Join Us on an Exciting Journey at Peninsula School!

Are you ready to be a part of something truly extraordinary? Peninsula School is calling for a fearless, passionate math educator to be the next generation of progressive education trailblazers.

Why Peninsula School?

Imagine a place where intellectual curiosity, social and emotional learning, and social justice intertwine to create a dynamic learning environment. Peninsula’s wooded, 6-acre campus is not just a setting; it’s a place where children thrive and develop to their full promise as confident contributors in the world, learn about themselves and others, discover their passions, and grow in an inclusive community rich with choices, exploration, and play. In addition to intellectual development and social and emotional learning (SEL), we educate for democracy, student choice and voice, and social justice.

Your Role: 6-8th Grade Math Teacher

With the support of our Associate Head of School, Math Specialist, and an assistant teacher, you will assume a pivotal role at the heart of our educational mission crafting and teaching a transformative progressive math program that’s more than just numbers – it’s about nurturing social-emotional skills, encouraging inquiry, fostering creativity, and promoting critical thinking.. Built upon our school’s steadfast dedication to social justice and diversity, equity, and inclusion – this program amplifies youth voices, nurtures a positive math identity and mindset in every student, and envisions math as a powerful tool for understanding and impacting the world.

What Awaits You:

Competitive Compensation: Earn between $84,500 – $120,500, depending on your experience.

Benefits: Enjoy a comprehensive benefits package, including health, dental, and retirement savings and plans, because your well-being matters to us.

Inspiring Community: Immerse yourself in a supportive, inclusive community dedicated to learning and engaged citizenship.

Room for Growth: Grow both personally and professionally in an environment that values lifelong learning and diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging.

Join Us in Shaping the Future!

At Peninsula School, we believe in the power of every individual to make a difference. Whether you’re a seasoned educator or newer to the field, we welcome your application. Come join us in shaping the future, one student at a time!

Peninsula School actively promotes the principles and practices of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging throughout the school community. We are an equal opportunity employer and encourage people from under-represented groups to apply.

The start date for this position is 8/1/24. Please fill out an employment application and send it with a cover letter and resumé, to HR@peninsulaschool.org

General Responsibilities

● Support and promote Peninsula School’s mission and values

● Provide a flexible, progressive 6-8th grade mathematics program using instructional methods and materials that are responsive and appropriate to the intellectual, social and emotional needs of students and that fosters their positive learning and personal growth

● Maintain a cooperative classroom environment that encourages problem solving, creativity, critical thinking, and intellectual curiosity

● Create and maintain a welcoming, safe, equitable and respectful learning environment that honors and values a diversity of learning, cultural, ethnic, racial and sexual identities and lived experiences of the student population

● Manage and monitor student learning, including ongoing assessment that informs instruction

● Remain current on educational research, topics and progressive practices relevant to middle school mathematical education

Specific Duties and Responsibilities

● Develop, refine, and teach a progressive, inquiry based, standards aligned 6th – 8th grade mathematics curriculum

● Develop daily learning opportunities and long-term projects that engage middle school students in developing, practicing and applying mathematical understanding and reasoning

● Provide interactive, structured, and research-based instruction in a way that best meets individual student needs and learning profile, ensuring each child’s progress in mathematics

● Design assessments that make learning visible and document student growth

● Create a classroom space that is anti-racist, differentiated, and responsive

● Clearly communicate student learning to students and parents

● Build class community by fostering students’ social/emotional learning

● Maintain open lines of communication with parents

● Work collaboratively and constructively with colleagues

● Provide a model for positive leadership

● Examine and evaluate classroom program and teaching regularly and adjust as needed

● Participate in parent/teacher/student conferences

● Collaborate with Math Specialist and Associate Head of School to develop a cohesive, standards aligned progressive K-8 math program

Other responsibilities:

● Attend parent-teacher conferences, special teacher meetings, and parent meetings

● Attend independent learning plan meetings (ILP) related to math concerns

● Attend staff and in-service meetings

● Attend admission events

Professional Qualifications:

Bachelor’s degree required. 3-5 years of teaching experience preferred. A teaching credential, advanced degree in education and/or specific training in K-8 Mathematics is a plus.

Competencies

To perform the job successfully, an individual should demonstrate the following competencies:

● Diversity, Equity, Inclusion – A demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion and an ability to work with and support a diverse population of students and families. An ability to remain sensitive to the experiences of students, parents and faculty in all situations and integrate feedback into practice.

● Ability to Learn and Teach – Recognizes the importance of learning and motivates

others by own enthusiasm. Stays abreast of best practices in schools.

● Math Pedagogical Content Knowledge – Deep mathematical disciplinary knowledge, pedagogical content knowledge for middle school math instruction through Algebra I, including inquiry based instructional methods and progressive educational practices.

● Relational Skills – Ability to relate well to a wide range of people, including building rapport with students, parents, faculty, staff, and administrators. Willingness to work to understand the culture of the school. Knowledge of each child’s challenges and strengths. Skill with conflict resolution, consensus building and decision-making.

● Emotional Intelligence and Maturity – Ability to interact with individuals in heightened emotional states and navigate complex and emotionally challenging situations involving children and adults. A high degree of emotional stability, ability to separate one’s own emotions from a situation, and ability to maintain perspective in the midst of emotional situations is essential.

● Communications Skills – Ability to communicate effectively with a wide range of constituents. Maintains open communications channels with teaching staff, parents and administrators. Able to present information formally and informally in an effective manner both through oral presentations or conversation and through written means.

Has a strong understanding of the power of word choice and the need for a high level of tact and professional, accurate communication.

● Time Management Skills – Ability to manage many tasks and projects simultaneously and to prioritize them appropriately.

● Organizational Skills – Ability to balance many tasks and processes, including keeping track of progress on longer term projects or goals, managing details accurately, and following through in a timely fashion.

● Problem Solving Skills – Ability to recognize immediate issues and take decisive action when appropriate. Ability to consider a broad range of internal and external factors when solving problems. Grasps complexities and perceives relationships among different problems or issues. Uses various problem-solving strategies appropriate to the situation, including enlisting others when appropriate.

● Strategic Thinking Skills – Ability to work with others to gather, synthesize, and analyze quantitative and qualitative information and to develop plans for meeting short and long-range goals which support the vision and further the broader strategic direction of the organization.

● Knowledge and understanding of the Mission Statement and purpose of the school

● Proven competency in the classroom, including innovative teaching and recognition of an appropriate response to various learning profiles.

● All prospective employees must be able to clear a background check and TB screening.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of the job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, ability to adjust focus, and sound hearing. The ability to speak clearly and coherently is required. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit; use hands, talk and hear. The employee is frequently required to reach with hands and arms. On occasion, the employee is required to stand, walk, stoop, kneel, or crouch. Employee is required to operate a computer and office productivity machinery, communicate across a variety of media, and work in close proximity to others. The role may also require the employee to work in inclement weather during special activities and work at a desk for extended periods of time.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to listen, physically direct, and speak. The employee is required to sit (sometimes for extended periods); stand; walk on a variety of surfaces; climb stairs, bend and squat when communicating with younger students; use hands to finger, handle, or feel and reach with hands and arms. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision and ability to adjust focus. The noise and activity level in the work environment is variable, with times of quiet and times of high stimulation and activity.

Peninsula School | 920 Peninsula Way, Menlo Park, CA, 94025 | 650-325-1584 | www.peninsulaschool.org