Friends School of Minnesota

Friends School of Minnesota is a small independent day school in Saint Paul, Minnesota, enrolling 101 to 200 students in elementary and middle grades. The school's Quaker roots shape its core values: peace, justice, simplicity, and integrity. These principles aren't slogans—they structure hiring, curriculum, and how the community addresses conflict. Small size means teachers know every family by name and adjust instruction to each child's actual pace.

Decision-making works differently here. Faculty use consensus-based governance instead of top-down mandates. You have genuine influence over curriculum choices and school direction. Class sizes stay small enough that differentiation is feasible, not a theory. Spanish language instruction anchors the program, making Spanish-fluent teachers and bilingual educators especially sought. The school prioritizes learning through discovery and reflection over test-score pressure.

This is a day school, so you commute rather than live on campus. Saint Paul offers lower housing costs than many peer independent schools in the Midwest. Compensation is modest compared to larger regional schools, but financial reserves remain stable, supporting consistent operations and faculty retention. The payoff is tangible: your pedagogy and voice directly shape school culture. You are not one of fifty teachers in a department.

Friends School of Minnesota hires for classroom teaching roles, specialist positions, and administrative staff. Fall hiring is busiest, though openings emerge throughout the year as enrollment shifts. For teachers drawn to Quaker values and collaborative environments, this school offers real pedagogical influence and a tight community where relationships matter more than scale.