Spanish & French Teacher
Davis Chicago · Chicago · $72,520–$137,099 (stated in the posting)
Full-Time Founding Teaching Position · Reports to the Principal · Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s preferred in Spanish and French language, literature, or education · Spanish and French fluency required · Illinois Professional Educator License in high school Spanish and French preferred and National Board Certification a major plus; you can teach entirely in Spanish and French · 3+ years of secondary (grades 6–12) teaching experience required; high school (grades 9–12) teaching experience highly preferred · College-preparatory, independent, Jewish day or faith-based school experience is a plus. Being Jewish is not a requirement for this role. Fewer years but exceptional craft? We hire for mastery, not seat time.
Are you a passionate educator who believes language is the gateway to culture, identity, connection, and belonging? Do you inspire students to communicate confidently in Spanish and French while fostering meaningful engagement with Spanish and French cultures, heritage, and the broader world? Are you excited to help build dynamic, student-centered Spanish and French language programs within a rigorous college-preparatory environment? If so, Davis School Chicago wants to hear from you.
The Dream Team
Davis School Chicago is a proudly Jewish, college-preparatory high school opening in fall 2027 in downtown Chicago, in a state-of-the-art building at the heart of a great city for learning. Every adult at Davis Chicago is an educator and a culture-builder. We hold two expectations at the same time: deep human warmth and uncompromising intellectual excellence. High health and high results, never one at the cost of the other. This is a summary of the characteristics that describe our dream team. Please read the full Profile of the Ideal Davis Chicago Educator and more information about our opportunities before you apply.
To thrive here you are:
Warm and intellectually formidable. Genuinely kind and seriously bright. We hire for intellectual horsepower; only sharp minds grow students to their full potential.
You bring the room to life. Passion people feel, loud or quiet, with the range to teach, support, and lead.
A builder who owns it. Startup grit, a real growth mindset, open about mistakes, gives the gift of feedback, and the drive to create what doesn’t exist yet.
Teach how to think, not what to think. Rigor, evidence, and a love of hard questions, including the controversial ones. Students reach their own conclusions.
Rooted in tradition, built for what’s next. Ancient wisdom and modern tools, AI included, aimed at today's problems.
Unapologetically Jewish. Israel has a right to exist; that is not up for debate. Everything else is fair game, including spirited debate about Israel’s actions. You’re excited to help build a proudly Jewish, pro-Israel school.
What Davis Chicago Needs
Davis Chicago is hiring a dual-fluent, dynamic world-languages teacher to build high quality Spanish and French programs.
Davis School Chicago has also posted a part-time Spanish Teacher role and a part-time French Teacher role. If you teach only French, please apply for the part-time French Teacher role; if you teach only Spanish, please apply for the part-time Spanish Teacher role.
Who Thrives in This Role
Warm, Relational, and High-Performing – Kind, emotionally intelligent, intellectually rigorous, and committed to excellence.
A Proficiency-Driven Language Teacher – 90 percent target language is your comfort zone, not a stretch.
A Bridge to the Wider World – Brings language and culture together across the Spanish- and French-speaking worlds.
An Entrepreneurial Builder – Thrives in ambiguity, solves problems, and creates programs, systems, and traditions from the ground up.
A Curious and Courageous Thinker – Embraces learning, evidence, critical thinking, and meaningful debate.
Rooted and Forward-Looking – Honors tradition while embracing innovation, technology, and AI.
Committed to Jewish Life and Community – Values Jewish identity, the diversity of Jewish thought, and meaningful engagement in Jewish life.
A Collaborative Culture-Builder – Balances accountability, care, and results while elevating everyone around them.
The Role
The Spanish & French Teacher is responsible for helping students in grades 9–12 communicate in culturally appropriate ways and achieve sophisticated language proficiency that allows them to understand how language functions and how ideas are conveyed across cultures. This educator will develop students’ proficiency in speaking, listening, reading, and writing in both Spanish and French while integrating culture, literature, current events, and contemporary issues into the curriculum.
The successful candidate will design authentic learning experiences that encourage active communication, critical thinking, and cultural exploration. As a founding faculty member, the Spanish & French Teacher will help shape curriculum, establish traditions, contribute to school culture, and collaborate closely with colleagues across disciplines to create a vibrant and integrated educational experience.
