Website Town School for Boys
Town School for Boys
Kindergarten Head Teacher (Full Time)
www.townschool.com
Since 1939, San Francisco’s Town School for Boys has had a rich history as a school specializing in teaching boys. The school is also known for the Town School New Teacher Institute and its commitment to training teachers new to their craft. The school’s goals include teaching boys to be good citizens, to enjoy their childhood, to develop a positive sense of self, to give back to their greater community, and to develop academic and intellectual skills which will serve them well through their lifetimes. The school prizes its growing diversity of background, religion, and race, as well as the diversity of interests which is so noteworthy in its student and alumni bodies. Located in San Francisco, Town School for Boys is a K-8 independent day school. Since its founding, Town School has been committed to providing the best possible education for boys and is recognized as one of California’s leading independent elementary schools.
Position Description:
Town School for Boys seeks a full time Kindergarten Head Teacher beginning in the 2022-23 school year.
Duties and Responsibilities of the job include:
This position involves teaching one section of up to 24 students. There are weekly faculty meetings, lunch, and recess duty obligations. The position also involves conducting daily student morning meetings as well as supervision of daily recess breaks for students. Parent-teacher conferences are held twice each year. This position also involves mentoring and training a full time Resident Teacher who is part of Town’s New Teacher Institute. Regular communication about the progress of the Resident Teacher and collaboration with the Director of Teacher Development and Strategic Initiatives are also part of the duties and responsibilities.
Desired Qualifications and Skills Include:
We are most interested in finding the best candidate for the job, and that candidate may be one who comes from a less traditional background. We would encourage you to apply, even if you don’t believe you meet every one of our qualifications described below.
The ideal candidate will have a minimum of two years of teaching and experience working with younger elementary age students. The candidate will have deep knowledge of the developmental characteristics and needs of this age group and of the instruction of reading, writing, spelling, mathematics, science and social studies as it relates to them. It is the expectation that all Lower School teachers use the Readers and Writers Workshop Model. Candidates should demonstrate passion for working with Lower School students and be knowledgeable about this developmental stage of growth. The candidate should have a strong background in the area of social and emotional learning which is as important as the academic curriculum at Town. We ask that candidates are either comfortable with or willing to be trained in the Responsive Classroom approach. The position requires collaborating closely with other grade level colleagues, teachers in other grades, the Director of Teaching, Learning and Innovation, and the Lower School Head. Candidates should be strong in their use of technology tools for teaching. Collaboration with the librarians and educational technologists is also expected. Good communication skills are essential.
Classrooms are equipped with eBeam technology and interactive software which teachers utilize to enhance instruction for students. In addition, all students have access to iPads in the classroom which students use for online resources across the curriculum. Instructional approaches and course content should be differentiated to suit a range of learning levels and styles and reflect a diversity of perspectives and backgrounds. The ideal candidate will demonstrate a commitment to developing and implementing innovative approaches to learning, such as using project-based learning, inquiry, and teaching for understanding/understanding by design. Cultural competency is an expectation of this candidate and includes integration of diversity and global awareness into the curriculum. Faculty should frequently communicate with colleagues and with parents about student progress. Faculty are expected to take an active role in the school by contributing to committees, chaperoning field trips, and attending student performances and athletic events.
COVID Procedures
When schools were forced to close their physical doors in the spring of 2020, Town quickly and successfully pivoted to online learning, supported by thorough planning and a nimble team of faculty, administration and Board members. In the fall of 2020, Town was the second school in the city of San Francisco to be granted permission to reopen, taking exceptional caution to protect the safety of faculty and students. Since October 2020, we have welcomed all grades in the building five days a week. The 2021-2022 school year is held in person, with our mask and social distancing protocols in place and following all SF Department of Health Guidelines. All adult employees of Town School for Boys are required to provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination.
Town School for Boys Mission
At Town School learning is prized, love of school is essential, and boyhood is celebrated.
Philosophy
As an all boys’ school, Town provides a rich, challenging and rigorous educational experience that addresses the distinctive energy levels and developmental styles of boys. Town values being a diverse community that nurtures integrity, sensitivity and respect in its boys, and prepares them to become productive and contributing members of an ever-changing world.
Core Values
Respect: We respect ourselves and others.
- We treat others the way they want to be treated.
- We practice good listening, compassion and empathy.
Curiosity: We are curious.
- We ask questions, think critically and solve problems.
- We seek opportunities to reach our highest potential.
Belonging: We all belong.
- We embrace and celebrate each of our unique stories and experiences.
- We seek to ensure that every member of our community feels an equal sense of inclusion.
Integrity: We act with integrity.
- We have the courage to do the right thing even when nobody else is watching.
- We always try our best and when we fail, we try again.
Joy: We are joyful.
- We make space for play, fun and laughter.
- We know joy can be found in hard work, risk-taking and perseverance.
Statement of Teaching Philosophy
Our goal is for each boy to be engaged in an environment that weaves together collaboration, critical thinking, integrity, empathy, and creativity. These broad skills, as well as a firm grounding in core academic competencies, offer boys an excellent preparation for their further education. We promote social and emotional learning as a foundation of academic excellence and self-discovery. We prepare students to meet challenges in the world by helping them develop an appreciation for a variety of perspectives from the local to the global. We celebrate diversity by fostering a community of learners built on mutual respect. Learning experiences are inclusive, relevant, flexible, innovative, and adapted to reflect the needs of all kinds of learners. In our joyful, active, and collaborative school, boys flourish.
We achieve these goals through an authentic curriculum that originates in the classroom, travels through the halls, and extends into the world. Our teaching balances traditional methods with key student-centered approaches including inquiry, project-based learning, and teaching for understanding. We stay relevant and current through our testing of innovative, research-based approaches. We model a commitment to lifelong learning, and we hone our craft by pursuing professional development and sharing knowledge with one another.
Statement on Diversity, Inclusion, and Equity:
Diversity, inclusion, and equity are essential core values of Town School. The best education for our students requires a diverse experience because a broad spectrum of ideas is essential for understanding different perspectives, challenging assumptions, and inspiring curiosity, to support critical and complex thinking.
We are committed to creating an inclusive and welcoming environment where each boy is free to be himself, and where boys are confident and secure in their own identities. We equip each boy with the tools to explore differences in experiences, background, beliefs and ideas. We seek to provide each student with the support and resources he needs to succeed and thrive at Town School.
A diverse and vibrant community is essential. To build and sustain such a community, we reach out to enroll students and families from a broad range of socioeconomic backgrounds, cultures, races, religions, and sexual orientations, and we recruit and retain faculty, staff and administrators from the same broad range of backgrounds. We cultivate an environment where every member of the Town community senses they matter as a significant part of the life of the school. Only when each person feels valued and is engaged may the school and the individual achieve their full potential.
Non-Discrimination Policy:
Town School for Boys admits students of any race, color, religion, or national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the School. The School does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sexual orientation, or national and ethnic origin in the administration of its educational policies, scholarship programs, athletic and other school-administered programs.
Salary and benefits are commensurate with our peer schools in the San Francisco Bay Area and with like NAIS schools.
Application for this position can be found at https://town-school-for-boys.hiringthing.com/
