Giddens School

Giddens School, founded in 1972 in Seattle, Washington, serves preschool through fifth grade as a nonsectarian day school. The school enrolls between 100 and 200 students in Seattle's urban core. Unlike boarding schools, Giddens operates on a daily schedule. Teachers work classroom hours, lead activities, then leave for the evening. No on-campus housing required. No dorm duty. This structure suits educators who want focused classroom time and separate personal lives.

The Spanish language program is woven into daily instruction across all grades. Teachers embed Spanish into classroom routines and lessons rather than confining it to a separate language block. Even teachers outside the language department reinforce bilingual development through their work. For faculty interested in dual-language teaching, this integration offers direct experience in how languages develop in young learners.

Small enrollment—under 200 students—creates direct relationships between teachers and families. You know every parent. You watch siblings move through grades. You see individual students grow across multiple years. That visibility shapes your work. Feedback loops are immediate. Impact is visible. Professional development tends to be peer-led rather than top-down, which suits experienced teachers wanting autonomy in their practice.

Giddens School currently hires on-call substitute teachers. These positions serve as entry points into the school community. Many on-call roles become permanent as schools clarify staffing needs during the year. For educators exploring whether Seattle independent school work fits them, substituting at Giddens School provides low-risk familiarity with students and culture before committing to a full-time faculty role.