Tandem Friends School Employment

At Tandem Friends School, we believe that the finest education is achieved through an active partnership between faculty and students. We honor students by holding them to high standards. Teachers are dedicated to the intellectual, aesthetic and moral growth of each student. In turn, our students are expected to enter into this partnership with a sense of responsibility and respect for their mentors and for the entire school community.

Our high expectations of students are possible because our faculty and staff meet a high standard of professional and personal excellence in their work. All teacher candidate finalists spend a full day here and teach sample classes. We actively foster our employees' continuing growth through professional development funding and an environment that is characterized by open communication, collaboration and a strong sense of community. The combination of motivated students, engaged families, active institutional support and highly qualified employees makes this a dynamic learning community.

Tandem Friends School is a co-educational, diverse, independent day school for grades 5-12. The school is located on a 31-acre campus in Charlottesville, Virginia. It was founded as The Tandem School in 1970, and was affiliated as a Quaker (Friends) school in 1995.

Tandem Friends is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Tandem Friends does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation or national ethnic origin in the administration of its educational policies, hiring policies, admissions policies, scholarship or loan programs, or athletic and other school-administered programs. People of color and members of other underrepresented groups are encouraged to apply.

Current Openings

Current employment opportunities are listed below; coaching positions are listed on the right. Please send all inquiries and candidate materials to the email address designated for each position and specified in the description below. Here is a link to the Employment Application that must be completed by all job applicants. No phone calls please.

Teaching Positions

Middle and/or Upper School Math Teacher

Tandem Friends School, a co-ed, Quaker, 5th-12th grade independent day school in Charlottesville, Virginia, seeks an experienced Math Teacher with a strong background in curriculum and pedagogy to enhance our current math department.

This is a full-time position with an August 2025 start. Part-time employment may also be a possibility.

As a school community of approximately 250 students that prides itself on cultivating a dynamic and joyful learning environment, close interpersonal connections are a defining feature of life at Tandem Friends School. Tandem Friends seeks teachers from all backgrounds who bring diverse skills and knowledge, a willingness to learn new things, and an appreciation for collaboration with students. At TFS, all teachers are active community members who share in the general support and care of the school community, serve as student advisors, chaperone overnight trips, and participate in a wide range of community activities.

The ideal candidate will possess:

A strong math background and the ability to teach a range of middle and upper school math courses
Facility with teaching students of a wide range of age and ability levels and the ability to differentiate instruction accordingly
Experience teaching and a strong developmental understanding of adolescent students
A pedagogical approach that incorporates equitable and inclusive strategies and curricula
Enthusiasm for Quaker values, including principles of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Justice and Belonging
A self-awareness in regard to one’s own strengths and areas for growth; an approach to others characterized by empathy and generosity of spirit
An eagerness to partner with a dynamic and dedicated team of colleagues in the day-to-day activities of the school

Qualified candidates hold a Bachelor’s degree (ideally in a related field); a Master’s degree is preferred but not required. Ability to teach a range of math courses from algebra to calculus is ideal. Teachers with experience in teacher mentoring, curricular design, and departmental leadership are encouraged to apply. Experience with lab science and computer science instruction is a plus.

This is a full-time teaching position, but a part-time position may also be possible. Full-time benefits include a dental plan, a retirement plan, tuition remission, and a robust health insurance plan, including a school contribution that covers the employee’s individual cost.

Tandem Friends School, an all-gender, Quaker, 5th-12th grade independent day school in Charlottesville, Virginia, seeks an Upper School French and/or Spanish teacher for the 2025-2026 school year. This is a part-time position that may possibly be combined with another responsibility to create a full-time role.

The Opportunity:

A unique school with a unique history, Tandem Friends School of Charlottesville, VA, is guided by the Quaker principles that define Friends Schools and has three school mottos: kindness and wisdom, creativity and integrity, and freedom with responsibility. Founded in 1970 as an inclusive alternative to the segregation academies that had proliferated in Virginia at that time, Tandem was the first school in the area founded as both coeducational and racially integrated. Over time, Tandem found Quaker schools to be kindred spirits and joined the Friends Council of Education, becoming a Friends School in 1996.

