Half-Year, Full-Time Middle School English Teacher (sabbatical substitute)
Start date: January 20, 2026
This position is an “exempt” position.
This position is a “5-month” long-term sub position.
MISSION
Wilmington Friends School offers a college preparatory curriculum—including athletics, the arts and community service—in which Quaker values and high expectations are mutually supportive. The defining belief of Quakerism is that there is “that of God” in everyone. That belief gives rise to a school community that welcomes a variety of faith traditions and where we share an obligation to seek and answer what is best in ourselves and in others. Students at Friends are challenged to realize their potential: as learners, well prepared to succeed in college and career; as leaders, recognizing their power and opportunity to be agents of change; and as active and responsible members of communities, from the classroom to the world. The school seeks to serve students, age two through grade twelve, who demonstrate ongoing promise in their ability to succeed at Friends, both academically and in meeting expectations for integrity and conduct.
SCHOOL DESCRIPTION
Wilmington Friends School is a Preschool to 12 Quaker, college preparatory, day school located in Wilmington, Delaware and enrolling approximately 700 students.
Job Description: This full-time, half-year sabbatical substitute position involves teaching one semester of sixth and eighth grade English, and serving as a sixth grade student advisor in the middle school. A highly qualified candidate is one who…
Understands the developmental needs of the early adolescent and adolescent child;
Is familiar with current standards for curriculum development, teaching practice, and assessment in English/language arts, including National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) standards;
Is familiar with current research and/or practice in teaching and learning English that places contextualized, multi-faceted, hands-on problems at the heart of the curriculum so that students have the opportunity to construct understanding and real-world application of English concepts and skills, particularly writing and providing young writers effective feedback on their work;
Is passionate about literature and writing and is fostering this same enthusiasm in young scholars;
Will bring imagination, a positive attitude, and energy to work with students of ranging experiences and interest in cross-disciplinary teaching and learning;
Is committed to planning and teaching interdisciplinary and problem-based units in cooperation with other faculty;
Is interested in collaborating with colleagues across disciplines and grade levels;
Is aware of and can use effectively a wide-range of techniques and methods in the classroom which stimulate students and which respond to different learning styles;
Will contribute in other significant ways to the Wilmington Friends School community (e.g. coach a sport, help with drama productions, run professional development workshops, sponsor an activity, etc.);
Seeks to serve on a faculty that in division-level groups and through committee work contributes significantly to school governance.
If interested, please send your resume to Jonathan Huxtable, Head of Middle School at jhuxtable@wilmingtonfriends.org. Candidates whose interests and experiences best fit the needs of the position and school will be invited to interview and present a demonstration lesson on campus. We are particularly interested in hearing from qualified candidates who want to work in a school that emphasizes the full development of each individual, the value of diversity, and service to others.
“Everything works out,” is the perspective Kiera Patterson ’20 carries with her from her days at WFS through her time at the University of Michigan and MIT, which she recently shared with the WFS upper school Steminist Club.
Now that most of our seniors have completed their college essays and the Common Application, they are meeting with their WFS college counselor to finalize their college list and plan next steps.
The WFS volleyball program honored the life and legacy of Coach Bob Trinsey last night. Since 1999, Bob and the Trinsey family have shaped Wilmington Friends School volleyball into one of the state’s most respected programs.
Last week, Jimmy Butterfield’s ’20 band (second from left), Butterfield, played in Eakins Oval in front of the Philly Art Museum. They were the first band on the R&B After Dark Series that night. Mark McMillan ‘20 (far left) and Jack Hanson ‘18 (far right) came to hear them play and had a blast together!
Thank you to our incredible Building Services and Grounds teams for all the behind-the-scenes work that makes our campus ready to welcome students back!
Members of the WFS Class of 2026 gathered this morning for a Senior Breakfast before their last first day of school! Special thanks to the Senior Class Reps for hosting and the delicious food.
The first day of school is here, and lower school students were so excited to greet their friends and teachers on this beautiful morning! Welcome back, friends!
It was a beautiful day to welcome our lower school students and families to "Friends Village" as they explored their new learning cottages for the very first time!
Thank you to all of the new families who joined us for last night’s New Parent & Guardian Reception! Guests were welcomed by Head of School Ken Aldridge, connected with members of the Home & School Association, and learned about the many ways to get involved in our community.
A big thanks to our Home & School Association for helping organize this event, greeting families, and sharing the numerous ways they help enhance life at WFS. We are excited for the year ahead and look forward to all that we will do together!
WFS Lower School teachers spent the past week moving into “Friends Village” and setting up their new classrooms! We can't wait to welcome Lower School families back to campus tomorrow for our Open House. See you soon!
This summer, Felicity Joppa '31 represented the USA at a CISV Youth Meeting in Brasília, the capital of Brazil, with a delegation from Brandywine Valley CISV. Youth Meetings bring 12-13-year-olds from 8 countries together to learn from each other, build global friendships, and work for peace.
On Sunday, the WFS football team hosted athletes from Special Olympics Delaware. WFS student-athletes and Special Olympians participated in various football drills and enjoyed water ice together!
Check out the earliest image of Friends Lower School children — taken in 1891 in the kindergarten room. Friends' School had the second kindergarten class in Delaware and, for several years, served as a “normal” or training school for kindergarten teachers. The teacher pictured here is Katharine Clark.
Our Lower School teachers have begun moving into their cottages this week and are so excited to welcome everyone back. See you soon!
Today marked the start of orientation for our new Wilmington Friends School faculty and staff! Over the next three days, they’ll dive into the history of WFS, explore Quaker Faith and Practice, connect with their mentors, and enjoy activities like “Who’s Who?” and Friends Trivia.
Statement of Nondiscrimination as to Student Enrollment
Wilmington Friends School admits students of any race, color, gender, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students of these schools. Wilmington Friends School does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, national and ethnic origin in administration of their educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other school administered programs.