Upper Elementary Lead Teacher

Title: Upper Elementary Lead Teacher

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

Department/Division: Elementary

Classification:  Exempt

Position Status: Full-time, At-will

Reports to: Head of School

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

HIRING TIMELINE: Applications accepted through June 24th. Interviews will be scheduled starting the first week of July. 

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 teacher to work in a self-contained Upper Elementary classroom (Third, Fourth or Fifth Grade). 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: As a member of our Elementary Faculty, a Lead Teacher’s responsibility is to nourish each child’s joy of discovery and passion for learning, and provide for each child’s social, emotional, physical, intellectual, and moral growth — giving special attention to the mastery of those basic skills and concepts that are the foundation of all future learning.

General Expectations:

• Know and implement the school’s mission and vision through implementation of the school’s educational philosophy.


• Create a safe and secure environment in which students grow in and appreciate both autonomy and interdependence with others.


• Build relationships with students in which each child feels understood, nurtured, respected, and supported in making their voices heard.


• Create opportunities for children to become increasingly responsible for the many communities in which they live.


• Defend the dignity and worth of each member of the community and create an environment that fosters respect, understanding, and acceptance of differences.


• Design and implement a curriculum that centers the school’s published values and engages students in thinking critically and solving problems including but not limited to:

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  • Mindfulness
  
  
  • Social/emotional learning
  
  
  • Diversity, equity, inclusion and justice
  
  
  
  

• Assess learning in a variety of formative and summative ways, using the results to inform instructional choices and build children’s knowledge and skills.


• Differentiate instruction in a highly skilled manner, with particular focus on both supporting learners who are struggling to meet benchmarks as well as stretching instruction for students who are ready for increased challenge.


• Foster a professional partnership with parents that facilitates the exchange of information necessary to ensure each child’s progress.


• Seek and maintain the appropriate training and knowledge regarding the developmental characteristics and needs of the age group with which you are working, as well as current progressive, child-centered pedagogy.


• Cooperate and collaborate with colleagues to ensure effective sequencing of instruction and delivery of outcomes, and with school leadership to plan for and carry out the continual improvement of our school.

Specific responsibilities - regular

• Lead in planning and teaching across assigned subject areas:

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  • Implement school-determined curriculum and seek emergent program opportunities that reflect our dynamic approach to education
  
  
  • Utilize a wide range of Progressive instructional strategies that provide access for all students
  
  
  
  

• Assess student growth on a regular basis using a variety of formative and summative assessments, and use that data to inform instruction.


• Serve on staff committees as assigned.


• Attend and contribute to faculty and staff meetings, STST meetings, committee meetings, and other meetings as assigned.


• Supervise students at arrival, recess, lunch, dismissal, and other times as assigned.


• Provide additional communication to families (such as classroom photos, positive notes, etc.) to support the development of a close school-family relationship.


• Implement the school program in alignment with all elements of the Program Operations Manual, including but not limited to classroom accommodations, behavior management, family communications, homework, student-teacher support teams, and all other areas covered in the Manual.


• Be on campus during standard work hours, 8:00 am - 4:30 pm. 

Specific responsibilities - occasional

• Twice per year, lead parent-teacher conferences (Oct/March).


• Twice per year, complete Progress Report writing (Jan/June).


• Participate in any school events, such as field trips and overnight programs, that are elements of the classroom program.


• Participate in any evening and weekend programs, including but not limited to:

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  • Class performances and presentations
  
  
  • Parent education events
  
  
  • Admissions & Enrollment programming
  
  
  
  

Minimum Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities)

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent 


• Current teaching credential or equivalent experience 


• Knowledge of and experience in a variety of assessment practices


• Ability to demonstrate effective classroom management skills


• Skilled in differentiated instruction

Preferred Qualifications: 

• Advanced Degree


• Knowledge of child development or Early Education Units


• Understanding of Independent School Education


• Experience in a progressive education environment

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.