Early Childhood Lead Teacher - Mandarin Immersion (Long term Sub) International Friends School Bellevue, WA Job Details Full-time $30 - $35 an hour 8 hours ago Benefits Paid time off Qualifications School experience Teaching Certification Master's degree Bachelor's degree Working with students Classroom experience Teaching Full Job Description ECE Lead Teacher — Mandarin Immersion (long term sub)

Location:

On-Site Status:

Full-Time Position Summary International Friends School is seeking a warm, creative, and experienced Early Childhood Lead Teacher to join our Mandarin immersion community. At IFS, we believe that the early years are a time of profound wonder and discovery. Our ECE program is built on a whole-child philosophy — nurturing each child's social-emotional, cognitive, and linguistic development in a joyful, inquiry-based environment. We are looking for a Mandarin-proficient educator who brings intentionality, curiosity, and deep care for young children to everything they do. Key Responsibilities The ECE Lead Teacher will: Deliver all instruction and daily communication exclusively in Mandarin, creating a rich language environment for both Heritage Language Learners (HLL) and Non-Heritage Language Learners (NHLL) Design and implement developmentally appropriate, inquiry-based learning experiences that honor each child's natural curiosity and stage of development Plan and facilitate project-based learning experiences that integrate Mandarin literacy, social-emotional learning, math, science, and the arts Maintain strong observation and documentation practices to track individual child development and inform instructional planning Prepare regular progress reports and communicate proactively with families about each child's growth and well-being Lead and mentor the classroom teaching assistant, fostering a collaborative and supportive team dynamic Create and maintain a safe, welcoming, and thoughtfully designed classroom environment Ensure compliance with all applicable health, safety, and child care regulations Collaborate with colleagues and school leadership to support curricular coherence and a strong school community Participate actively in professional development and contribute to the ongoing growth of IFS's ECE program Support and uphold IFS's Quaker values and whole-child educational philosophy Perform other duties as assigned by the Head of School Qualifications The ideal candidate will bring: At least 2 years of teaching experience in an early childhood setting, preferably in a Mandarin immersion or bilingual program Native or near-native proficiency in Mandarin Chinese; working proficiency in English A Bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education or a related field (Master's degree preferred) Knowledge of child development principles and developmentally appropriate practice Strong skills in observation, documentation, and formative assessment Experience supporting diverse learners, including HLL and NHLL students A warm, patient, and nurturing approach to working with young children and families A collaborative, team-oriented spirit and a reflective teaching practice A growth mindset — a teacher who remains a curious learner at heart Flexibility, optimism, compassion, and a genuine sense of humor A genuine commitment to whole-child development, joyful learning, and inclusive education To Apply Please submit your resume, cover letter, and a brief teaching philosophy statement to:

Job Type:

Full-time Pay:

$30.00 - $35.00 per hour

Benefits:

Paid time off

Education:

Bachelor's (Preferred)

Experience:

Teaching:

1 year (Required)

License/Certification:

Teaching Certification (Preferred)

Work Location:

In person