As a teacher, I’m lucky to be able to witness that special ‘aha’ moment, when students' eyes light up with understanding.
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Careers at Packer
Packer’s faculty and staff are passionate, committed, student-focused leaders.
Packer’s mission and core values influence everything we do — in our classrooms, on stage, in the art studio, or on the field, whether it is locally or globally.
A deeply collaborative faculty and staff — our ideals, our passions, and our work ethic — makes all the difference to students. We embrace the learning process for them as well as for ourselves, as we continuously hone our own areas of expertise and work to deepen the role each of us plays at Packer.
Great teachers love what they do and create great experiences for their students. Our collective goal is to help our students develop the knowledge, skills, and habits of mind that will inspire them to pursue lives of purpose. We don’t just educate young people; we strive to transform their lives so that they may transform the world.
We invite you to learn more about our school and our current openings.
Employee Benefits
—Fully Paid Health, Dental, and Vision Insurance
—Fully Paid short-term and long-term disability insurance
—Fully paid life insurance
—Paid Family Leave
—Flexible Spending Account Benefit Plan
— Commuter Benefit Plan
—403 (b) Retirement Plan including employer contribution and match after one year of employment
—Eligibility to contribute on a pre-tax basis to a defined contribution retirement plan
A Diverse and Inclusive Community
Together, we strive to make Packer a diverse and inclusive community where every member can be their full selves. We follow inclusive hiring processes deliberately and explicitly to attract the widest possible range of candidates representing varied identities, races, cultures, and economic backgrounds. Learn more about Equity and Inclusion at Packer.
Focus on Professional Development
Packer has abundant resources to help our employees develop skills that support academic and institutional excellence. Opportunities include but are not limited to:
- Summer curriculum and professional development grants.
- Professional development funds for faculty and staff career and skills development.
- Annual PA Excellence in Teaching: stipended award
- Babbott Chair: stipended award for humanities faculty
- Stutt Chair: stipended award for math and science faculty
Mentoring Program
Packer’s mentoring program provides an introduction for new Packer employees. Mentors empower and support new faculty and staff as they enter and contribute to the school community; provide guidance in navigating school policies, procedures, and cultural nuances; and offer themselves as a confidential sounding board and resource. In addition, faculty in their first year are given the opportunity to join a New-to-Packer Cohort during the Teacher Growth Tuesdays to help support the transition to teaching at Packer.
Many Ways to Get Involved
Through participating in a wide range of non-academic programs, our faculty and staff can connect with students and other adults, and experience Packer in a whole new way. School-year opportunities include: athletic coaching, grade-level leading, club advising, global trip leading, and committee membership.
It's rewarding to help students bridge their time between Packer and what is on their horizon by honoring endings and beginnings.
I think that working at Packer has taught me how much I value community.
"I continue to be impressed by the students' curiosity and passions... I'm always learning from them!"
"I am thrilled to be at Packer. There are lots of smiling faces, and I get the sense that people are generally happy to be here."
"I would say that Packer and I chose each other."
The development team is creative, hard-driving and tenacious. Our collective mission is to bring people closer to the heart of Packer.
"I'm really lucky to be working with a team of dedicated, experienced professionals, who come in every day with the goal of providing a stable platform as we educate our students."
My impressions are that Packer is a wonderful place with bright, curious, friendly students and wonderfully supportive, fun, and deep-thinking colleagues.
I chose to work at Packer primarily because of the excellence that is tied to the schools athletic program. I also value how diverse and welcoming the community is. Everyone greets you with a smile!
From the first interview I knew that Packer was a special place that valued relationships and connection.
I find myself beaming with pride anytime I hear about any Packer alum's accomplishments, small or large; whenever possible, I want to be a resource to my peers on their journeys.
I am proud to work with the H&W team, and our wider adult community, to ensure our amazing and talented kids are also learning to practice balance, embrace joy, and get to know themselves on a deeper level.
From the moment I interviewed last year, I felt such warmth from everyone, and after 6 months of being here, it feels like this is where I've always belonged.
