Andover Summer Teaching Assistant

Phillips Academy Summer Session Teaching Assistant Job Description

June 23 -August 4, 2026

About the Program

One of the nation’s premier boarding schools, Phillips Academy offers a number of summer programs for rising 7th through 12th grade students that are held on its picturesque campus just 21 miles north of Boston. Every summer Phillips Academy hires a number of visiting teachers to teach, coach, and house counsel in its summer programs, which are slated to run this summer from June 23-August 2, 2026. 

Collectively the programs are referred to as “Andover Summer.”  Across all these programs, Andover Summer students bring strong academic records and a serious desire to spend the summer in disciplined study, and they enjoy challenging themselves and one another as part of a global community of scholars.

• Our flagship program, Summer Session, challenges students in an innovative five-week, residential program comprised of both the Upper School and Lower School Institute. More than 75 courses are offered, ranging from computer science to marine biology, from ethics and philosophy to economics. Summer Session students bring the world into the classroom by virtue of their enormous diversity of geographic origin, religion, ethnicity, and socioeconomic background. 
• Mathematics & Science for Minority Students – better known as (MS)2 – is a residential, STEM scholarship program that challenges students intellectually with rigorous curriculum (math, science, English, and college counseling). Scholars develop leadership and individual living skills through exposure to peers and educators with diverse backgrounds, life experiences, and aspirations.
•  PALS is a partnership between Phillips Academy and Lawrence Schools, PALS brings motivated Lawrence middle school students to campus for 5 weeks for a tuition free academic enrichment program, offering rigorous courses in Humanities and STEM and high school access and preparation support.

About the Role

Teaching Assistants (TAs) are typically rising college seniors or recent college graduates who are interested in gaining direct experience with the sorts of teaching, coaching, and residential duties that comprise the life of a boarding school faculty member. 

• To gain classroom experience, TAs are paired with experienced Mentor Teachers for the duration of the summer, collaborating closely to execute on the syllabus designed by the Mentor. Together, TAs and their Mentor Teachers are charged with ensuring that students in their classes have a challenging and academically rigorous summer experience, while also making learning incredibly fun. Experiential, project-based, hands-on, authentic learning experiences are encouraged, and TAs should be prepared to support their mentors in leading students through an intensive and highly engaging exploration of their chosen content. With the support of their mentors, TAs work towards planning and leading at least one complete lesson over the course of the summer, with most TAs assuming lead-teaching responsibilities by the end of the session.
• To gain residential experience, most TAs serve as House Counselors in student dormitories. In this capacity, they are charged with creating a safe, supportive living environment and ensuring the health and well-being of the students in their care. Dorm teams consist of 2-5 House Counselors (depending on the size of the dorm) who share residential responsibilities, rotating through evening dorm duties, facilitating dorm meetings and activities, coordinating dorm events, communicating with families, and providing care and support to students as needed.

Typically, TAs are hired to support at least one course, house counsel, and coach an afternoon activity; assignments may vary slightly depending on the program. TAs should expect to have roughly 35-40 hours per week of assigned duties, including up to 3 hours of class (Monday-Saturday), ~1 hour of coaching or activity (Monday-Friday), and ~2.5 hours of evening study hours or residential supervision (Sunday-Friday). In addition, on a weekly basis, TAs are likely to participate in the life of the campus by attending All School or Program meetings (~1 hour per week), as well as participating in weekly Faculty Meetings and TA Cohort Meetings.  TAs are also expected to chaperone at least two on-campus social events and at least three off-campus trips during the summer. TAs live in Academy-provided housing, either in student dorms (if serving as house counselors) or in faculty-only dorms and have full access to all Phillips Academy facilities and dining services for the duration of the summer.

In addition to working collaboratively with the Mentor Teacher to complete all instructional duties described above, TAs are responsible for ensuring that their own developmental needs are met and that they engage with the opportunities provided for skill-building and support. 

Compensation

The salary range for the Teaching Assistant position is $3850. - $4800. with a full workload of assisting with up to two courses, house counseling and coaching an afternoon activity. Salary offers may increase based on the demands of a particular program or a TA’s years of education/experience.

Phillips Academy is committed to equal employment opportunity and solicits applications from all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, pregnancy, age, disability (with or without a reasonable accommodation), genetic information, veteran/military status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law. 

Any offers of employment will be contingent upon successful CORI/SORI and fingerprinting background checks as well as unrestricted authorization to work in the United States.