Middle and Upper School Spanish Teacher (2026-27)

Riverdale Country School, a Pre-K through Grade 12 independent all-gender school in New York City, is dedicated to inspiring students to live meaningful and purpose-driven lives. The school achieves this by fostering a culture of academic excellence, critical thinking, and curiosity, supported by a diverse and inclusive community. Riverdale emphasizes both high challenge and high support in its approach to education, encouraging students to engage deeply in interdisciplinary learning, research, and experiential education, both inside and outside the classroom and beyond our campuses. This holistic approach aims to develop well-rounded individuals who are prepared to make a positive impact on the world.

At Riverdale, we strive to reflect the diversity of the New York metropolitan area in our students, faculty, and staff. We believe that a diverse and inclusive community enriches the educational experience and is integral to our mission. With a student body of approximately 1,300 students from 117 different zip codes, Riverdale is a vibrant community where 48% of our students identify as students of color. 

We seek to employ educators and leaders who bring a student-centered approach, passion for their work, a commitment to DEIB, and a desire to contribute to the growth and development of our entire school community.

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 from the novice to advanced levels in both Middle and Upper School. Our curriculum aims to progressively and continuously develop students’ language proficiency, understood as the interrelation of Linguistic Mastery, (Inter)cultural Competency, and Communication Skills. Within that framework, students learn about how language and culture fundamentally shape the ways in which we see ourselves and our world, as well as how to navigate otherness and respectfully consider diverse perspectives and practices. Our ideal candidate demonstrates a strong disposition toward collaboration and ongoing professional learning, a commitment to holistic student support, and a passion for language learning, world cultures, and engaging with global perspectives. 

Our Spanish program is fully taught in the target language, and includes entry points for both Middle School (Spanish 1a) and Upper School (Spanish I) students. 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”, “Hispanic Cinema”, and “Coloniality and Indigenous Voices in Latin America”. Our website offers a complete overview of our Middle School and Upper School Language curriculum. In addition to teaching, all full-time faculty participate in the life of the school community through advising, leading activities, service learning, and other co-curricular programs. 

Please include a cover letter with your application, addressing your approach and priorities as a Spanish teacher.

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.

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.