Packer faculty and staff do serious work, but they don't take themselves too seriously. I love being able to laugh with my students and colleagues. It's good for my health.
One of my favorite things is when I come into a class and students are already discussing the book, or have strong feelings about it and are excited to get going. But above all, I love to read when students reflect on their writing and can see their growth, see their hard work, and feel proud of themselves.
I'm consistently impressed with my Health students' ability to grapple with sensitive topics — from mental health to substance use to sexuality — with equal parts curiosity, intelligence, and humor. I never had a Health teacher in my educational experience, so much of my Health education ethos is rooted in reparative work — being the teacher I wish I had had growing up.
I am continually impressed with the level of professionalism and care shown by my coworkers to the students, and each other. The students show a desire to learn and level of inquiry that I have not experienced before. I thoroughly enjoy the diversity of the staff and the many talents they bring to the work environment.
Packer people seem to bring their full selves to school—this is a place that so many different kinds of people feel supported in being creative and taking risks. I also so appreciate Packer's love for its own particular history and power in place.
Packer people seem to bring their full selves to school—this is a place that so many different kinds of people feel supported in being creative and taking risks. I also so appreciate Packer's love for its own particular history and power in place.
Packer people seem to bring their full selves to school—this is a place that so many different kinds of people feel supported in being creative and taking risks. I also so appreciate Packer's love for its own particular history and power in place.
The best part about the science curriculum is that the students discover the models of physics themselves rather than read them straight from a textbook; they learn by actively doing physics instead of passively reading about it.
I find my job rewarding when students come back the next day and say they have deeper wonderings and questions from the day before, because it means they are thinking outside of the classroom and that brings me joy.
My mom gave me a vintage poster that says, "No one is you, and that is your power." I want students to learn that there is something that only they can offer, even if they are doing what everyone else is doing. They have a unique lens for seeing the world and acting upon it. Hopefully this is an empowering idea, and one that lets them know that we are so happy they are here with us, sharing of themselves and their way of thinking.
I have a tendency to want to move quickly and it is important to cherish small moments and take time reflect, look deeply, uncover complexity, and enjoy the here and now. Particularly working with such little children, we are sometimes eager to look ahead and want time to pass to reach the next age and stage, but truly each developmental step has its own joys that should be savoured.
The great thing about comms in schools is we tend to have the privilege of seeing the big picture: we get to know and work with everyone and see everything that is going on throughout the whole school. So comms can really help enact a school's mission and showcase what our students and teachers are creating here every day.
I love hearing stories about former student athletes’ experiences, how many life lessons were taught while roaming the halls of Packer. I look forward to creating my own memories during my time here.
I find particularly sharp joy in supporting a student grappling with something personally challenging — whether it's digging into sources for an essay on Ancient Egypt, nerving themselves to perform in a Greek play, or pushing through doubt to finally see themselves as a poet — and then applauding when they've conquered that mountain.
My favorite part of my job is when I get to sit down with students and listen to them talk about their experience at Packer. Our new Student Team for Diversity and Equity in Communications (S-DEC) is the Communications Office's opportunity to discuss what equity looks like through the lens of Packer students.
I couldn't be happier here at Packer. I've found my people, and it feels really good to know that.
On day one of class, I had several students thank me for the day’s lesson as they exited the classroom. The simple gesture completely caught me off-guard. In my 8 years teaching, I had never been thanked by students for teaching them. It is honestly something I will always remember and a great way to start day one at Packer.
I try to teach students how to approach and manage their workload in way that works for them. I routinely give students options about the content they explore and the order in which they explore it. The big lesson there is that, once we are out of school, we have a lot of control about how we explore our passions, and I want my students to be prepared for life long learning.
“If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” We're better when we work together. Better outcomes, more brain power, collaboration. You want to go far, you have to get the right group of people together to accomplish great things.
The Science Department [at Packer] is a group who is passionate about students, science, and lifelong learning. We are a group of people excited about the natural world and what t has to teach us. We want our students to experience it for themselves, and we love finding ways to help them do it.
