Job Description

Mary McDowell Friends School is a K-12 college preparatory program dedicated to the success of students with learning disabilities. Grounded in the Quaker values of equality, integrity, and social responsibility, we cultivate a diverse community in which each student can reach his or her full potential. Our specialized teaching methodologies and challenging curricula empower students to become academic achievers, creative thinkers, and contributing members of a global society.

Job Title: Substitute Teacher

Reports to: Division Director and Assistant Division Director

Mary McDowell Friends School (MMFS) invites applications for Substitute Teachers for the 2026-2027 school year.

Position Overview

The Substitute Teacher will support the mission of the school by overseeing the safety and well-being of the students in advisory, content area classes, core classrooms, and homeroom classes. They will monitor and support the educational and social-emotional growth within the framework of the school’s mission.

Substitute Teachers at Mary McDowell Friends School work on an as-needed basis to cover the classroom in the absence of the regular (full-time) teachers.

• The primary role of a Substitute Teacher is to continue student learning along the continuum established by the absent full-time teacher.
• The Substitute Teacher will support the mission of the school by overseeing the safety and well-being of the students in advisory, content area classes, core classrooms, and homeroom classes.
• She/he will monitor the educational and social-emotional growth within the framework of the school’s mission.

Essential Responsibilities and Duties:

The responsibilities of the Substitute Teacher in the classroom may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Following lessons that have been designed by the absent teacher
• Teaching students
• Managing the classroom
• Participating in all assigned tasks such as lunch duty, dismissal duty, walking to another campus, etc
• Performing administrative tasks such as attendance
• Promoting positive student behavior
• Ensuring the safety and security of the students

Diversity and Equity Commitments

• Understand and participate in all school-wide diversity and equity initiatives.
• Examine administrative practice through the lens of race, identity, equity, and privilege.
• Provide an equitable framework for leadership decisions.
• Support a school culture that allows for social identities to feel welcome.

Supervisory Responsibility

This position has no supervisory responsibilities.

Position Type/Expected Hours of Work (All Schools)

This is an on-call position that follows the academic calendar.

Travel

On occasion, travel between campuses is necessary for meetings, which are scheduled with advance notice and are within walking distance from each other.

Work Environment & Physical Demands

This position requires the ability to maintain the physical capacity required to navigate the school environment and to ensure the safety of the students. The ability to open filing cabinets and bend or stand for long periods of time, as necessary. Classroom locations vary based on student schedules; this position ascends/descends stairs to teach from different rooms in the building.

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 the essential functions.

Other Duties

Please note that this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of the activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time, with or without notice.

Requirements

Required Education & Experience

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• BA required; MA preferred.
• Ability to work cooperatively and collaboratively with colleagues, management, and external agencies.
• Willingness to learn and adapt to new environments.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, Veracross, and G Suite applications desired.
• Experience in special education is a plus.
• Experience in the private sector, or independent school system is a plus.

Application

To apply, please upload a letter of interest, resume, and contact information for three professional references as a .pdf (preferred) or Word document. If your background and experience are appropriate for the position, you will be contacted directly by a member of our search committee.

We offer a rewarding work experience in downtown Brooklyn, NY, where we encourage employees to bring their whole selves to work. We recognize, appreciate, celebrate, and honor our diverse community as we build an awareness of who each individual is and who we are collectively.

Applicants who enhance the diversity of the school's faculty and administration are strongly encouraged to apply. Please visit our website for more information on our school and a full list of vacancies.

In compliance with NYC’s Pay Transparency Act, the pay rate for this position is $25.00 per hour. Mary McDowell Friends School considers factors such as (but not limited to) the scope and responsibilities of the position, the candidate’s work experience, education/training, essential skills, internal peer equity, and market and organizational considerations when extending an offer.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Employment at Mary McDowell Friends School is based solely on qualifications and competence for a particular position, without regard to race, color, ethnic origin, nationality, age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, veteran status, disability, familial status, or any other category protected by the law. Mary McDowell Friends School’s policy of non-discrimination extends to all employment practices, including but not limited to hiring, transfer, promotion, training, compensation, benefits, layoffs, and termination.