Thaden School contributes to the development of future independent school educators as a partner of the Independent School Teaching Residency (ISTR) of the Penn Graduate School of Education (GSE). Each year, we welcome a cohort of Penn Fellows to our teaching faculty and support their learning as they pursue their Master of Science in Education (M.S.Ed.) from Penn GSE.

Thaden School now seeks a Penn Fellow to join our Spanish faculty and contribute to the development of an innovative curriculum grounded in the latest research and pedagogical strategies in second-language acquisition. Candidates must be fluent in Spanish and demonstrate an enthusiasm for learning and for applying their Penn GSE experience to support students in developing their communication skills and proficiency in Spanish. 

Role and Responsibilities 

Penn Fellows will:

• teach a modified course load of Middle and/or Upper school Spanish classes;
• coach, lead, and/or advise at least two co-curricular, student-facing programs per year which can include coaching a sport or sponsoring a club or academic team;
• lead a student advisory group with the support of the assistant head for the duration of the fellowship;  
• attend and participate in all faculty meetings and school/division-wide assemblies as members of the Thaden faculty;
• meet weekly with one another and the Head of Middle School to apply learning from the ISTR curriculum to their teaching and learning at Thaden School;
• meet weekly with their faculty mentor to collaborate on pedagogy and curriculum relevant to the fellow, the mentor, and the ISTR curriculum;
• conduct classroom and campus-wide observations as determined by the fellow and their faculty mentor, the Head of Middle School, and the Independent School Teaching Residency (ISTR) faculty of Penn GSE;
• participate in their evaluation process with the Head of Middle School with input from relevant collaborators (mentors, co-advisors, athletic director, etc.) using indicators appropriate for and designed by the Independent School Teaching Residency (ISTR) program.

Skills, Qualifications, and Attributes

• Positive personality and love for children. 
• Strong desire to learn about the art of teaching.
• Highly collaborative and collegial manner.
• Consistent, highly professional behavior, including discretion, judgment, and integrity. 
• Dedicated work ethic: proactive, responsible, reliable, punctual, and attentive to deadlines. 
• Effective time management skills with the ability to manage, organize, and prioritize work. 
• Excellent oral and written communication skills. 
• Flexibility with the special needs associated with an academic calendar and schedule. 
• Ability to display strong initiative, internal motivation, and a willingness to take on responsibilities beyond those explicitly defined. Committed to professional learning and growth. 
• Undergraduate degree in the content area being taught.
• Candidate must also complete the required background check.

Physical Requirements

• Job frequently requires standing, walking, and handling objects with hands.
• Job occasionally requires reaching, climbing, stooping, kneeling, pushing, pulling, and lifting up to 25 pounds.
• Some work performed outside and may require exposure to changing weather conditions.

About Thaden School

Thaden School is an independent school in Bentonville, Arkansas that will serve students in Grades K-2 and Grades 5-12 during the 2025-26 school year. Our mission is to provide a balanced and challenging education that ignites in our students a passion for discovery and learning, prepares them to succeed in college, and inspires them to lead lives of integrity, purpose, and responsible global citizenship. Our school is named in honor of Iris Louise McPhetridge Thaden (1905-1979). Born and raised in Bentonville, she was a proud Arkansan and one of the greatest aviators of her time. Her pioneering and innovative spirit inspires our efforts to create a school that gives students roots and wings as they build strong foundations and soar to new heights in pursuit of their dreams.

Connections working at Thaden School