for creating and maintaining a positive, structured, and nurturing homeroom environment that supports the intellectual, emotional, social, and spiritual development of each child. The successful candidate will collaborate closely with grade-level colleagues and school leadership to design engaging, developmentally appropriate curriculum while advancing the school’s mission and faith-based values. Essential Duties and Responsibilities Instruction & Classroom Leadership Plan and deliver developmentally appropriate, standards-aligned instruction for students in Kindergarten through 2nd grade Integrate Armenian Evangelical faith, values, and character education into daily instruction and classroom culture Foster a warm, respectful, and inclusive classroom environment that encourages curiosity, responsibility, and kindness Differentiate instruction to meet the diverse learning needs of students Implement effective classroom management strategies that promote positive behavior and student accountability Use formative and summative assessments to guide instruction and monitor student progress Maintain accurate lesson plans, assessment records, and student documentation Student Development & Assessment Support the academic, social, emotional, and spiritual growth of each student Provide timely and meaningful feedback through formative assessments and cumulative evaluations Write narrative report cards and assign grades as appropriate Participate in twice-yearly parent-teacher conferences Collaboration & Community Engagement Collaborate actively with grade-level team members, specialists, and administration Communicate professionally and consistently with parents and guardians Participate in school-wide initiatives, curriculum development, and continuous improvement efforts Professional & School Responsibilities Attend monthly faculty meetings, grade-level meetings, and division meetings Participate in required professional development and faculty workshop days Fulfill assigned duties, including: Break and lunch supervision Afternoon carpool duty Attend and support school events throughout the year, including but not limited to: Back-to-School Night Open House School fundraisers and community events Faith-Based Expectations Model Christian and Armenian Evangelical values in word and action Support the mission, vision, and spiritual life of the school Participate in faith-related activities and services as required Demonstrate ethical conduct, professionalism, and integrity consistent with a faith-based educational setting Qualification & Requirements Required Qualifications Bachelor’s degree in Education or a related field Valid teaching credential (as required by the State of California) Minimum of 3 years of teaching experience in a lower elementary setting (K–3 preferred) Strong classroom management and organizational skills Excellent interpersonal and communication skills with students, parents, and colleagues Preferred Qualifications Master’s degree in Education Experience teaching in an independent or faith-based school Familiarity with or willingness to learn and implement: Responsive Classroom Balanced Literacy approaches (Benchmark Assessments, Guided Reading, leveled reading groups) 6 Traits Writing Singapore Math or similar conceptual math programs Evidence of teaching practices that support diversity, equity, inclusion, and cross-cultural competency Strong writing skills, particularly in composing narrative report cards Commitment to ongoin