Elementary Teacher - 5th grade at Prizmah – Watertown, Massachusetts

JCDS, Boston's Jewish Community Day School, is hiring a 5th grade general studies teacher to start in August, 2026. We are looking for someone with a demonstrated passion for teaching upper elementary/ early middle grades and a deep understanding of how to create a student-centered, rigorous, project-based learning environment for all students.

JCDS teachers model the core values of a JCDS education: integrity, perseverance, resiliency, curiosity, empathy, problem solving, and data-driven reflection. If that's you, we would love to talk with you about joining our community!

RESPONSIBILITIES

In this role you will lead instruction in a 5th grade classroom, teaching Math and Humanities for up to 24 students. In addition you will:

• Evaluate the progress of students and discuss progress results with students, parents and administrators

• Develop course materials and curriculum content
• Set up and maintain a classroom space that supports a project-based approach to instruction
• Identify children’s individual learning needs and design learning experiences to support them
• Work to ensure a cohesive, rigorous, loving classroom environment
• Be a lead advisor for the class and the main contact for parents

SKILLS

We are looking for someone with a deep understanding of how to design and run an academic program that meets the social, emotional, intellectual and physical development of this age group. In addition, you should have:

• Deep English, social sciences, and math content knowledge
• Demonstrated pedagogical knowledge that emphasizes analytical thinking
• Excellent communication, organization, and classroom management skills
• Ability to work collaboratively with grade level team colleagues to create a joyful learning community
• Experience in differentiating instruction for diverse learners
• Ability to foster positive teacher-student and teacher-parent relationships
• Ability to integrate multicultural perspectives into teaching
• Ability to joyfully engage children in an age-appropriate way, and to identify and address student needs
• Commitment to ongoing professional development

SALARY AND BENEFITS

• Salary is $58K-$72K, commensurate with experience
• Health insurance, including a Health Savings Account (HSA)
• Tax-exempt retirement accounts
• Life insurance, short-and long-term disability; paid family and medical leave
• Flexible Spending and Dependent Care accounts
• Paid time off, including sick and personal days, time off for all Jewish, national, and state holidays, and early release Fridays

ABOUT JCDS

JCDS, Boston’s Jewish Community Day School, is a pluralistic, independent K–8 school where academic excellence, deep relationships, and values-based education are inseparable. We believe that great teaching emerges when educators bring their full intellectual selves, creativity, and professionalism into the classroom. At JCDS, teachers are trusted partners in curriculum design and are encouraged to develop meaningful, responsive content within a shared mission and framework. Rooted in Jewish values and open to multiple perspectives, our community values curiosity, reflection, collaboration, and purposeful risk-taking—for both students and adults. Teaching during the AI revolution, we prioritize thoughtful, reflective educators who can contribute to the creation of new policies, approaches and pedagogical ways to incorporate AI responsibly in the middle school space.

JCDS is a pluralist co-educational Jewish day school serving students from families across a wide spectrum of Jewish beliefs and practices. Visit our website at jcdsboston.org for more information.