Summer Camp: Lead Instructors (2024)

Georgetown Day School opened its doors in 1945 as the first integrated school in a segregated city. Governed by a Board of Trustees elected by the parent body and administered by an appointed Head of School, it was founded by seven families who wanted to create a school committed not only to academic excellence and educational innovation but also to a value system emphasizing appreciation and respect for others. Believing that diversity was the ground out of which all deep and rich learning occurs, they established a school where all children would be welcome, celebrated, and challenged to be their best selves.

Today, the School's philosophy, programs, and position in the national educational landscape strongly reflect its roots. Having grown from 12 children in 1945 to 1075 students in PK-12 today, GDS is recognized as one of Washington, D.C.’s and the nation’s most dynamic educational institutions.

Since the school’s founding, GDS has called eight different locations home. In the fall of 2020, in the midst of the pandemic, the Lower, Middle, and Upper Schools were all joined on one extraordinary campus.

Georgetown Day School’s Office of Auxiliary Programs seeks instructors for its GDS Summer Programs.

About GDS’ Auxiliary Programs

While participating in GDS Auxiliary Programs, children will explore, learn, and create through hands-on and interpersonal inquiry, gaining an appreciation for themselves, others, and the world. GDS Auxiliary Programs Team Members teach new skills and provide tools that enable children to develop into individuals who strive to learn and understand, try new things, and care for others.

About the Summer Lead Instructor Position

GDS Summer Programs seeks to hire instructors to teach enrichment classes that will challenge our students academically, physically, and artistically. We seek individuals with experience teaching children ages 5-18, as well as professional expertise in such areas as science, math, visual or performing arts, language arts, computer programming, technology and engineering, and more.

Instructors must be enthusiastic and knowledgeable about ways to support learning through guided activities. The ability to provide rich, mission-aligned content and creative pedagogy, to establish authentic relationships, to work collaboratively with colleagues, and to place children’s interests and experiences at the heart of the classroom are essential components of the job. Instructors must also submit a program-long syllabus and regular lesson plans. As a diverse, inclusive school devoted to preparing our students to live and work in an increasingly globalized and multicultural society, GDS is particularly interested in professionals with demonstrated interest and experience in working in such a school setting.

Location: On-campus

Dates: June 17-August 9 (No camp on June 19, July 4, July 5.)

Status: Part-time, temporary, hourly/stipend-based

Pay: Varies, dependent upon role and experience

All individuals are expected to attend a staff training and orientation prior to the start of camp.

This position reports to the GDS Summer Programs Director.

We are particularly looking for the following:

-Lower School Teachers for our Day Camps (Grades 1-4)

-Middle School Math Teachers

Responsibilities for Lead Teachers

• Plan, prepare, and execute lessons and activities for a cohesive and engaging program

• Deliver course curriculum

• Lead activities planned for the day

• Set classroom expectations, routines, and manage behavior

• Lead small group activities as assigned

• Collaborate with co-teachers as needed

Responsibilities for all Summer Staff

• Enthusiastically engage students

• Ensure that students are learning in creative, hands-on, interactive, and age-appropriate ways

• Incorporate opportunities for students to collaborate, problem-solve and create

• Arrive promptly and prepared for class

• Supervise actively

• Other duties as assigned

Additional responsibilities will vary by role and course.

The ideal candidate will have the following qualifications:

Lead and Co-Teacher Qualifications

• Minimum Bachelor’s degree or equivalent professional experience in the subject area

• Prior history of teaching the class to the target age group

• Previous teaching experience preferred; demonstrable teaching and behavior management skills required

All Summer Staff Qualifications:

• Must enjoy working with children and demonstrate good judgment

• Prior experience working with children in the target age group

• Ability to think on one’s feet

• Ability to work collaboratively

Americans with Disability Specifications

Physical Demands:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools or controls; reach with hands and arms; climb stairs; balance; stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl; talk or hear; taste or smell. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

Work Environment:

Work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is exposed to weather conditions prevalent at the time.

The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

To Apply

Qualified candidates should submit a cover letter, resume, and list of three references using our online application system through ADP/Workforce Now: http://www.gds.org/Recruiting. To find out more about the school, candidates should visit our website at www.gds.org.

As an inclusive school devoted to preparing our students to live, work, and lead in an increasingly globalized and multicultural society, GDS is particularly interested in professionals with demonstrated interest and experience in working in such a school setting and is driven by the core charge of working to enhance and bring joy to every student’s individual learning experience in equitable and meaningful ways.