1. Instruction and Curriculum
Teach Spanish and French across multiple proficiency levels in grades 9–12.
Design and implement engaging, standards-based lessons that promote language acquisition and cultural competency.
Create immersive learning environments that encourage active use of spoken and written Spanish and French.
Integrate Spanish-speaking and Francophone culture, literature, history, current events, and contemporary topics into instruction.
Differentiate instruction to support diverse learners and learning styles.
Utilize educational technology and innovative teaching methodologies to enhance student engagement and achievement.
Assess student progress through a variety of formative and summative measures and provide timely, meaningful feedback.
Collaborate in the development of a vertically aligned Spanish and French curriculum that supports long-term language proficiency growth.
Teach for real proficiency, aligned to the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) Proficiency Guidelines with outcomes measured in proficiency levels rather than seat time.
Teach in the target language 90 percent plus at all levels of instruction, per ACTFL's published recommendation.
Benchmark student growth against external proficiency assessments.
2. Student Development
Foster a classroom environment characterized by curiosity, respect, inclusion, and intellectual challenge.
Build strong relationships with students and serve as a trusted mentor and advisor.
Support students’ academic, social, and emotional growth.
Encourage student leadership, confidence, and active participation in school life.
3. Community and Culture Building
Contribute actively to the vibrant culture and mission of Davis School Chicago.
Partner with colleagues to support school-wide programming, celebrations, and community initiatives.
Help create opportunities for students to engage with Spanish and French language and culture beyond the classroom.
Build relationships with universities, research institutions, language organizations, cultural institutions, and industry partners and develop signature experiences that distinguish Davis School Chicago among leading college-preparatory schools.
Serve as an ambassador for language education within the school and broader community.
Showcase student achievement through competitions, presentations, exhibitions, and public events.
Participate in student activities, faculty meetings, professional development, and community events.
Co-create and help to moderate and coach student clubs, activities, and sports.
4. Family Engagement and Collaboration
Communicate regularly and effectively with families regarding student progress and learning goals.
Collaborate with colleagues across academic departments to develop interdisciplinary learning experiences.
Partner with faculty and school leadership to advance school goals, curriculum development, and student success initiatives.
Qualifications
Education: Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s preferred in Spanish and French language, literature, or education.
Language: Spanish and French fluency required.
Experience: 3+ years of secondary (grades 6–12) teaching required, world-language teaching preferred; high school (grades 9–12) teaching experience highly preferred; independent, college-preparatory, or faith-based settings preferred.
Craft: Proficiency-based instruction per ACTFL; AATSP and AATF membership valued.
Core Competencies
Proficiency-Based Instruction: ACTFL-aligned outcomes; 90 percent target language.
Culture and Content: the Spanish- and French-speaking worlds in the classroom.
Assessment: Can-Do goal-setting; outcomes in proficiency levels, not seat time.
Community: world languages visible in the life of the school.
Compensation and Benefits
The anticipated annual salary range for this position is $72,520–$137,099, based on the school’s established Faculty Salary Schedule. Placement within the salary range is determined by a combination of relevant experience and educational attainment, including Bachelor's, Master's, Master's + additional graduate credits, Education Specialist (Ed.S.), and Doctoral (Ed.D./Ph.D.) degrees, in accordance with the school’s step-and-lane compensation structure. Final compensation will be determined consistent with the school’s compensation philosophy, internal equity, and established salary schedule. In addition to base salary, the position is eligible for a comprehensive benefits package that includes paid time off, holiday pay, medical insurance, and a 401(k) plan with employer match.
How We Hire
Our process is thorough and we believe that hiring is a dual decision-making process; you are vetting us as much as we are vetting you. Our process includes focused conversations with the people you would work with, a battery of assessments we use for your development as much as for selection, and interview rounds both in-person and virtually. We use artificial intelligence tools in our recruitment and hiring process to help review and organize applications and interviews; every hiring decision is made by a person. Davis School Chicago is an equal employment opportunity employer.
Is this you?
This isn’t for everyone. If it’s you, it may be the best work of your life. Read the full Profile of the Ideal Davis Chicago Educator, then apply.
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