Location: Pasadena, CA
Start Date: August 1, 2026
Status: Part-Time (Weekdays, 8:00 AM–4:00 PM), Compensation: Salary $75,000 per year

Friends Western School is seeking a full-time teacher to lead a combined Kindergarten/1st grade class of up to 15 students. This is an opportunity to teach in a small, collaborative environment that emphasizes academic excellence, social-emotional development, and values-driven education.

About Friends Western School
Friends Western School is a vibrant Quaker cooperative elementary school located in Pasadena, CA. We offer a low student-to-teacher ratio and a supportive, inclusive learning environment grounded in the Quaker belief that there is an inner light in every person. As a member of WASC and the Friends Council on Education, we are committed to educational excellence, equity, and community. We welcome families of all faiths and backgrounds.

Schedule
This full-time position includes instructional hours from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM, Monday through Friday. In addition, attendance is expected at occasional school events outside these hours, including professional development training, Back to School Night, Open House, and other community events.

What You’ll Do

• Teach a combined Kindergarten/1st grade class of up to 15 students
  
  
• Implement and adapt curriculum using frameworks such as Eureka Math, IMSE, Orton-Gillingham Structured Literacy, and the Fountas & Pinnell Literacy Continuum
  
  
• Support school-wide initiatives that emphasize cultural literacy, civic engagement, and social justice
  
  
• Build and maintain a restorative classroom culture rooted in Quaker values: simplicity, peace, integrity, community, equality, and stewardship
  
  
• Use formative and summative assessments to guide instruction
  
  
• Collaborate with colleagues and participate in the Student Study Team to support students with mild to moderate disabilities
  
  
• Maintain regular, proactive communication with families
  
  
• Write biannual narrative progress reports and keep up-to-date student data
  
  
• Lead at least one curriculum-based field trip per year
  
  
• Attend cooperative membership meetings and contribute to the school community
  

What We’re Looking For

• A completed or in-progress teaching credential or degree in education; Early Childhood or Special Education a plus.
  
  
• Experience working with young children, including those with learning differences
  
  
• Strong classroom management and communication skills
  
  
• Ability to work flexibly, collaboratively, and creatively within a small team
  
  
• Familiarity with or willingness to learn restorative practices, Responsive Classroom, or similar models
  
  
• Commitment to inclusive, values-based education and continuous professional growth
  
  

About Friends Western School

Friends Western School (FWS) is a cooperative Quaker elementary school (K-5) in Pasadena, CA that values inquiry, participation, examination, and reflection. We believe in each child’s natural curiosity and compassion and we work with students to nurture a lifelong love of learning and a strong sense of integrity. Students of Friends schools grow into compassionate and responsible adults who recognize their interconnectedness with the world around them.

Connections working at Friends Western School