Boca Raton, Florida
San Francisco, California
Posted: 26-Mar-26
Location: El Cerrito, California
Type: Full Time
Categories:
Overview of School
Prospect Sierra is an independent, coed TK–8 school located on two campuses in El Cerrito, California, serving 440 students. Prospect Sierra gives students the tools to build a better world by integrating rigorous academics with a deep understanding of human emotions. Every day our exceptional teachers connect students' academic experiences to ethics, empathy, and social and emotional intelligence. The result is deeper intellectual engagement, greater self-knowledge, and compassionate relationships. Prospect Sierra students develop courage to become more than great students, but great people. Please visit our website, www.prospectsierra.org, for more information.
Overview of Position
This position is for Middle School Colab (Makerspace) Teacher, beginning August 2026. This teacher will report to the Middle School Division Head. Prospect Sierra is committed to creating space, time, and guidance to support project-based learning with a focus on innovation, creativity, and technology integration. Our Colab teacher and space support this goal. This is a full-time teaching position.
Responsibilities
- Teach all students in the middle school grades 5th-8th grade.
- Develop and evolve scope and sequence for all 5th-8th grade students, and teach lessons with differentiation in mind.
- Design and evaluate curriculum to support an integrated approach to 21st-century skill development in the areas of making, early engineering, coding, digital design, wood working, and basic technology skills.
- Employ the design thinking process for project work, teaching students to prototype and iterate, and encouraging group collaboration when appropriate.
- Connect age-appropriate STEAM, computer science, mechanical engineering, and/or crafting concepts with classroom curriculum and student interests.
- Work collaboratively with the science department, arts department and other teaching staff as needed to carefully design and integrate curriculum.
- Work collaboratively with the technology team in order to support integrated technology teaching at the middle school campus.
- Integrate woodworking skills into projects when possible, using both hand tools and power tools, while always emphasizing safety.
- Serve on a grade-level team and the A+ (Arts plus Colab) team and meet weekly to support both grade level and departmental endeavours.
- Maintain a well-organized, student-centered, flexible learning space.
- Maintain a safe space for students, implementing a clear safety protocol regarding all tools in the classroom.
- Perform routine maintenance of Colab equipment, including the laser cutter, and other machines and tools.
- Host lunchtime “open Colab” times and run after-school Colab clubs.
- Teach a weekly elective.
Required Qualifications
- Appreciation for and desire to work with 5th-8th grade students.
- Demonstrated experience as a maker and modeling a maker mindset.
- Demonstrated understanding of best practices in middle school education.
- Fluency in computer/iPad programs such as Tinkercad, Scratch, LEGO Robotics, MakeCode for micro:bit, and others.
- Knowledge of the essential role social-emotional literacy plays in the workplace and interest in application of SEL within the educational setting.
- Knowledge of identity safe and anti-bias educational practices.
- Ability to create an inclusive classroom community that allows for a multitude of perspectives to be heard and respected.
- Ability to take initiative, work passionately and joyfully, and collaborate effectively with diverse constituencies.
- Willingness to be a team player, show initiative, and take on leadership roles as needed.
- A passionate commitment to creating an innovative, joyful environment for students.
- Bachelor of Arts or Science degree and/or professional coursework or certification, indicating training applicable to the responsibilities of the position.
- Ability and desire to communicate effectively both in written and verbal modalities
- Flexibility
- Excellent interpersonal skills
- Organizational skills
In addition to required qualifications, desirable additional skills include:
- Multiple Subject Teaching Credential, Master’s degree in education, or relevant coursework or certification indicating advanced knowledge in areas related to the responsibilities of the job
- Training in Universal Design for Learning (UDL)
- Nuanced understanding of DEI/social justice knowledge from a personal or programmatic perspective
School-Wide Duties
- Participation on committees as needed and appropriate.
- Ancillary duties include responsibilities that are part of middle-school life, e.g., team and staff meetings, committee work, attendance at school functions, chaperoning school trips/events, recess duties, etc.
Salary:
Salary is competitive. Benefits included. See pay scale here.
How to Apply
Email a resume, a one-page cover letter, and a list of three references with contact information to:
Nathan Tanaka, Middle School Division Head
Email: avisjobs@prospectsierra.org (include “Middle School Colab Teacher” in the subject line)
Prospect Sierra School is an equal opportunity employer. Our community is diverse in many ways, inclusive of race/ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender spectrum, age, ability, and more. We welcome and value the same in our faculty and staff.