Eighth Grade Science Teacher + Science Department Chair (K-8)

About the School

Since 1910, St. Anne’s-Belfield School has been committed to nurturing the whole student: body, heart, mind, and soul. As the largest independent school in the college town of Charlottesville, Va., our 900+ students, age 2 through Grade 12, inspire us each day as we aspire to educate the next generation of exemplary citizens and visionary leaders. 

As a member of our school community, you'd be joining a team of people who are passionate about their roles and contributing to a community of purpose and belonging. Those who thrive at St. Anne’s-Belfield are people who, as outlined in our Portrait of a Graduate, pursue knowledge to generate impact, seek to engage diverse perspectives and practices, engage in reflection, demonstrate moral character and integrity, and work to understand and meet the needs of the community. 

Our two beautiful campuses on 55 acres serve as vibrant hubs for curiosity, creativity, and academic excellence. This is perfectly complemented by our location in Charlottesville, one of the top 5 happiest cities in the U.S., as recognized by National Geographic and Outside Magazine. Opportunities abound to connect with nature, enjoy arts and culture, engage with the University of Virginia, only one mile away, and explore American history both within our region or Richmond (one hour by car) and Washington, D.C. (two hours by car).

If you're looking for a dynamic learning environment where your contributions help spark each child’s potential, we invite you to consider a career with St. Anne’s-Belfield. We at St. Anne's-Belfield School believe it is the quality and passion of our people that set us apart. We seek to hire the best teachers, administrators, staff members, and coaches to support our student body by offering a competitive benefits package and providing a wonderful working environment.

About the position

St. Anne’s-Belfield School seeks qualified applicants for a full-time 8th-grade science teacher and K-8 science department chair for the 2026-2027 school year. At St. Anne’s-Belfield, a department chair is a leader skilled in articulating the key skills and essential knowledge of the academic discipline within the departmental philosophy and the core values of the School, and providing support and targeted feedback to teachers. The School maintains a strong commitment to experiential and interdisciplinary science learning designed by teachers who foster curiosity and wonder within a student-centered learning environment. 

We are looking for an educator passionate about working with eighth-grade students who can cultivate curiosity, agency, and a strong foundation in scientific thinking. At St. Anne’s-Belfield School, we believe middle school students need to be engaged in hands-on scientific work. The program focuses on cultivating strong background knowledge alongside critical thinking, lab skills, and data analysis.

Responsibilities

• Teach four sections of 8th grade life science
• Design and facilitate hands-on, inquiry-based lessons that prioritize student thinking and sense-making
• Support students in developing core scientific practices, including:
• Designing and conducting investigations
• Analyzing and interpreting data
• Constructing and revising models
• Writing and communicating 
• Create opportunities for students to share, challenge, and refine ideas through discussion and collaboration
• Provide clear feedback that helps students grow in both scientific reasoning and communication
• Serve as a teacher in the Quest program, which features a range of inquiry-based student-driven electives
• Serve as an advisor, supporting students’ academic, social, and emotional development 
• Collaborate closely with grade-level teams and the science department to design a cohesive and developmentally appropriate curriculum
• Communicate regularly with families to support student growth

We look for educators who:

• Contribute to the school community by actively participating in extracurricular activities, faculty committees, and school initiatives
• Demonstrate a commitment to inclusion and belonging through both classroom instruction and broader school community engagement
• Manage frequent, ongoing, and prompt verbal and written communications with students, parents, and colleagues
• Work collaboratively with other faculty members towards common goals through active listening, sharing, and reflecting
• Commit to ongoing professional growth and reflection
• Model high ethical and moral standards

Full-time classroom teaching experience, strong organizational and classroom management skills, and the ability to joyfully teach middle school children are required. Ideal candidates will have experience teaching middle school-aged students in a standards-based learning environment (SBL) and hold a master's degree in science, education, or a related field.

What we offer