The Packer community (colleagues, students and families) is one of the most thoughtful and kind communities I have known. The students here always amaze me with their lively enthusiasm, curious ways, illuminating aspirations and kindness toward others, but most of all, I love to see them being so joyful as their world opens up in front of their eyes!
Early in my career I was a hospital nurse and worked in the pharmaceutical industry after getting an MBA. My children were students at Packer when the Nurse encouraged me to return to nursing. I had never considered it as a career choice. Much to my surprise, it has been the career in which I spent the most time and has been the most rewarding.
My favorite moment I’ve had thus far is the open house we held last Fall where over 500 families explored Packer. It was incredible because we had students, faculty, staff, and current families all welcoming new faces and putting the spirit of the school on display! Every prospective family left raving about how amazing our community was, and it was so memorable because it took many different people in our community to put on such a successful event.
During my time in school, no teacher really had the impact on my life that many of the teachers at Packer have on students now. My wife, however, is a teacher, and she has undoubtedly been the greatest influence on my life. Over the years, she has shared many stories about her experiences as a pre-school teacher, and these stories have translated into my work at Packer in my interactions with students and their families.
Working at an alternative high school in Boston early in my career and hearing about the experiences of my students really opened my eyes to the importance of equity in education. They taught me that I didn’t always need to know what to say, but listening to them and allowing for their voices to be heard was what they needed and deserved. I learned to be myself, be present, and develop authentic relationships because students can sense if adults aren't being real.
As a counselor I am constantly learning how unique each students perspective is, no matter how common the issue. The more understanding I have about each student's outlook, the better I can help them along a path to success.
Whenever I'm asked about influential teachers, I think of my 5th Grade teacher Ms. Capuano. I remember my friends and I were having some classic 5th grade drama, and she kept us in from recess and made us sit in a circle and talk it out. It's the first time I can remember a teacher focusing solely on our emotions as kids––not because it was affecting us in the classroom, but because she truly cared how everyone was doing. I believe that in order for a kid to be successful in school, they need to feel supported emotionally, and she demonstrated how to do it!
I was born in Trinidad, and although I moved here when I was three years old, I grew up listening to soca music. Soca music is my happy place. When I am stressed or frustrated I can play soca and immediately smile. My mind becomes flooded with the best memories of dancing in the street during Trinidad Carnival, celebrating at my wedding, Saturday mornings with my family, and dancing with my beloved granny (who is no longer with us but knew how to move when soca was playing). As someone who has moved around quite a bit in life, soca has always provided me the comfort of home no matter how far away I am from my loved ones.
Girls come up to me and say they're happy that I, as a female, am their computer teacher. It's shown them that they can go into tech, too, even though it's still a male dominated field.
My latest obsession is Titus Kaphar, a young African American painter and sculptor who explores the power of representation in historical narratives. His work broadened my perspective on the need to amend, but not avoid, the retelling of difficult moments in history.
If I had a superpower, I would love to fly so I could travel the world and experience different places and cultures.
I'm the first and last person the children and parents see in the day so I want to forge an environment of safety, but also kindness and happiness by wishing them a good morning or asking asking them how their day was. I like to create smiles because they're contagious and hopefully last all day long!
My favorite space at Packer is the elevator because I can talk with students and my colleagues, who make me laugh, and make my day pleasurable every day!
Our students encourage me to be an activist instead of a bystander; to reimagine a cardboard box and old bottle caps as a robot; they show me shortcuts around the building when I find myself in a dead end (both literally and figuratively).
It is such fun to work with students. I learn so much from them. They often come at issues with different ways of thinking from mine. I cherish this more and more as I grow older.
Literature gets to big questions of how you want to live your life, how literary characters can act as a litmus test for what it means to be a human in the world … Literature becomes an instructor's manual for how to live and how not to live.
I love having the ability to make a teacher's work feel a little easier, whether it is connecting them with professional development, communicating with families, working with students, or sharing words of encouragement.
My colleagues are caring. Many of them care deeply, and I feel a kinship like nothing I’ve felt in the workplace before.
On a regular basis I learn about the power of forgiveness from the students. Children can be deeply disappointed with someone but they can also be resilient and quickly remember why they love that person.