As a community of just under 300 students, faculty and staff, close interpersonal connections are a defining feature of life at Tandem Friends School. TFS also strives to place student voice and agency at the center of the classroom experience. Tandem Friends seeks teachers from all backgrounds who bring diverse skills and knowledge, a willingness to learn new things, and an appreciation for collaboration with students. At TFS, all teachers are active community members who share in the general support and care of the school community, serve as student advisors, chaperone overnight trips, and participate in a wide range of community activities.

The ideal candidate will possess:

• a relevant advanced degree and at least 3-5 years of teaching experience

• a strong understanding of the developmental needs of early adolescents

• experience with curriculum design, and student-centered teaching and learning practices

• a pedagogical approach to world language instruction that incorporates equitable and inclusive teaching strategies and curricula

• a demonstrated ability to work with students with a range of abilities and backgrounds

• self-awareness in regard to one’s own strengths and areas for growth; an approach to others characterized by empathy and generosity of spirit

• enthusiasm for Quaker values, including principles of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Justice and Belonging

• an eagerness to partner with a dynamic team of colleagues in the day-to-day activities of the school

• an ability and willingness to engage professionally with students, parents, colleagues and other members of the TFS community.

Tandem Friends School aspires to be an equitable and inclusive school community. The school welcomes applications from candidates who will contribute to an atmosphere in which all are valued and supported. People of color and members of other underrepresented groups are encouraged to apply. Interested applicants should submit a cover letter, resume and references to worldlanguagepositions@tandemfs.org.

Middle School Music Teacher

Tandem Friends School, a co-ed, Quaker, 5th-12th grade independent day school in Charlottesville, Virginia, seeks an experienced Middle School Music Teacher to begin in August, 2025. Tandem’s Middle School music classes take a “rock band” approach, with students learning different instruments, learning to sing, and learning to collaborate on their musical choices, in order to perform for the school community. The approach is about exposure, growth, and lots of fun.

As a community of just under 300 students, faculty and staff, close interpersonal connections are a defining feature of life at Tandem Friends School. Tandem Friends seeks teachers from all backgrounds who bring diverse skills and knowledge, a willingness to learn new things, and an appreciation for collaboration with students. At TFS, all teachers are active community members who share in the general support and care of the school community, serve as student advisors, chaperone overnight trips, and participate in a wide range of community activities.

The ideal candidate will possess:

A strong music education background and the ability to teach a range of Middle School ages (5th through 8th graders) and possibly Upper School
Facility with teaching students of a wide range of age and ability levels and the ability to differentiate instruction accordingly
Multi-instrument knowledge: facility with or at least basic understanding of the guitar/bass fretboard, keyboard and drums/percussion
Experience teaching and a strong developmental understanding of pre-adolescent and adolescent students
A pedagogical approach that incorporates equitable and inclusive strategies and curricula
Enthusiasm for Quaker values, including principles of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Justice and Belonging
A self-awareness in regard to one’s own strengths and areas for growth; an approach to others characterized by empathy and generosity of spirit
An eagerness to partner with a dynamic and dedicated team of colleagues in the day-to-day activities of the school

Qualified candidates hold a Bachelor’s degree (ideally in a related field); a Master’s degree is preferred but not required. Ability to teach choir/choral ensemble is a plus. Teachers with experience in teacher mentoring, curricular design, and departmental leadership are encouraged to apply.

This is a full-time or 4/5ths time teaching position. Full benefits include a dental plan, a retirement plan, tuition remission, and a robust health insurance plan, including a school contribution that covers the employee individual plan cost.

Administrative and Support Staff Positions

Director of College Counseling

Tandem Friends School, an all-gender, Quaker, 5th-12th grade independent day school in Charlottesville, Virginia, seeks an experienced college counselor to serve as our next Director of College Counseling. Position to begin on or before July 1, 2025, dependent upon candidate availability. This is a salaried and exempt full time role, but a part-time configuration of this role may also be a possibility.

The Opportunity:

A unique school with a unique history, Tandem Friends School of Charlottesville, VA is guided by the Quaker principles that define Friends Schools and has three school mottos: kindness and wisdom, creativity and integrity, and freedom with responsibility. Founded in 1970 as an inclusive alternative to the segregation academies that had proliferated in Virginia at that time, Tandem was the first school in the area founded as both coeducational and racially integrated. Over time, Tandem found Quaker schools to be kindred spirits and joined the Friends Council of Education, becoming a Friends School in 1996.

