Career Center

Mount Tamalpais School, MTS, a K-8 independent school serving up to 240 students in Mill Valley, California is looking for a Kindergarten Homeroom & STEM teacher. The new Kindergarten teacher will be asked to teach academic science, engineering, and mathematics classes and serve as a homeroom teacher, providing parent communication and support in a complex world. 

At MTS, we envision a world in which Education Inspires Action. We get closer to this vision by creating the conditions in which Learning is Revered, and Education is Joyful. Everything we do at MTS is with open arms, hearts, and minds. To this end, we Lead With Kindness, Honor Childhood, Practice Active Inclusion, Celebrate The Journey, Ask, “What’s Possible?”

The new Kindergarten Homeroom & STEM teacher will help students flourish academically and individually, developing the foundations necessary to positively contribute in their ever-expanding spheres of influence. They will work with dedicated colleagues and a dynamic leadership team to develop academic and social-emotional skills within our students, critical thinking, and self-confidence. This person will empower our young learners and fuel their wonder, big dreams, and academic prowess. 

We seek an individual adept in both creating innovative and engaging lessons, and adapting researched-based curricula to best support the whole child within the classroom. As a STEM teacher, the focus at MTS is developing students who feel confident in their identities as mathematicians, scientists, and engineers. Our philosophy of mathematics instruction is focused on developing number sense, relational thinking, and problem-solving strategies that can be applied effectively and accurately to novel and increasingly complex mathematical problems. Students learn to communicate their understanding using a variety of visual models, concrete and abstract representations, and clear mathematical language. Science & Engineering classes focus on hands-on, authentic opportunities that utilize the Engineering Design Process for inquiry, exploration, and evaluation. MTS values play-based approaches to learning in all subject areas that promote high academic achievement and allow student-led interests to flourish.

MTS is focused on integrating project-based learning and technology into our curriculum, and seeks an educator who values a wide range of teaching and assessment practices. 

MTS is committed to a diverse and inclusive community. We are seeking a person to add to, and enhance our work in diversity, equity and inclusion as well as cultural competency. A successful MTS educator is collaborative, flexible, creative, organized, passionate about their teaching subjects, is a lifelong learner, is a clear communicator, utilizes culturally responsive and identity safe teaching practices, and cares deeply about each individual student.

MTS recognizes that many highly-qualified candidates may not check every criteria listed and that many experiences and qualities that promote exceptional teaching are not included in this list. If you meet many of the requirements and bring authentic passion for teaching Kindergarten, you are encouraged to apply. MTS values opportunities to connect with candidates who bring their individual experiences and perspectives to our teaching team and community.

MTS is an exciting place to be in 2023-24 and beyond, with a phenomenal budget for professional development, an exciting new Strategic Plan, and dedicated leadership. A Lower School teacher will thrive who is ready to strengthen our core and provide an academic environment where students feel seen, valued, heard, loved, and well-prepared for their ongoing endeavors. 

Job Responsibilities:

Teaching & Learning

• Teach Kindergarten STEM (science, engineering, mathematics); utilize lenses of SEL and DEI within curriculum design and planning, and student engagement 
• Lead a Kindergarten Homeroom and teach lessons specific to social-emotional learning and DEIJB (diversity, equity, inclusion, social justice, belonging)
• Collaborate with other academic teachers and specialist teachers to develop engaging, student-centered, differentiated lessons 
• Implement differentiated instruction and structures that support diverse learners, and meet the needs of our highly motivated student population 
• Provide ongoing, formative assessment, and evaluate to inform instruction
• Lead and/or support Kindergarten presentations during assemblies and that may occur outside regular school hours
• Formally assess students throughout the year, including preparing and leading parent-teacher conferences and checklist/narrative growth reports
• Provide extra help sessions, as needed, after the school day
• Find, lead, organize, and attend off-campus field trip opportunities

Student & Family Support

• Lead and support other social-emotional learning and grade-level times within the schedule (i.e. Responsive Classroom Quiet Time, Exploration Time, Assemblies, Learning Choice)
• Serve as a primary point person for Kindergarten families and students 
• Attend to the social-emotional needs of Kindergarten students with specific interest in this age group
• Demonstrate a commitment to raising anti-racist, culturally-responsive children 
• Communicate regularly with families as partners in child’s academic and social-emotional development 
• Give timely, meaningful, caring, and personal feedback to families and students

Professional Community Member

• Participate in a variety of meetings as scheduled (i.e. Student Support, Grade Level, Academic Department, Division, Professional Community, Parent-Teacher)  
• Fulfill on-campus duties as assigned to all faculty (i.e. recess duties, lunch duties, monitoring study hall, and internal substitute requests)
• Participate in set-up and take-down for special on-campus events, as supported by all faculty members (i.e. folding/stacking chairs, table decorations, platters/dishes, furniture placement)
• Support the Kindergarten Admissions process as an integral member of the team, including weekend events and screenings
• Participate in regular professional development to refine, learn, unlearn, relearn teaching practices
• Example School Hours: 7:45-4:15 (3 days a week), 7:45-5:00 (1 day a week), 7:45-3:30 (Fridays)

To Apply: Send a cover letter and resume to jobs@mttam.org

Position Requirements:
Education and Experience 

• A BA or BS in a relevant field. 
• Two years of elementary math and science teaching experience (Lead or Associate) 
• Two years of elementary teaching experience that includes social-emotional learning, community building, and effective parent partnership and communication
• Attend to the social-emotional needs of elementary students, and have a sincere interest in this age group 
• Commitment to raising anti-racist children and knowledge of anti-bias, identity-safe, and diversity-inclusive practices
• Confidence with inquiry-based mathematics approaches (i.e. Jo Boaler, Contexts for Learning/Cathy Fosnot, Math is Figureoutable/Pam Harris)
• Ability to teach mathematical concepts from concrete and abstract representations
• Practice in differentiated instruction practices, the utilization of Project-Based learning elements, and innovative technology integration preferred 
• Experience teaching hands-on, inquiry-based science and engineering lessons
• Example Math Curriculum Resources: Cathy Fosnot Contexts for Learning, Bridges, Jo Boaler, Mathematical Mindsets, Pam Harris, 3-act problems, DreamBox, Singapore Math, grade-level standards
• Example Science & Engineering Curriculum Resources: FOSS, Amplify Science, Mystery Science Investigations, Engineering is Elementary, science-museum and learning center exhibits and resources
• Examples SEL & DEI Curriculum Resources: Institute for Social-Emotional Learning, Responsive Classroom, The Center for Culturally Responsive Teaching & Learning, Pollyanna K-2

About Mount Tamalpais School

Mount Tamalpais School, 100 Harvard Ave, Mill Valley, CA 94941 (Telephone 415-383-9434), is a coeducational day school enrolling children in Kindergarten through Grade 8. The suburban community of Mill Valley is 12 miles north of San Francisco in Marin County. Students have access to the museums, theater, opera, symphony, and ballet of the city, and visit the Pacific Ocean and Mount Tamalpais for hiking and nature study. Private bus service is available between the school and local communities; public bus stops are within walking distance of the campus. Mount Tamalpais School is dedicated to the active pursuit of knowledge and to integrity, community service and fairness. We want our students to embrace diversity, honoring the value of each individual's strengths, choices, feelings and ideas. We strive to celebrate the human spirit by being responsible members of our families, our school community, and our world. We are committed to a strong, interactive and multidisciplinary curriculum, designed to challenge and enlighten, and to faculty who serve as guides and role models for our students.

Connections working at Mount Tamalpais School