Athletic Director & Student Support

Title: Athletic Director and Student Support

Salary Range: Based on qualifying years of teaching experience - $62,354 - $112,224

Classification:  Exempt

Position Status: Full-time, At-will

Reports to: Chief Operating Officer

Benefits: This position is eligible for benefits (medical, dental, LTD, EAP & more)

HIRING TIMELINE: Applications accepted through June 14th. Interviews will be scheduled starting June 15th. 

Gateway School, in beautiful Santa Cruz, CA, is a CAIS accredited, independent K-8 day school of approximately 180 students that provides children with an academically challenging environment that nurtures their commitment to justice for society, service to the community, and compassion for others.  Our school is notable for its innovative instruction, co-curricular program integration, close student-teacher relationships, and supportive parent community.

Gateway School is seeking to hire a full-time Athletic Director and Student Support specialist.  Preferred candidates will have a research-based pedagogy, effective collaboration skills, an ethic of continuous professional improvement, a good sense of humor, and high integrity.

Successful candidates will be able to see each child as an individual and demonstrate effective culturally responsive practices that allow for students’ lived experiences to be honored. Our student population includes children across the spectrums of gender, sexuality, race, ability, family composition, and all other identities. 

We seek, and strive to maintain, a culturally and ethnically diverse community, and are committed to the principles that promote inclusive practices. We value the skills, knowledge, and experiences a diverse workforce brings to our school. 

Objective: The Athletic Director and Student Support specialist will split their time between leading the school's athletic programs (50% time) and providing direct academic, social-emotional, and community support for all students. This role ensures a vibrant, safe, and inclusive school environment by facilitating active play on the playground, delivering targeted classroom push-in support, and partnering with school leadership to cultivate a campus culture rooted in identity, leadership, and joy.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Athletic Leadership: Design, oversee, and manage all aspects of the school’s athletic program (50% time).


• Classroom Support: Provide dedicated push-in support (25% time) within Upper School (4th–8th grade) classrooms.


• Playground Facilitation: Active presence on the playground to facilitate positive peer relationships, inclusion, and dynamic play.


• Ancillary Collaboration: Partner closely with the Director of Ancillary Programs to coordinate recess operations and align after-school sports with broader camp/extended care structures.


• Student Life Innovation: Collaborate with the Dean of Student Life to intentionally integrate culture, play, identity exploration, and student leadership onto the campus.


• Targeted Interventions: Utilize credentialed teaching expertise to support students requiring 1:1 or small-group academic and behavioral attention as needed.

SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES

Programmatic & Campus Culture

• Culture & Identity: Work alongside the Dean of Student Life to develop initiatives, assemblies, and daily practices that celebrate student identity, foster a sense of belonging, and build leadership skills.


• Supervision & Safety: Ensure that students across the playground and athletic spaces are appropriately supervised and that all activities adhere to safety protocols.


• Restorative Communication: Facilitate healthy communication between students, teachers, administration, and families when navigating disciplinary moments or social-emotional growth opportunities.

Athletics and Play (In collaboration with the Director of Ancillary Programs)

• Recess & Playground Operations: Oversee elements of the recess yard during regular school hours, ensuring that play is safe, organized, and provides a variety of physical, creative, and imaginary options.


• Athletic Program Management: Recruit, manage, and evaluate coaches; schedule games and practices; and maintain athletic equipment and facilities.


• Inclusive Play: Design inclusive recess activities and athletic programs that encourage participation from students of all skill levels and backgrounds.

Upper School Academic & Student Support (4th–8th Grade)

• Push-In Support: Spend 25% of the schedule directly in 4th–8th grade classrooms, partnering with lead teachers to keep students engaged and supported.


• 1:1 & Small Group Instruction: Act as a dedicated resource for students needing targeted tier-support, offering differentiated 1:1 or small group time as a credentialed teacher.


• Student Advocacy: Serve as a mentor and anchor for Upper School students, helping them navigate academic workload, organizational skills, and peer dynamics.

Note on Differentiated Schedule: This position requires a dynamic individual capable of seamlessly transitioning from the energetic environment of competitive athletics and recess yards to the focused, supportive environment of the middle school classrooms.

Minimum Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities)

• Bachelors degree


• Teaching credential


• 3 years working with children in a school or childcare setting


• Training in conflict resolution


• Proficient in common administrative technologies (e.g., Google Workspace, Microsoft Office, Adobe Acrobat)

Preferred Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities)

• Experience in an independent school setting


• Classroom teaching experience


• Training in a social-emotional program (e.g., RULER)

EEO Policy:

Gateway School is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment and to providing employment, compensation, promotion, transfer, and unrestricted access to training at all occupational levels. The School prohibits discrimination and harassment due to an applicant’s or employee’s membership in a protected class.  Gateway School does not discriminate in violation of the law on the basis of the protected categories of race, color, ethnicity, national origin, religion, sex (including pregnancy, gender, and sexual orientation), age, disability, genetic information, or military/veteran status in its employment practices or hiring practices.