Careers at AIS

1. Our 150 Year History
Since the school’s founding in 1869, The Agnes Irwin School has dedicated itself to providing an exceptional and empowering education for girls. 150 years later, we are an independent, college preparatory day school for nearly 600 girls in Pre- Kindergarten through 12th grade. We remain rooted in academic excellence, scholarship, community, and collaboration, while consistently tailoring our programs to the distinctive and individual needs of girls, always holding fast to the principle that a girl’s educational journey from childhood through graduation should be joyful, challenging, creative, and inspirational. 

2. Our Amazing Colleagues
Agnes Irwin’s 159 faculty and staff members personify the school’s commitment to academic excellence and model a community with a diversity of experience and perspective. The teachers—84 percent of whom hold an advanced degree—cherish and reward determination, creativity, and independent thinking in an academically rigorous and supportive environment. The student-to-faculty ratio is 6:1 which allows for an understanding of individual student interest, personal development, and skill enhancement. With an average tenure of more than 17 years at The Agnes Irwin School, faculty members serve as intellectual role models, bringing a wealth of knowledge to the classroom. With personal and professional pursuits as lawyers, historians, actors, playwrights, engineers, artists, and members of the military, these educators provide a rich, diverse learning and working environment.

3. Professional Development and Innovative Teaching
At Agnes Irwin, professional development starts the moment a candidate accepts our offer of employment. Each new faculty and staff member is assigned a Mentor who provides support and guidance. A three day orientation program introduces new employees to the School’s culture, history, and pedagogical philosophy. Members of the School’s Innovation Team — or iTeam for short — are the “Innovation Experts” at AIS. They serve as catalysts and coaches for teachers and partner with them to bring innovative practices into the classroom to create meaningful learning experiences for students. Throughout the year, the iTeam organizes and leads professional development opportunities. 

4. Our Mission and Values
The Agnes Irwin School empowers girls to learn, to lead, and to live a legacy. We strive to achieve this mission by learning, teaching and leading with our school-wide core values at the center of all that we do. Our core values of excellence, character, community, and respect represent the enduring and timeless values of our school, ones that our founder, Agnes Irwin herself, and alumnae throughout our history would recognize. 

5. Our Dedication to Equity and Inclusion
AIS fosters an inclusive and equitable community by honoring the individuality of all students, families, teachers, and staff. Diversity of experience, thought, and ideas is not only a pillar of the School, but is also an integral part of the learning process and the AIS experience. Aspects of individuality are explored through inspiring speakers, a rigorous curriculum, faculty development, and student organizations. Guided by the Assistant Head of School for Academics & Inclusive Excellence, equity and inclusion work is a collaborative effort at AIS. Four coordinators—one for each academic division and one for staff—work together across the entire school to implement programming, resolve conflicts, and model and support inclusive excellence.

6. Our Benefits
The School offers a generous, comprehensive benefits package. Faculty and staff may choose from four different Independence Blue Cross medical plans and two dental plans. Employees may participate in a 403 (b) retirement plan and after two years of service, the School will match the employee’s contribution of 5%. Other benefits include: Flexible spending accounts, vision, prescription drug plan, life insurance, employee assistance program, commuter benefit program, prepaid legal services, discounted meals at the Owl Café, and use of the School’s fitness center. 

7. Our Location
Situated just 12 miles west of Philadelphia in Rosemont, PA, AIS sits on a beautiful 24-acre campus equipped with extensive classroom facilities as well as spaces dedicated to the arts, sciences, technology, engineering, and athletics. The area is home to many excellent colleges and universities and The Agnes Irwin School takes advantage of all that the region has to offer. Philadelphia—the nation’s sixth-largest city and hub of the northeast corridor—offers a diverse population, vibrant cultural life, top-notch entertainment, major league sports, rich history, and abundant opportunities for AIS students and employees.

8. Our Excellent Student Experience
The AIS student experience is rooted in research about what is best for girls: how they learn, how their brains develop, and what their social and emotional needs are as they grow and develop. AIS girls are known, understood, supported, and encouraged to be their very best selves throughout their AIS journey and they are guided by exceptional teachers—the kind who have a gift for bringing out the best in each girl. Students are surrounded by teachers who become lifelong mentors. 

9. Our Superpower: The Center for the Advancement of Girls
Only at AIS will you find the Center for the Advancement of Girls: a vital force that infuses girl-centered research into the AIS experience. The Center, a distinguishing signature initiative of AIS, impacts curriculum and drives the school forward by creating programs and partnerships to enable girls to enrich their AIS experiences, hone their leadership skills, and develop their voice. The Center forges partnerships with colleges, universities, and nonprofits to expand the AIS curricula and extend students’ educational experiences, allowing AIS students to apply what they learn in the classroom in innovative ways. 

10. Our Community
AIS community life is as unique as it is vibrant. We are a warm and inviting community where colleagues work together, collaborate and create innovative experiences for our students. We like working together at Agnes Irwin; we are a family. Together, we strive to foster an inclusive environment where individuals are valued, contributions are celebrated, deep connections are formed, and traditions are cherished. We treat all members of our community with dignity and understanding, welcoming differences in backgrounds, perspectives, and cultures. We expect honesty, kindness, and personal integrity in all that we do and say.