I have spent the bulk of my professional life teaching and working at Packer. I started here as a young teacher and loved it so much I never left!
I hope that our youngest scientists quickly learn that no matter their age or size, they can make a difference. The smallest things they do can lead to big changes.
Together with my wonderful parent volunteers, we encourage the many members of the community who love Packer to make a gift in support of our school.
I don’t think that there are many schools where the students and parents know the members of the Operations Staff as well as they do at Packer. Those relationships are very rewarding.
Our field trips enable us to connect with objects (and buildings) that have endured centuries and will outlast us. They bring the past to life and make it tangible.
The Middle School Science Fair is the most rewarding part of my job. Students can discover and follow a passion in science and take their learning as deep as they are willing to go.
When faced with a challenging problem, I hope that my students will have the tools to tackle it and the persistence to push through to a solution.
I want all my students to understand that it is okay to fail. I want them to be able to push through difficult problems and feel a huge sense of accomplishment and pride when they’re finished.
One of the most valuable lessons I hope to teach my students is that it’s okay to make mistakes. We all have things we’re really good at and things we need to work on.
As a college counselor, I feel incredibly lucky to get to know juniors and seniors individually. I am inspired by their willingness to take risks, their abundant positivity, and their ability to recognize how they have grown and changed.
I hope that through exploring characters from other times, lands, life experiences, etc. students will gain a visceral sense of understanding so that they can empathize with all people.
It's so rewarding when parents tell you about projects that their child has started at home that were inspired by something in the classroom.
Building a happy classroom community in which we can laugh, share our struggles, and enjoy each other’s successes is paramount.
The fellowship among my colleagues not only helps elevate my own teaching, but also makes me feel like a part of the community.
Every time I see students having conversations in the target language just because it's fun and useful, it is very rewarding to me, professionally and personally.
I hope to teach my students that learning is lifelong and there really is value in trying to figure things out.
I love teaching students how to conduct original research—whether in the Packer archives, for a documentary film, or their 10th Grade research paper.
Choosing the right college is less about its reputation and much more about finding a place that will support you as you grow into the person you hope to become.
The Independent Science Research Program is my favorite thing at Packer. I love seeing students go from having an interest in science to becoming so confident and knowledge about their research topic.
Many adults see math as cold and sterile and formulaic. I think a lot about how to help my students find the joy, beauty, and creativity in math.
My colleagues truly embody the spirit of Packer’s Mission Statement and are some of the kindest, warmest, and smartest people I’ve ever worked with!
It is essential that we teach students to understand different perspectives. Reading is a great way to facilitate this because books can serve as mirrors and windows.
I hope to teach my students to be self learners. We are all students for life, and the more curious and engaged we are in the world, the more rewarding our lives will be.
Some of the best times in math class happen when students have a “lightbulb” moment, and they exclaim, “Oh, now I get it!” It is very satisfying for them and me.
In both the intellectual and personal realms, I hope my students will continue to always ask themselves the questions we base our 6th Grade Core course on: Whose perspective am I hearing? Whose may be left out?
One of my favorite parts of the curriculum is helping kids to think about how to be good problem solvers. It’s hugely important to teach them how to start with a plan and work from there.
I always hope to teach my students how to have respect and appreciation for all members of our community. Everyone plays a huge role in their education.
All my colleagues work hard to engage fully with our students and they're always looking to improve their practice and their kids' experiences.
One of the most important things I hope my students come away with as they go off to Middle School is that with a growth mindset, the impossible becomes possible.
Knowing that my day will be filled with humor, no matter how hard the task may be, is very satisfying. I thank my colleagues for that.
My colleagues are really talented educators, and my students are some of the finest kids I've ever worked with.
I love teaching all of my electives, but I think I like Cultural Anthropology the most. This is partly because it's my background, but I also enjoy seeing students respond to a new disciplinary approach to studying the world.
When I watch our student leaders take a topic and bring their ideas to it, and witness their readiness to explore challenging questions with others in our community, it brings me joy and appreciation for being an educator.
