Fifth Grade Teacher, 2025-26 Job Description

About Cascades Academy

Cascades Academy is an independent PK-12 day school with ~240 students located in the beautiful mountain town of Bend, Oregon.  The school was founded in 2003 and resides on an award-winning 45-acre campus located on the Deschutes River. The school’s unique mission weaves challenging academics with experiential learning within an engaged, vibrant community.

Cascades Academy values employees who are committed to our mission, are prepared to engage fully in a learning community, and are excited to bring their authentic selves to work. Cascades Academy’s culture is highly collaborative and puts what is best for students at the center of the work. Regularly named one of the Best Nonprofits to Work for in Oregon, our faculty and staff see each other as teammates and feel motivated to do their best work here. 

Cascades Academy strives to cultivate and maintain a supportive, inclusive community for all employees and actively promotes a commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and anti-racism. Studies have shown that women and people of color are less likely to apply for jobs unless they believe they meet every one of the qualifications as described in the job description. We are most interested in finding the best candidate for the job and are eager to consider applications from groups traditionally underrepresented in independent school communities.

The Lower School

The Cascades Academy Lower School is led by dedicated and experienced educators, working to support and nurture the whole child. A tight-knit community, the faculty culture is characterized by humility, agility, innovation, and humor as each teacher is committed to keeping each student’s developmental needs at the core of their school experience. Faculty benefit from the chance to leverage their unique passions and interests in shaping elements of the experiential education program.

Position Summary

Cascades Academy seeks an experienced and dynamic Fifth Grade Teacher who would work closely with our Lower School team to deliver on our school’s mission. The fifth-grade program at Cascades Academy provides a dynamic balance of meaningful academic challenge, experiential education, and social-emotional skill building, preparing students for the transition to middle school. Emphasizing collaboration and self-awareness, the program nurtures confident learners who can think deeply, navigate relationships thoughtfully, and connect meaningfully with the world around them.

Responsibilities

• Curriculum and Instruction:
• Support and maintain a warm, nurturing, child-centered environment that embraces the range of social, emotional, and academic needs of the students. 
• Design and implement an approach to teaching and learning that nurtures the breadth of early childhood developmental readiness, and supports the engagement of differentiation techniques. 
• Teach a grade-wide curriculum that spans the various content areas, including reading, writing, math, and Storyline, reflecting social studies or science themes. Collaborate with the Lower School team on implementing experiential, whole-child learning, differentiated instruction, social-emotional topics, and DEIB strands.
• Use formative and summative assessment techniques that help demonstrate and showcase the student’s learning and growth of skills over time.
• Communicate regularly with parents regarding student progress and performance.

• Outreach and Leadership
• Communicate with families via regular newsletters and individual outreach as necessary, engaging parents as partners in their child’s education.
• Facilitate and help lead events related to the Outdoor School program, like the Winter Sports program, Outdoor School, etc.
• Co-plan and co-lead social-emotional programming and community gatherings for K-5th on a rotating basis.
• Supervise recess and lunch duties as assigned.
• Provide feedback and written grade reports to families twice a year.
• Lead two parent/teacher conferences per year.
• Prepare and lead parent education events, such as Back to School Nights and other events meant to share pedagogical approaches. 

• Institutional:
• Participate in all professional development days before, during, and after the school year.
• Pursue and execute additional professional development throughout the school year via conferences, school visits, books, webinars, etc. 
• Attend weekly faculty and division meetings.
• Attend school events and functions outside the normal school day, including fundraisers, presentations, board meetings, etc. (as indicated by the Head of School or Lower School Head).
• Assist in the fulfillment of accreditation work (as per NWAIS Accreditation Report).
• Other duties as assigned by the Lower School Head or Head of School.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 3-5  years experience teaching 3rd-6th grade 
• Experience with Responsive Classroom, Really Great Reading, Writer’s Workshop, Math In Focus and the Storyline approach is preferred.
• Experience working in a hands-on, child-centered, progressive learning environment is preferred.
• Clean driving record and valid driver’s license

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Passion for teaching young children in a creative, integrated, and innovative way
• Commitment to experiential learning, outdoor education, and social-emotional learning
• Commitment to DEIB
• Ability to work collaboratively with other lower school teachers
• Strong relational skills and emotional intelligence
• Strong organizational skills
• Clear verbal and written communication skills
• Willingness to drive a 14-passenger bus
• Desire to be an active member of a vibrant community of students, families, and staff
• Knowledge of common tech platforms used in education, such as Blackbaud, Google Suite, Microsoft Office, etc.
• Integrity, sound judgment, self-confidence, collaborative spirit, and a sense of humor
• Must be able to consistently and clearly communicate with children, colleagues, and families.

Physical Requirements

• Requires mobility to traverse campus to accompany and assure the safety of children.  This may include moving between buildings multiple times throughout the workday and bending, squatting, stooping, and kneeling.
• Ability to occasionally lift up to 30 pounds.

Position Details

Application Instructions

To apply, please complete the application on our website, including your resume, cover letter, and at least 1 letter of recommendation. No phone calls, please.

It is the policy of Cascades Academy to provide equal employment opportunity, regardless of race, color, sex, age, national origin, religion, physical or mental impairment, sexual orientation, veteran’s status or any other status protected by applicable law. Specifically, employment opportunities are and shall be open to all qualified applicants solely on the basis of their experience, aptitudes, abilities and training; advancement is and shall be based on the individual’s achievement, performance, ability, attitude and potential for promotion.

About Cascades Academy

Cascades Academy is a PK-12 independent school located in Bend, OR.

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