Horizons at Francis Parker School: Kindergarten, Grade 1, or Grade 3 Lead Teacher

Description

Organization Background

As an affiliate of the Horizons National network, Horizons at Francis Parker School (Horizons at Parker) is a year-round program with a summer intensive offering academic and enrichment support that addresses the achievement and opportunity gaps of students facing educational inequities. The heart of Horizons is an exemplary academic program that supports a cohort of students in reading, writing, math, and science, paired with swimming lessons, field trips, sports, and enrichment activities in the performing and visual arts. The program also includes a year-round component featuring family events, enrichment activities, and regular visits to and communication with students’ schools and teachers. Horizons at Francis Parker will transition to Horizons San Diego, an independent 501(c)(3), in the first-half of 2025. The Horizons at Francis Parker employees will become employees of Horizons San Diego. Duties will remain the same. 

For more information about Horizons, please visit https://www.horizonsnational.org/ and https://www.horizonsatparker.org. 

About Francis Parker School

Francis Parker School (Parker) is a coeducational independent day school in San Diego, California with 1,330 students in Junior Kindergarten through Grade 12. Founded in 1912, the school’s mission is “to create and inspire a diverse community of independent thinkers whose academic excellence, global perspective and strength of character prepare them to make a meaningful difference in the world.” Parker has two campuses: one in Mission Hills (Lower School, Junior Kindergarten - Grade 5), and a second in Linda Vista (Middle and Upper School, Grades 6 - 12).

Position Overview

Horizons at Francis Parker School is seeking a dedicated and effective Lead Teacher for Rising Kindergarten, Grade 1 and Grade 3 with dynamic talent for creating and nurturing a lifelong love of learning in children. We seek talented, passionate, caring professionals who will fulfill the Horizons mission, and create a joyous, inclusive, inspiring, and educational culture. The Lead Teacher will work with a team of educators and will be supported by the Site Manager. We strive for Horizons summer staff members to return to the program for more than one summer. 

Requirements

Essential Job Functions

The Lead Teacher will:

• Design and teach a high-quality, culturally competent, project-based curriculum and engage students in learning math, science, and language arts throughout our six-week summer program.
• Plan and lead fun, community-building games and enriching experiential learning opportunities, and accompany students to swimming lessons and field trips.
• Lead the Horizons faculty/staff in identifying individual students’ learning profiles, building on each youth's academic strengths, and coordinating resources and activities to best address his/her areas of need.
• Participate in daily meals with the students, attend faculty meetings, and other duties that may be required.
• Attend a one-week orientation session prior to the start of the program.
• Assist in the training and supervision of program staff, including assisting in planning and facilitating professional development and ongoing coaching for faculty/staff, and sharing instructional strategies and student information. Mentor the assistant teacher(s) and work with staff to review assessment data and align curriculum across subject areas.
• Develop and nurture a safe, respectful, challenging, and fun learning environment.
• Assist in evaluating program effectiveness.
• As needed and appropriate, aid in accessing and attracting useful resources of community institutions, the school system, public agencies, and local businesses to benefit the Horizons programs.
• Help maintain ongoing communication with parents, caregivers, and school-year teachers.
• Participate in the planning and delivery of learning activities (minimum of six Meetups) for students and families on Saturdays or evenings throughout the school year.
• Meet regularly with the Executive Director as needed to accomplish goals and/or problem-solve as issues occur.
• In collaboration with the Executive Director, provide ongoing input into this job description as the position unfolds to keep this job description as accurate as possible.

Qualifications

In addition to a strong commitment to Horizon’s mission, this position requires a balance of knowledge of best practices and practical experience, and proficiency in instruction skills. The ideal candidate for the Lead Teacher position must be flexible, well-organized, capable of taking the initiative, and enthusiastic about teaching and learning. More detailed qualifications for this position include:

• A minimum of (2) years of teaching experience with a gift for both building on students' love of learning and bolstering their basic academic skills.
• Proven ability to relate well to diverse children and families, plan and deliver engaging, challenging lessons for urban school-age children, and teach effective strategies for second language learners.
• Knowledge and skill in classroom management, social-emotional learning, and specific strategies for developing children’s noncognitive skills such as focus, determination, empathy, and self-discipline.
• Immersion in diversity work — both in training and implementation — and a commitment to fostering culturally competent and inclusive learning environments.
• Fluency in English/Spanish preferred (bicultural also preferred).
• Experience designing and delivering curriculum for early elementary second language learners.
• A strong passion for working with youth and a strong desire to help make a difference in the lives of under-resourced students.
• Ability to maintain good communication between all parties, to have clear expectations and directions, and to provide feedback to the Executive Director, to staff, and to Horizons National as the curriculum and the program unfolds.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal, organizational, and time management skills.
• Leadership experience and the ability to work as a multidisciplinary team member.
• Elementary teaching credential or equivalent experience, with a BCLAD, preferred.

Dates

The position is full-time during the six weeks of the program and a minimum of (6) Meetups (Saturday mornings) throughout the school year.

• Monday, June 16 - Friday, June 20 - Faculty orientation week and classroom set-up
• Monday, June 23 - Friday, August 1 and Saturday, August 2 - Six-week program and Showcase 
• Year-round program (Meetups): A minimum of 6 monthly meetups on the following Saturday mornings (10/18/25, 11/15/25, 12/6/25, 2/7/26, 3/7/26, 4/11/26)

Salary and Benefits

This is an Exempt Seasonal position. The pay rate range is $1,487.50 - $1,925/week, depending on education and experience. This position is not eligible for benefits. 

Meetups: $125/session

Non-Discrimination

Francis Parker School values diversity and seeks talented students, faculty, and staff from different backgrounds.  All employment decisions are made without regard to unlawful considerations of race, color, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, and related medical conditions), gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, mental or physical disability, medical condition, genetic information, military or veteran status, or any other basis prohibited by federal, state, or local law. Horizons at Francis Parker School is an equal-opportunity employer.