I take great pride when the kids that we accept into this community make a major impact, from presenting their findings from years of research in the Science Research Program to choreographing a piece in the Dance Concert.
One of the greatest things about working at Packer is the opportunity to learn from colleagues. The energy, the enthusiasm, and the dedication to be found across all disciplines and divisions are inspiring!
It's always such a thrill when Dance Concert season comes along. Being able to work with the Upper School choreography class and help the dancers to bring their artistic visions to life is such a joy.
It is always rewarding when my students speak knowledgeably and passionately!
My students never cease to amaze me — the way they look at a problem or find a solution in a way that I could never have anticipated. Their creativity drives me.
My favorite thing about Packer is the way that students from different divisions engage with each other. I love that they have the opportunity to do so through activities that facilitate reaching outside their normal circles of interaction.
I like the diversity of the student body. I believe that diversity enhances the educational experiences of everyone involved because we learn about each other's backgrounds and perspectives.
Packer is a place where I can help students do anything from researching why the Mayan empire collapsed to hanging drywall in a Baltimore Habit for Humanity site.
The relationships that I've made with both my colleagues and my students are the most memorable. Having space and time to create and collaborate with one another allows you to see each other through a different lens.
My favorite thing about Packer is our diversity. People sense it when they enter the building. We encourage and respect each other for our differences as well as our similarities.
My favorite things about Packer are our vibrant community and our commitment to diversity.
My favorite moments are the times my students take charge of the class and have insightful discussions about a topic or problem, while I observe their discourse from the sidelines.
I am always in awe of what our students bring to class discussions on topics such as identity, literacy, math, social studies, our classroom community, and beyond—I am always learning from them!
My favorite thing about Packer is the friendly interactions among the faculty, staff, students, and parents. I have a unique perspective of the school from the front desk.
I am happy every day coming to work, and I am very fortunate to have chosen a field that brings me such pleasure.
One of my favorite things about Packer is the myriad of simply lovely and interesting people with whom I have had more than passing relationships: students, faculty, staff, and parents alike.
I love our caring community, our wonderful students, the friends I have made, and the way I have grown as a person here.
I love the cycle of each school year, and it never bores me. Students and teachers start in September as relative strangers, getting to know one another as we begin working together.
My favorite thing about Packer is the people. And the amazing courses students follow. Oh... and the garden area at the back.
I love working in a PreK to 12 school where I have the opportunity to see my former students grow and develop into such caring, reflective, open, and confident individuals.
I am in awe of our students. Their energy, motivation, and sense of agency are an inspiration to me as both a teacher and a life-long learner.
I really enjoy being with the students. Their energy and excitement inspire me and I learn so much from them every day.
My favorite thing about Packer is when kids come here at age three and I watch them grow up! I feel close to them and bond with them.
Through the years, my favorite thing about Packer has been the students that I have had the privilege to coach. Whether on a soccer field or a basketball court, our student athletes conduct themselves with class and a remarkable work ethic.
I love the fact that individuality is embraced at Packer. I would be hard pressed to describe the typical Packer student (or teacher, for that matter) because everyone is encouraged to be themselves.
The relationships with fellow teachers, staff, parents, and children that we at Packer encounter every year are monumental, and extend beyond the classroom.
My favorite thing about Packer is the enthusiasm and creativity of the students. I am inspired by their willingness to test the boundaries of their own ideas and their readiness to explore new possibilities.
My favorite thing about Packer is the diversity in the faculty and student body. Packer offers a wealth of opportunities for students to explore a variety of languages and cultures.
I love that every day as I walk through the halls of Packer, I exchange greetings with students, faculty, and staff. It is a wonderfully welcoming and affirming feeling to be seen and acknowledged with warmth, and often, with enthusiasm.
Mathematics is a universal language and a powerful investigative tool, and it can be used to effect positive social change. It provides a very discerning lens through which we can inspect our world.
Last year, a group of Middle School students led our Kindergartners in an art project and discussion about identity. The confidence, patience and tenderness with which the Middle School students led the activity reaffirmed for me why it's so fantastic to be a member of this community.