Upper School Humanities Teacher

Upper School Humanities 

About Charleston Collegiate:

Charleston Collegiate School (CCS) is an independent, co-educational, non-sectarian day school serving students from PS through 12th grade. Situated on a picturesque 30-acre campus of playing fields, wooded trails, and an Outdoor Education Center, CCS is located on Johns Island, just 20 minutes from Charleston’s historic district and the beach resorts of Kiawah and Seabrook Islands.

Founded in 1970, CCS fosters a challenging and supportive learning community that recognizes, nurtures, and challenges its diverse student body. Organized into Lower School (PS-5), Middle School (6-8), and Upper School (9-12), the school’s mission is to empower students through a student-centered approach that emphasizes collaboration, innovation, and individuality. With approximately 410 students, CCS is Charleston’s only independent PS-12 school of its kind, providing a unique education grounded in the pillars of project-based learning, entrepreneurship, arts and creativity, and outdoor education. These foundational elements equip students to become lifelong learners and resilient leaders ready for 21st-century careers.

Job Description

The Humanities Teacher at Charleston Collegiate School is responsible for facilitating an integrated English and Social Studies curriculum that challenges students to explore the complexities of the human experience. This role requires a versatile educator who can balance high academic rigor with a deep commitment to Social-Emotional Learning (SEL). The ideal candidate will bridge historical contexts with literature and current affairs, utilizing standard-aligned inquiry to prepare students for college-level research, global citizenship, and Advanced Placement (AP) success.

Key Responsibilities

• Design and implement a rigorous Humanities curriculum that integrates History/Social Studies and Literature, focusing on the development of critical reading, analytical writing, and historical reasoning skills.

• Ensure coursework meets or exceeds high-school literacy and social studies standards, mastering evidence-based argumentation and the interpretation of complex texts.

• Facilitate respectful discussions on current events, helping students connect historical patterns to contemporary global issues and diverse cultural perspectives.

• Serve as an Upper School Advisor, implementing a dedicated SEL curriculum that supports executive functioning, self-advocacy, and community belonging.

• Lead intensive writing instruction, scaffolding the transition from foundational summaries to complex, analytical college-prep writing, including research composition and literary analysis.

• Employ a variety of assessment strategies, including Harkness discussions, project-based learning (PBL), and performance-based tasks to evaluate and support student growth.

• Work closely with the Upper School team to vertically align the Humanities scope and sequence, ensuring a consistent climb in rigor from 9th through 12th grade.

• Actively highlight a variety of voices within history and literature, fostering a classroom environment where every student feels seen and valued.

• Use data-driven feedback to monitor student progress, balancing a high bar for achievement with the high care necessary for adolescent development.

• Opportunity to teach an Advanced Placement (AP) course. 

Qualification Requirements

• Minimum of a Bachelor’s degree in English, History, Humanities, or Secondary Education (Master’s preferred).

• At least 3 years of teaching experience in a high school setting, preferably within an independent school.

• Proven experience teaching AP courses OR a demonstrated commitment to obtaining AP certification and expanding the school's advanced offerings.

• Experience in mentorship or advisory roles with a strong understanding of adolescent development and SEL practices.

• Exceptional written and oral communication skills; ability to facilitate complex, sensitive discussions with presence and calm.

• Proficiency in Google Suite and Learning Management Systems (LMS) to streamline student organization and communication.

• A team-oriented, flexible mindset with the ability to work across departments to create interdisciplinary connections.

Salary and Benefits

Charleston Collegiate School is committed to attracting and retaining the highest quality faculty and staff through a competitive compensation plan, retirement benefits, and full medical/dental coverage. Individual salary is negotiable depending on years of experience and educational background.

Non-Discrimination

Charleston Collegiate School values diversity and seeks talented students, faculty, and staff from different backgrounds. All employment decisions are made without regard to unlawful considerations of race, color, sex, gender, sexual orientation, religion, national origin, age, disability, or any other basis prohibited by law.