(NAPSA)—Close-knit relationships with students, faculty and administrators; small class size; and greater academic freedom— these are some of the reasons teachers say they enjoy teaching at independentprivate schools. Independent private schools are supported primarily by tuitions, charitable giving and endowment income, rather than by tax or church funds. According to the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS), its members range from very small schools with fewer than 100 students to fairly large schools (a few with more than 3,000 students), with an average enrollment in NAIS-member schools of 479 students and a median enrollment of 378 in 2007- 2008. Independent schools boast well-balanced faculties with an even distribution of experience— from recent college graduates to very experienced master teachers. At the elementary level, independent schools seek teachers with solid grounding in early childhood education. Those teaching middle school are expected to understand the developmental issuescritical to this age group. At the secondary level, there is a strong preference for teachers with undergraduate and graduate degrees in the liberal arts and sciences and for teachers who have demonstrated academic achievement by succeeding at colleges with competitive admissions standards. These teachers are recog- Independent private schools are supported primarily by tuitions, charitable giving and endowment income. nized as specialists in their major fields. Independent schools also value the professional work experience offered by candidates turning to teaching as a secondcareer. Independent school teachers are often responsible for counseling students, coaching athletics and/or advising extracurricular groups, in addition to planning lessons, grading papers and serving on school committees. In boarding schools, faculty members often live in dormitories as dorm parents. State certification is not usually required of independent school teachers. Independent schools welcome applications from recent college graduates (at both the bachelor’s and graduate levels), experienced teachers (from independent schools, public schools and colleges) and people changing careers. For more information, visit www.nais.org/career.
