Ethical Culture Fieldston School·York, New York
The Head Teacher is responsible for planning and teaching all subject areas for second grade while mentoring an associate teacher. They must maintain a safe, engaging classroom culture and communicate student progress to families.
Who we are?
Ethical Culture Fieldston School is a progressive PreK-12 independent school that has been serving students from throughout New York City and the surrounding suburbs since 1878. ECFS offers a rich curriculum in the arts, sciences, and humanities. A co-ed, nonsectarian school, it serves a diverse community of about 1,700 students on two campuses -- one in the Riverdale section of the Bronx and the other in Manhattan. The Fieldston Middle and Upper campus located in Riverdale has approximately 400 students in 6-8th grades and 600 students in 9-12th grade.
What is essential about working at our school?
The Ethical Culture Fieldston School has a long history of equity and inclusion deeply rooted in our mission and the educational philosophy of our founder, Felix Adler. We embrace diversity of ancestry, family, identity, culture, and beliefs and seek a student body and faculty that reflect the pluralism and socio-economic diversity of metropolitan New York. We affirm both our differences and commonalities and strive to balance individuality and community. In keeping with our progressive tradition, we are dedicated to increasing our students’ cultural literacy to help them understand multiple perspectives and see the world beyond the self.
We expect members of our community to engage in open dialogue about living and learning in a diverse environment inside and outside the classroom. We see this work, with its creative tensions, as a catalyst for individual and collective growth. On a daily basis, we are committed to making this vision of a democratic, pluralistic, and progressive school a reality.
We are seeking a dedicated Second Grade Head Teacher who considers ethics to be at the core of their work with students and colleagues, and who will contribute to the academic success of all students. Head teachers communicate routinely with families, collaborate with other teachers, and are responsible for developing a healthy, safe, engaging, fun, and effective classroom culture within the School. In your resume or cover letter, please share your experiences and/or interest in working with 2nd Grade students.
This is a one year position beginning on September 1, 2026. This role is a full time 1.0 (full time equivalency) position, and the hiring range will be $75,261-$184,830.
Please note that this is an onsite role and not performed remotely. Ethical Culture Fieldston School retains its right to modify job duties in accordance with changing operational needs.
To Apply All candidates should visit our employment page at www.ecfs.org [http://www.ecfs.org/] to apply. Please send a resume, cover letter, and contact information for three references.
EEO ECFS is an equal opportunity employer. We seek to be a welcoming community of professionals that broadly reflects the people of the metropolitan New York City area, our students, and families. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment and will not be discriminated against on the basis of race, color, religion or religious practices, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, citizenship status, national origin, age, ability status, military status, unemployment status or any other category protected by applicable local, state, or federal laws. We are committed to hiring practices that ensure all candidates are given fair consideration in alignment with our institutional mission and goals.
Market context
Second-grade head teacher openings in New York can draw strong interest because schools look for candidates with elementary classroom experience, data-driven instruction skills, cultural competency, and alignment with progressive education. This leave-replacement role may be especially competitive for applicants who can show a bachelor’s degree, at least 3 years of teaching experience, and readiness to step into an established classroom quickly. Review the AI-summarized requirements and benefits here to save time, then tailor your application to examples of student assessment use and inclusive classroom practice.