Teaching Fellows

Job Classification:  Faculty, Full-Time, 10 Month, Exempt 

Reports to:  Department Head

Department:  Academics

Summary

Mercersburg  Academy is pleased to be hiring two Teaching Fellows for the fourth year of our partnership with the University of Pennsylvania’s Independent School Teaching Residency (Penn GSE ISTR). This collaboration provides for a two-year teaching fellowship on Mercersburg’s campus coupled with Penn’s Master’s of Science in Education. 

Our program pairs the Fellow with experienced mentors and guides, providing an immersive growth experience in an independent, boarding school setting. Participants are fully engaged in the academic, student life, co-curricular, and social life of the school. This includes class preparation, observing and teaching classes, coaching or assisting in other co-curricular activities, dorm supervision, and advising students. Strong candidates will possess a keen desire to learn the craft of teaching and guiding adolescents, developing appropriate relationships with adults and students in a boarding community, and seek collaborative and energetic engagement with their department members. Our program offers a stipend, housing, and full benefits.  

We will be hiring two Teaching Fellows for the 2027-28 academic year with priority given to applicants who can teach English or science (physics) and/or coach diving.

Responsibilities and Duties

Teaching:

Teaching or co-teaching in an academic department, adhering to course objectives and course of study as outlined in established departmental guidelines and curriculum, conducting varied and frequent assessments of student performance, utilizing appropriate technology in the classroom setting, keeping attendance and grade records, writing individual grade and comment reports as required by the school, maintaining regularly scheduled office hours for help sessions with students.

Co-curricular: 

Assist, then lead components of co-curricular activities. Prepare and execute practice/activity plans, conduct contests and other components of team operations effectively and efficiently.  Demonstrate proficient 

technical knowledge and strategies. Effectively convey these skills in teaching and guiding participants of all abilities in the activity.

Residential:

Participate in the school’s advisory program to students living within the fellow’s assigned dorm; serve as an adviser to a group of students in selected residential topics of well-being and gather with advisees weekly during adviser lunches and other planned adviser/advisee activities. Perform residential dorm duties within an assigned dorm to include one weeknight and several weekends per term.  

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

The ideal candidate is thoughtful, articulate and passionate about the mission of independent school education. This position requires individuals who communicate effectively and take initiative. Organization and coordination with many constituencies are critical for this positions’ success. Individuals will need to be flexible and adaptable to meet the needs of an ever-changing boarding school environment. 

Qualified candidates bring a high level of interest and abilities in the following areas: 

• Keen desire to learn the craft of teaching and guiding adolescents
• Relationships with adults and students
• Collaborative orientation and energetic engagement
• Demonstrated skills in critical thinking, analysis, and problem solving
• Ability to utilize technology skills in a classroom or office setting

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree
• Proficiency in the use of a MacBook Pro and Google suite.
• Proficiency in the appropriate academic content area
• A valid driver’s license

Required Application Materials:

• Resume
• Cover letter / Personal statement
• College transcripts (Official transcripts will be required before interviews. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable with this application.)
• Two letters of recommendation

Note: Mercersburg Academy graduates are not eligible.

Physical Demands

The conditions herein 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 job functions.

• Environment: Work is performed in an indoor/office environment where the noise level ranges from quiet to moderate. 
• Physical: Primary functions require sufficient physical ability and mobility to walk, stand, and sit for prolonged periods of time; may frequently lift up 20 lbs. or up to 10 pounds constantly and occasionally up to 50 lbs.; to travel in all modes of transportation; sufficient manual dexterity and eye-hand coordination to operate office machinery; and to verbally communicate to exchange information with both English-speaking and non-English speaking contacts.
• Vision: See in the normal visual range with or without correction.
• Hearing: Hear in the normal audio range with or without correction. 

This description is intended to provide a general scope of the position. This job description may include other duties as assigned by the manager.