Elementary French Teacher

Advent Episcopal School French Teacher

Advent Episcopal School is seeking an enthusiastic and skilled French teacher to join our thriving language program for the 2025–2026 school year. With a longstanding commitment to fostering global citizenship through language learning, our French program engages students at multiple grade levels and abilities.

This position offers exciting flexibility in teaching assignments, which may include early childhood, lower school, or middle school classes, depending on the strengths and experience of the successful candidate. We are committed to assembling a teaching structure that supports the growth of both our program and the students it serves.

We welcome candidates seeking a full-time or part-time role, with the possibility of a flexible start date in spring 2025 to assist with immediate program needs.  

Why Join Advent?

Advent Episcopal School is located in the heart of downtown Birmingham and is known for excellence in teaching, learning, and belonging. This position offers the opportunity to be part of a collaborative team dedicated to nurturing curiosity, creativity, and connection in students from JPK through 8th grade.

About the Position:

The ideal candidate is comfortable working in a highly collaborative environment where value is placed on the development of foundational skills in a variety of subjects within a larger context of school mission and integrative thinking. The qualified candidate must be skilled in creating a nurturing, engaging classroom environment that fosters learning and curiosity across all subjects. 

French has long been an integral part of the Advent experience and the language is often showcased within our music program and in state-wide competitions. The French curriculum at Advent begins at age three, where students take French twice weekly as they explore French through song, storytelling, and play. Students in grades 1 through 5 continue to build upon their knowledge of French language and culture through Comprehensible Input (CI) lessons. Starting in grade 5, French classes gain equal time in the schedule as other academic disciplines.  This early language learning builds a strong foundation for the upper level French classes.

Competitive candidates will demonstrate the following skills and mindsets:

• Emphasizes interactive and immersive learning experiences to foster a love of language and individual discovery in French language and culture.

• Demonstrates a strong command of French language instruction, with experience teaching foundational vocabulary, grammar, pronunciation, and cultural context to elementary students.

• Utilizes strategies to meet the diverse language learning needs of students, including varying levels of proficiency and learning styles.

• Develops and implements French language curriculum that aligns with current standards and incorporates innovative, hands-on activities and best practices.

• Values the importance of social-emotional development and creates a supportive, inclusive classroom environment that encourages risk-taking in language acquisition.

• Implements varied methods to build vocabulary, conversational skills, and written expression in French, incorporating cross-curricular connections where appropriate.

• Establishes routines that enhance student engagement and deepen understanding, ensuring a structured yet dynamic language learning environment.

• Actively participates in school community activities and events, contributing to a vibrant and collaborative educational culture.

Key Responsibilities:  

• Teach engaging and interactive French lessons to students in a range of grades, tailored to the candidate's skills and interests.

• Cultivate a love of language and culture in students through immersive and creative teaching methods.

• Collaborate with other faculty members to align curriculum across grade levels.

• Integrates technology to enhance French language instruction and provide students with diverse, engaging learning opportunities.

• Communicate effectively with students, faculty, and parents/caregivers.

• Provide frequent, constructive, objective, and prompt feedback.

• Commitment to working in and fostering an inclusive community.

• Actively participate in professional learning opportunities.

• Seek and constructively use professional feedback.

• Model organization and preparation to meet all professional responsibilities reliably.

Preferred Qualifications

• B.A. in French, or a related field required.

• Fluency in French (native or near-native).

• Experience teaching French to early childhood, elementary, or middle school students.

• Ability to adapt teaching style to meet the developmental needs of different age groups.

• The ideal candidate will be:

  • A student-centered educator, skilled in fostering a love of learning,

  • Knowledgeable about young learners' intellectual, social, and emotional development,

  • A professional oral and written communicator,

  • Eager to work collaboratively with colleagues on curriculum design, pedagogy, and assessments.

Interested candidates should send a cover letter and resume to Brooke Peterson, Assistant Head of School for Teaching & Learning, at [email protected].