Riverdale Country School is a Pre-K through grade 12 independent school in New York City committed to empowering lifelong learners by developing minds, building character, and creating community in order to change our world for the good. Riverdale seeks to reflect the diversity of the New York metropolitan area in its students, faculty, and staff. Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) is the foundational core of community-building that supports the school’s mission and empowers all community members to be their whole selves and thrive-- especially those who historically have been and continue to be marginalized because of their cultural, ethnic, racial, linguistic, national, gender, sexual, spiritual, or socioeconomic identities and their physical, mental, or emotional well-being. Riverdale enrolls about 1,200 students who collectively reside in 117 different zip codes. Approximately 44% of our student body identify as students of color.
We seek to employ people who engage in all aspects of work with a student-centered approach, an open mind, passion, and a willingness to support the greater community. At Riverdale we recognize that the work of DEIB is iterative and requires a consistent commitment. Ideal candidates display that commitment in their work and/or in their approach to teaching and learning.
Position Overview
Riverdale’s Language Department seeks an enthusiastic and collegial teacher of Spanish with native or near-native fluency who can teach a wide range of students at the novice and honors levels in Middle and Upper School. Our curriculum revolves around developing oral, written, and cultural competencies. A passion for language learning, world cultures, and social justice characterizes our ideal candidate. This may be demonstrated through speaking multiple languages, international travel, and/or community work in the target language.
Our Spanish program begins in Middle School with Spanish 1a (sixth grade), Spanish 1b (seventh grade), and Spanish II (eighth grade). In the Upper School, students can follow a regular or Honors track beginning at Level IV. Upper-level Spanish electives are available for students in eleventh and twelfth grades, offering a range of topics like “Latin American Queer Literature,” “Modern Hispanic Poetry,” and “Coloniality and Indigenous Voices in Latin America.”
We are particularly interested in candidates who can teach an additional language, such as French, Italian, Latin, or Mandarin. Riverdale is an inclusive community dedicated to the principles of DEI; our hiring practices reflect this commitment, and we seek collegial candidates eager to expand this work in the classroom, in our curricular work, and the pedagogical principles of the department.
Necessary Requirements:
- A Bachelor’s degree or higher in Spanish language or a related content area from an accredited college or university.
- 3-5 years experience teaching at the Middle and/or Upper School level
- Can effectively develop students’ oral, written, and intercultural competencies through authentic, communication-based engagement with the language.
Preferred Qualifications:
- An interest in engaging students in an environment that is both supportive and rigorous
- A passion for language learning, world cultures, and social justice
- Has experience in interdisciplinary teaching and learning, with excitement for curricular innovation
- A desire to participate in community activities, including advising groups, service opportunities, or other co-curriculars
- Demonstrated collegiality, collaboration, teamwork, and organization
- Fluency in the effective use of educational technologies
- Demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging work
To apply for this position, please click on the red “Apply for this Job” button. Please submit a resume and cover letter. If there are pronouns we should use in potential future communications, we invite you to share that information with us. For information about this position and all open positions, please visit the
Careers page of Riverdale’s website.
Benefits of Full Time Work at Riverdale Country School
Working at Riverdale Country School is a purposeful and meaningful career choice that comes with many benefits including:
Transportation: Shuttle service is available to/from the 242nd St / Broadway subway station. Limited stops are also available near transit hubs in Manhattan including the Metro North Harlem Station and subway lines – 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, N, Q, R, A, B, C, and D. If there is need in the community, we can also run a shuttle from the Henry Hudson Parkway / 246th St bus stop which connects to the #7, #10, and Express Buses to/from Manhattan.
Professional Development: A generous professional-development budget provides for conferences, skills training, and onsite training in areas such as mindfulness, coaching, and diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging.
Grants and Stipends: All employees are eligible for Frankel Fellow grants, known as “passion grants,” which pay for enrichment activities. More than 120 grants have been made to faculty and staff since the program started in 2014. Stipends are available for coaching, affinity group facilitation, advising clubs with significant out-of-school time, and chaperoning trips (including global trips!).
Sabbatical: Full time teaching faculty are eligible for a sabbatical after 10 years of employment.
Health Benefits: Riverdale offers and subsidizes health, dental, and vision insurance. In addition, the school offers a flexible spending account through which employees can use pre-tax dollars to pay for health-related expenses.
Retirement: Employees are eligible to join our Defined Contribution retirement plan through TIAA. The school contributes 7% of an employee's annual salary to their retirement account.
Vacation: Riverdale Country School has a generous time-off policy for staff in addition to vacations afforded by the school calendar.
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Last updated on Feb 27, 2024