Rhetoric Teacher for the 2025 – 2026 School Year

Position Description

The Geneva School is a mission-driven school established in 1993. Our mission is to provide students in grades K4–12 an extraordinary education, by means of an integrated curriculum, pedagogy and culture, both distinctly classical and distinctively Christian, that pursues goodness, truth, and beauty in all spheres of life, while viewing these spheres as elements of divinely ordered whole. Further, Geneva seeks to inspire students to love beauty, think deeply, and pursue Christ’s calling.

As a mission-driven school, faculty members play a central role in fulfilling our mission. Hired by and
subject to the supervision of the director of the upper school, the rhetoric teacher is an exempt position. The teacher, in a formational and relational role, models Christ-like behavior within The Geneva School community as he or she studies, re-imagines, and teaches within the Christian, liberal arts tradition.

I. Essential Duties

The Geneva School rhetoric teacher instructs students in the art of effective communication, in
writing and speaking. Students are taught the principles of rhetoric, thus enabling them to construct
persuasive arguments, analyze claims, and develop critical thinking skills. The Geneva School’s
program of rhetoric instruction concludes with the school’s senior thesis program.

Geneva’s rhetoric program is instrumental in developing our students into virtuous scholars and
communicators who use their skills for the common good and the glory of God.

Key responsibilities include:

• Classroom instruction: Leading discussions on assigned texts, current events, and student-
  generated topics in order to practice identifying rhetorical strategies used by authors and
  speakers.
• Writing assignments: Guiding students through various writing assignments, including
  persuasive essays, research papers, speeches, and letters, focusing on clear structure,
  appropriate tone, and evidence-based support when appropriate.
• Oral communication skills: Assigning presentations to develop students’ public speaking skills, including effective delivery, body language, and audience engagement.
• Critical thinking development: Encouraging students to analyze information critically, identify bias, and evaluate the credibility of sources.
• Ethical considerations: Helping students understand the need for and a desire to use language as a tool for the greater good by seeking truth and virtue and rejecting means of manipulation.
• Assessment and feedback: Regularly assessing student progress through a variety of
  assessment methods, including quizzes, essays, presentations, as well as providing
  constructive feedback to improve their mastery of rhetorical concepts and skills.
• Curriculum development: Designing engaging lessons that cover various aspects of rhetoric, such as rhetorical appeals (ethos, pathos, logos), logical fallacies, persuasive techniques, and different writing styles.
• Senior thesis: Coteaching the school’s capstone senior thesis class, guiding students through the various stages of the process, including selecting their topic, researching, and constructing their argument in writing using the classical form (exordium, narratio, partitio, confirmatio, refutatio, and peroratio). Upon completion of the writing assignment, prepare students to present and defend their thesis before an audience of peers, faculty, and guests.

Other job requirements:

The following requirements are representative of those that must be met to successfully perform
the essential functions of the rhetoric teacher position and are not intended to be inclusive.
Reasonable accommodation(s) may be made to enable individuals with disabilities, as defined by
law, to perform any essential functions.

• Lift 20 lbs. occasionally and 10 lbs. frequently
• Sit frequently and stand and walk on varied surfaces
• Bend, stoop, crouch, push, pull, climb, balance, kneel, crawl
• Use hands/arms to reach in any direction and seize, grasp, hold, and turn objects using hand(s).
• Use fingers, versus the whole hand, to pick, pinch, and feel objects.
• See, talk, and hear to communicate with others in person, electronically, by phone, or by radio.
• Visual functions include the ability to identify and distinguish colors and bring an object into
  sharp focus.

II. Personal Profile

Required skills and experience:

• Understanding of rhetoric: Deep knowledge of rhetorical theory, key concepts, historical
  context, and the ethical implications of rhetoric.
• Excellent communication skills: Ability to articulate complex ideas clearly, both verbally and in
  writing.
• Critical thinking abilities: Skillful in analyzing texts, identifying rhetorical strategies, and evaluating arguments.
• Teaching experience: Proven ability to effectively deliver lessons and engage students in active
  learning.
• Classroom management: Establish a positive and supportive learning environment that
  encourages open discussion, respectful debate, and constructive feedback. Utilize effective
  classroom management strategies to maintain student focus and accountability.
• Professional development: Collaborate with colleagues to share best practices and enhance
  curriculum development.
• Relevant education: Bachelor’s degree in English, Communications, or a related field, with
  potential additional coursework or certification in rhetoric.

Intrinsic qualities:

• Ascribes to and agrees to live in accordance with The Geneva School’s statement of faith.
• Holds oneself to a high standard of honesty and integrity.
• Able to work effectively both in collaboration with other professionals and on own initiative.
• Professional and approachable in appearance and attitude.
• Willingness to learn new skills.
• Self-motivated with a positive ‘can do’ approach to work.
• Reliable/dependable.
• Detail-oriented.
• Able to search for solutions.
• Practices good stewardship of the school’s resources.
• Enjoys working around children and is able to form and monitor appropriate relationships and
  personal boundaries with children and young people.

III. Employment Information
The Geneva School prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, sex, national origin, age,
marital status, physical disability, handicap, or any other consideration protected by law.
Employment decisions will be made on the basis of each applicant’s job qualifications, experience,
and abilities and in full accord with The Geneva School’s statement of faith and the school’s
statement of mission, vision and values.

Interested applicants please apply at https://www.genevaschool.org/about-us/employment/employment-application/.