Greenwich Country Day School

Greenwich Country Day School is an independent, co-educational day school with a current enrollment of over 1400 students in grades N-12, and a faculty and staff of over 350. The original Old Church Road campus is home to grades N-8. The new High School, established in 2019, is located less than two miles away on Stanwich Road. Founded in 1926, Greenwich Country Day School is a family school where innovative teaching is encouraged as teachers model and foster a love of learning, challenge and inspire children toward academic excellence, and cultivate students’ interests and talents outside of the classroom. We value purposeful and personal learning in a joyful environment, with emphasis on the development of character, creativity, and a sense of personal value, along with strong academic skills. GCDS is committed to graduating ethical, confident leaders who possess a strong sense of purpose.

GCDS is fortunate to have built a large endowment that helps fund competitive salaries and benefits, a robust professional development program, and graduate school tuition reimbursement. GCDS offers a substantial need-based financial aid program to support students from a range of socio-economic backgrounds. 

Greenwich Country Day School seeks a Middle School Maker Space Teacher (Grades 6-8) to start in August 2026. The Maker Space Teacher is a dynamic, student-centered educator responsible for cultivating a culture of interdisciplinary, hands-on, and creative learning for students in grades 6–8. This role centers on making and tinkering as a vehicle for deep learning, empowering students to design, build, test, and communicate ideas across physical and digital forms.

The ideal candidate is a designer, facilitator, and “tinkerer” who brings both structure and playfulness to the classroom, fostering student agency while supporting the developmental needs of middle school learners. They help students move from consumers of knowledge to intentional creators, collaborators, and problem-solvers. The successful candidate will join a collaborative, forward-thinking team committed to authentic, project-based learning.

Responsibilities Include

Instructional Leadership & Curriculum Design

• Design and deliver a Maker curriculum for grades 6–8 grounded in the learning dimensions of making and tinkering: initiative, problem solving, collaboration, creativity, and conceptual understanding
• Facilitate the design thinking process (empathy, ideation, prototyping, testing, iteration), emphasizing student-driven inquiry and goal setting
• Develop interdisciplinary projects in partnership with Science, Math, Humanities, and Arts faculty that connect making to real-world contexts and core content
• Create learning experiences that require students to:
  • Take intellectual and creative risks
  • Iterate and troubleshoot solutions
  • Express ideas through physical builds, digital tools, and documentation
• Scaffold projects appropriately for middle school learners, balancing open-ended exploration with clear structures and expectations
• Support students in documenting and reflecting on their process, making learning visible

Studio Management & Safety

• Oversee the daily operations of the Maker Space/Innovation Lab, maintaining a well-organized, flexible, and student-accessible environment
• Teach and model safe, responsible use of hand tools, power tools, and digital fabrication equipment
• Establish and reinforce clear routines and safety protocols appropriate for middle school students
• Manage and troubleshoot equipment including 3D printers, laser cutters, and CNC tools
• Build systems that allow students to develop independence while maintaining accountability and safety

Student Learning & Engagement

• Foster a culture of initiative and ownership, where students set goals, pursue ideas, and adapt based on feedback
• Cultivate collaboration and peer learning, encouraging students to teach, support, and inspire one another
• Encourage play, exploration, and self-expression, connecting projects to student interests and identities
• Guide students through iterative problem-solving, helping them troubleshoot, persist, and develop creative workarounds
• Support students in building conceptual understanding by testing ideas, making observations, and applying learning across contexts
• Build strong relationships with students, creating a classroom culture that is engaging, inclusive, and responsive to a wide range of developmental needs

Community & Program Development

• Lead extracurricular opportunities such as Maker clubs, robotics teams, and showcases
• Organize exhibitions of student work that highlight process, iteration, and learning—not just final products
• Communicate effectively with families about student growth in both skills and learning dispositions
• Contribute to the ongoing development of a cohesive K–12 maker program

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Education, Engineering, Industrial Arts, Instructional Technology, or related field
• Minimum of 3 years teaching experience, preferably in middle school
• Demonstrated expertise in woodworking, fabrication, and digital making tools
• Strong ability to design project-based, interdisciplinary learning experiences
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills

Preferred Qualifications

• Degree or training in STEM/STEAM, Design, or Maker Education
• Teaching certification and/or relevant technical certifications
• Experience with design thinking, project-based learning, or studio-based instruction

Core Competencies

• Facilitation of Learning: Guides student-driven inquiry, iteration, and reflection
• Interdisciplinary Design: Connects making to academic content and real-world contexts
• Creative Instruction: Supports expression through physical and digital forms
• Learning-Centered Mindset: Values process, experimentation, and growth over perfection
• Inclusive Community Building: Creates a space where all students feel empowered to contribute

Mindset & Dispositions

• Demonstrates an inexhaustible sense of humor, patience, and flexibility—essential for working with middle school learners
• Brings energy, warmth, and enthusiasm to the classroom while maintaining clear expectations
• Embraces a “fail forward” mindset and models resilience for students
• Thrives in a fast-paced, creative, and collaborative environment
• Team-oriented and eager to contribute to a growing and evolving program

Interested candidates are invited to use the link provided to submit a cover letter and resume to Raquel Salcedo, Director of Recruiting & Talent