With approximately 250 students and spanning only grades 5-12, Tandem Friends aims to cultivate a school culture in which adolescents feel invested in their school community, feel seen and appreciated, and feel comfortable being their full selves at school. By encouraging the exploration of new activities and experiences and supporting students’ sense of community responsibility and belonging, the school strives to create challenging and engaging academic and extracurricular experiences that feel purposeful to our students.

In keeping with our ethos as a school, we are looking for a professional who takes great joy in working with adolescents and helping to guide them and their families through the steps that take them into higher education and fulfilling lives of integrity, creative expression and service.

Position Summary:

The Director of College Counseling is responsible for all aspects of the college counseling program.

Core responsibilities:

Meet individually with juniors and seniors and their families throughout the college process, helping students and families select appropriate colleges and universities.
Develop and lead upper school programming for students to educate them and their families about the nuances of the college admissions process.
Support students in their submission of applications and manage the school’s submission of official transcripts, recommendations, report forms, and school profile, as needed.
Write counselor letters of recommendation for each senior (approximately 36 students).
Schedule and host college admissions representatives for visits to Tandem Friends.
Counsel and assist students and families as they identify resources for scholarships and financial aid for colleges and universities.
Manage PSAT, SAT, ACT and AP testing for students, including scheduling test dates, registering students, and administering exams.
Develop and maintain relationships with colleges through attendance at conferences, counselor information sessions, and college visits.
Participate in professional development to promote self-growth, build relationships, and remain current with programs, policies, and practices that meet the needs of our students.
Lead and implement a week-long “Senior Week” to support seniors in all aspects of the college application process.
Serve on the school’s Academic Committee and advise students, families and teachers regarding curricular and programmatic issues.
AT TFS, all members of school administration are active community members who share in the general support and care of the school community and participate in schoolwide programming and activities, including overnight trips.

Tandem Friends seeks faculty and administrators who bring diverse skills and knowledge, a willingness to learn new things, and an appreciation for collaboration with students. Ideal candidates will possess:

Significant experience in college counseling
A strong working knowledge of current college admissions processes, such as admissions trends, approaches to applying for financial aid and scholarships, and the nuanced differences between standardized testing options
A high level of cultural competency and a demonstrated commitment to DEIJB principles and practices
Stellar interpersonal and written communication skills
Excellent presentation skills
Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail
The ability to respond effectively to the needs of a diverse student and parent/guardian population that includes first generation college students, children of college professors, student athletes, nonbinary/trans students, and neurodivergent students.
A Bachelor’s degree is required for this position; a Master’s degree is strongly preferred.

Physical Requirements:

Daily desk work, including significant amounts of telephone and computer time.
As part of daily routines, frequent walking inside and outside and managing stairs as part of general job duties moving around a large campus with uneven pavement.
The employee must be able to work the standard week of Monday through Friday during regular business hours on campus, with additional hours required outside those hours to attend events and meetings.

Wages/Benefits:

This is a full-time, 10.5-month salaried and exempt Upper School academic administrative position that reports to the Upper School Director. Full benefits include a dental plan, a retirement plan, tuition remission, and a robust health insurance plan, including a school contribution that covers the employee cost. This position begins with two weeks of summer onboarding in early July; option to start earlier during the current academic year based on candidate availability.

Depending on candidate interest and level of experience, a part-time position in our college counseling office may also be a possibility.

How to Apply:

We are now accepting applications. Interested applicants should submit a cover letter, resume and a list of three to five professional references, including contact information to collegecounselingposition@tandemfs.org. References will not be contacted until after initial interviews with candidates. Review of submitted materials will begin immediately.

Librarian and Media Specialist

Tandem Friends School, an all-gender, Quaker, 5th-12th grade independent day school in Charlottesville, Virginia, seeks a dynamic and enthusiastic Librarian and Media Specialist. This is an exciting opportunity to cultivate a vibrant and engaging learning environment within our Libby O. Cohen Library, supporting both our Middle and Upper School students and faculty. Position to begin on or before July 1, 2025, dependent upon candidate availability.

The Opportunity:

Key responsibilities for the Librarian and Media Specialist position include the following:

Develop and maintain a diverse collection of print and digital materials to support the curriculum and to cultivate reading enjoyment
Manage the Follett library database
Catalog all materials
Manage patron records and the circulation of materials
Purchase all materials, supplies and manage subscription renewals/purchases keeping within the library budget
Perform collection inventories on an annual or biennial basis
Maintain the library’s online presence (website)
Offer reference, research, and reader's advisory services at the Middle and Upper School level, both individually and as class instruction
Foster a vibrant learning environment conducive to inquiry, reflection, and collaboration.

