Lower School Per-Diem Substitute Teacher

The Pingry School, a prestigious K-12 coeducational, independent day school with a rich history dating back to its founding by Dr. John F. Pingry in 1861, stands at the forefront of academic excellence in the United States. With campuses located in Basking Ridge, Pottersville, and Short Hills, New Jersey, Pingry is celebrated for its academic programs, a student-written Honor Code that underpins our community values, and a comprehensive commitment to arts, athletics, community, and civic engagement. Our mission is to inspire in our students a lifelong passion for learning, personal development, and social responsibility, preparing them to be global citizens and luminaries of the 21st century. Rooted in relationships and guided by our foundational philosophy, Pingry is a vibrant community of more than 1,100 students hailing from over 90 towns across New Jersey and New York. At Pingry, we are united by a love of learning and a commitment to preparing students to navigate the complexities of the 21st century with confidence and integrity. For more information, we invite you to visit our website at pingry.org or connect with The Pingry School on Facebook, X, and Instagram to discover why we love school.

Position Summary
The Pingry School is seeking experienced, caring educators to serve as per-diem Lower School Substitute Teachers at our Short Hills Campus. Substitute Teachers provide classroom coverage for Kindergarten through Grade 5 on an as-needed basis.

This is an active teaching role. Substitute Teachers implement lesson plans, lead classroom instruction, maintain a positive and structured learning environment, and support students’ academic, social, and emotional needs. They also provide attentive supervision during transitions, meals, recess, and other parts of the school day.

You will excel in this role if you enjoy teaching elementary-aged children, have strong classroom management skills, and can quickly establish clear expectations and positive relationships. Successful substitutes are flexible, dependable, and prepared to teach and care for students throughout the day rather than simply monitor independent work.

This is an on-call, per-diem position. Substitute Teachers must be available to work the full school day from 7:45 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. The daily rate is $170.

Key Responsibilities

Instruction and Lesson Delivery
Implement the lesson plans and instructional activities provided by the classroom teacher. Present directions clearly, support student understanding, answer questions, and keep students actively engaged in their learning.

Classroom Leadership and Management
Establish and maintain a positive, orderly, and developmentally appropriate classroom environment. Reinforce established routines and expectations, respond constructively to student behavior, and help students make responsible choices.

Student Learning and Support
Observe students as they work, check for understanding, provide appropriate assistance, and encourage students to participate fully. Respond thoughtfully to students’ academic, social, and emotional needs while maintaining appropriate professional boundaries.

Care and Supervision Throughout the School Day
Provide attentive and active supervision during classroom instruction, transitions, arrival and dismissal, meals, recess, and other assigned learning or community activities. Remain aware of student locations, interactions, and safety throughout the day.

Responsiveness and Adaptability
Adjust to different grade levels, classroom routines, teaching approaches, and daily schedules. Respond calmly and appropriately when plans change or when unexpected student or classroom needs arise.

Faculty Collaboration and Communication
Partner with classroom teachers, teaching associates, specialists, and administrators to support a safe and consistent student experience. Communicate important information about the day, including completed work, student progress, behavioral concerns, or other matters requiring follow-up.

Honor Code and Community Expectations
Hold students to high academic and behavioral standards consistent with Pingry’s mission and Honor Code. Model honesty, respect, responsibility, patience, and professionalism in every interaction.

Qualifications and Requirements

• A bachelor’s degree is required.
• Previous classroom teaching, student teaching, or comparable lead-teaching experience is required. Candidates currently completing an education degree may be considered if they have completed substantial supervised classroom experience, particularly student teaching.
• Previous experience teaching or working closely with elementary-aged students is required.
• Demonstrated classroom management skills, including the ability to establish expectations, maintain routines, redirect behavior, and create a positive and productive learning environment.
• Genuine interest in educating and caring for students in Kindergarten through Grade 5.
• Ability to implement lesson plans effectively with limited preparation time while maintaining the classroom teacher’s established expectations and routines.
• Sound judgment and the ability to respond appropriately to students’ academic, behavioral, social, and emotional needs.
• Patience, composure, and flexibility when working with students who have varied learning needs, personalities, and levels of independence.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to collaborate respectfully and productively with faculty, administrators, and other members of the Lower School community.
• Proficiency with Google Workspace applications, including Gmail, Google Drive, Google Calendar, and Google Docs.
• Flexibility to accept assignments based on the evolving needs of the Lower School and to work within the School’s rotating schedule.
• Commitment to Pingry’s mission, vision, and Honor Code, including a commitment to DEIB and the ability to contribute to a culture of equity, belonging, respect, and shared responsibility.

Schedule and Compensation
This is an on-call, per-diem position based at Pingry’s Short Hills Campus. Substitute Teachers are contacted as coverage needs arise, and the frequency of assignments may vary throughout the school year.

How to Apply

Interested candidates are encouraged to apply online at https://www.pingry.org/careers. 

The daily rate for this position is $170. 

Pingry offers a comprehensive benefits package to full-time employees, including but not limited to: medical, dental, and vision coverage; retirement plans with employer matching; life and disability insurance; tuition remission for employees' children; and access to wellness and professional development resources.

A full list of benefits is available at www.pingry.org/careers.

The Pingry School aspires to be an anti-racist community and is committed to the principles of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. Pingry is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. The Pingry School's employment policy is that individuals will receive equal opportunity in all matters pertaining to recruitment, employment, salary, promotion, and assignment, regardless of race, religion, color, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, pregnancy status, genetic information, marital status, amnesty or status as a covered veteran, or other basis proscribed by federal, state, and local law. All employment is decided based on qualifications, merit, and business need.