Website Presidio Hill School
Job Title: Lower School Assistant Teacher
Status: Full-Time, Non-exempt
Reports To: Classroom Lead Teacher
Start Date: August 2022
School Description
Presidio Hill School is an independent, progressive school located in the Presidio Heights neighborhood of San Francisco and serves a diverse population of approximately 230 students enrolled in transitional kindergarten to 8th grade, with a faculty and staff of approximately 45 people. The lower school, grades TK-5, has approximately 125 students and 20 faculty members. Established in 1918 by artist-educator-activists Helen Salz and Flora Arnstein, Presidio Hill School is the oldest continuously operating progressive school in California, with a mission and deep history connected to social justice. Our Lower School Assistant Teacher will have demonstrated passion and experience teaching and working with students and a school community that explicitly strives to be inclusive.
Presidio Hill offers its students a challenging, project-based curriculum that attends to their intellectual and social-emotional needs and prepares them to be agents of positive social change. Guided by a skilled and caring faculty, students learn to be confident and curious, to be creative problem solvers and independent, critical thinkers. Learning at PHS is collaborative and active. We place great value on the arts as both an academic discipline and an essential element of a meaningful life. Situated on the edge of the Presidio, our school takes full and frequent advantage of the park’s 1500 acres; whether they are studying science, art, social studies, or literature, the Presidio is a rich and vital “classroom” to our students.
Our vibrant, diverse, and supportive community allows students to explore their unique voices, traits, and talents; our emphasis on the importance of community and justice encourages students to develop self-awareness, personal character, resilience, and an understanding of their role as stewards of the planet and citizens of the world.
Presidio Hill School seeks a faculty and staff that reflects the broad range of diversity in the San Francisco Bay Area. Our school is strongly committed to promoting cultural competency in all interactions and programs. Invested in the growth, happiness, and preparation of our teachers, we provide generous support for their professional development.
Position Description
Presidio Hill School seeks a Lower School Assistant Teacher to begin August 2022. Qualified candidates will demonstrate a deep understanding of and interest in the developmental nuances of lower elementary school-aged children, progressive education, and anti-bias teaching practices. Candidates will ideally have prior experience teaching or assisting in the primary and/or upper elementary grades, as well as some experience in higher education courses focused on child development, pedagogy, and instruction. The assistant teacher will be expected to build a safe and engaging classroom community and to scaffold and differentiate lessons for students as needed, creating a program that meets the needs of a wide variety of learners.
In addition to providing excellent teaching and maintaining effective communication with parents and students, teachers are expected to contribute to the greater PHS community through work on various committees and school events. PHS teachers work closely with each other and collaborate and engage in a positive manner; excellent interpersonal skills are a necessity.
Primary Responsibilities:
• Support the lead teacher
• Work closely with the lead teacher to plan lessons and activities
• Set up the classroom and help manage materials
• Help plan field trips, events, and class celebrations
• Assist the school by covering several recess and lunch duties per week
• This position may also lead small groups, work one-on-one with students, and support the lead teacher in classroom management when he or she is leading full class lessons.
Skills, Qualifications, and Experience
The Lower School Assistant Teacher will be a good listener who is excited about education and innovation.
In addition, the Lower School Assistant Teacher will possess:
• A Bachelor’s degree. A graduate or in-progress graduate degree related to education is desirable
• Effective communication and collaboration skills
• Good humor, energy, and a love of learning
• Ability to support outdoor education, including extended class trips to and from the Presidio
• Ability to adhere to guidelines and recommendations from the CDC, CDPH, and SFDPH
• Ability to adhere to PHS Community Health Agreement
Up-to-date COVID vaccination
Interested candidates should send a cover letter (specify grade preference in the TK-5th grade span), résumé, contact information for two to three references, and/or letters of reference via email (with Lower School Assistant Teacher in the subject line) to Tony Cifra (Lower School Director): cifra@presidiohill.org
To learn more about PHS, please visit our website