At the core of the Librarian and Media Specialist role are relationships with students, faculty, staff, and parents. Additional duties or responsibilities within the Middle or Upper School will be required.

Significant K-12 school library experience with a strong preference for middle and high school experience
A strong working knowledge of best practices for school libraries including digital and print collection management
Experience instructing and supporting research skill and media literacy skill development among Middle and Upper School students
A high level of cultural competency and a demonstrated commitment to DEIJB principles and practices
Upper or Middle School classroom experience
Stellar interpersonal and written communication skills
Excellent presentation skills
Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail
A Bachelor’s degree is required for this position; an MLS or a Master’s degree in a related academic field is preferred.

Physical Requirements:

Daily desk work, including significant amounts of telephone and computer time
As part of daily routines, frequent walking inside and outside and managing stairs as part of general job duties moving around a large campus with uneven pavement
The employee must be able to work the standard week of Monday through Friday during regular business hours on campus, with additional hours required outside those hours to attend events and meetings
Lifting 40 pounds (books)

The Librarian and Media Specialist position described above is a part-time position; however, the position may be expanded to a full-time faculty, 10.5 month position by combining that position with the duties of the Library and Study Hall Proctor, a part-time position described below, or possibly by teaching one or two Middle or Upper School academic classes, depending on availability.

The Library and Study Hall Proctor responsibilities include the following:

Monitor students using the library to ensure a quiet and productive environment
Manage any required study halls throughout the day: take attendance, supervise, etc. (primarily 9th graders and new students in fall semester, and when assigned in response to behavioral or academic performance)
Maintain library appearance and ensure an orderly and accessible environment, including working with a student work crew daily to clean the space
Coordinate reservations of the library and conference spaces by students and staff
Check in/out books
Assist with collection management tasks including repairing minor damage to materials and shelving and straightening books
Assist the technology department with the circulation of student Chromebooks, including distribution and EOY collection, troubleshooting issues, and checking out loaner devices.

The ideal candidate for the Library and Study Hall Proctor position will posses:

Ability to maintain positive classroom dynamics and rapport with students

Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
Excellent and appropriate professional boundaries
Highly organized and dependable
Highly detail oriented
Hard working and self-motivated
Creative, flexible, and energetic

Tandem Friends School aspires to be an equitable and inclusive school community. The school seeks applications from candidates with a high degree of cultural competence who will contribute to an atmosphere in which all are valued and supported. People of color and members of other underrepresented groups are encouraged to apply. Interested applicants should submit a cover letter, resume and references to librarianposition@tandemfs.org. Please indicate which position(s) you are applying for: 1) Part-time Librarian and Media Specialist ONLY, 2) Full-time Librarian and Media Specialist and Library and Study Hall Proctor combined position, or 3) Full-time Librarian and Media Specialist and MS/US teacher combined position (this option depends on staffing needs and may not be available).

For general inquiries only, please email: HR@tandemfs.org. No phone calls please.

Coaching Positions

For inquiries regarding coaching positions, please email your resume and a description of your experience to our Athletic Director at tfscoachingpositions@tandemfs.org.

A completed employment application, references, a background check, and a good driving record are required of all coaches, as well as First Aid/CPR/AED (can be attained after hire). No phone calls please. Here is a link to the Employment Application that must be completed by all job applicants.

Current Coaching Positions Open

None available at this time.

Coaches report directly to the Director of Athletics. They are responsible for but not limited to communications to parents, updating the calendar, uniform distribution and collection, and creating and maintaining a comprehensive training plan. Practices range from one hour in length (Middle School) to up to two hours for Upper School. Driving is required. Middle School games are within the Charlottesville area, and Upper School game locations vary.

Middle School practices usually take place from 4pm-5pm. Upper School practices follow Middle School practices for Court Sports and run from 4pm-6pm for Field Sports.

These are stipend positions. Stipends vary based on sports level and time commitment. Coaching experience is required.

Area Information

Use the links below to learn more about Charlottesville and the surrounding area.

Welcome to Tandem Friends

About Tandem Friends School

Academics

Athletics at Tandem Friends

Arts at Tandem Friends

Student Life

Support Tandem Friends

Employment

Employment

Current Openings

Coaching Positions

Area Information