Curtis is seeking a Lower Elementary Associate Teacher to join a team-oriented, inclusive, and professional learning community. Curtis School is a DK-6 co-ed elementary school whose mission is to “develop, in every child, a sound mind in a sound body, governed by a compassionate heart.” 

We place an equal emphasis on academic, physical, social-emotional, and character education and instill a growth mindset modeled by faculty and staff who are the best in their craft. The Lower Elementary Associate Teacher will be responsible for supporting the Lead Teacher in maintaining a positive learning environment in their homeroom in Developmental Kindergarten (DK) or Kindergarten (K).  

A successful candidate will work closely with the Lead Teacher and colleagues in their grade level, under the supervision of the Director of Lower Elementary, to build an engaging curriculum that fulfills Curtis’s mission and values. The Associate Teacher will spend a portion of their time lead teaching (with guidance and support from the Lead Teacher) ? monitoring for understanding in whole-group situations, working with students in small groups, or enhancing the instruction provided by the Lead Teacher through one-on-one conferencing with students. The candidate must have excellent time-management, organizational, and communication skills, be dynamic and adaptable to shifting work conditions, and open to feedback. A collegial personality and responsiveness to direction are essential traits, as is a love of working with early childhood-aged children.

Curtis School is fully committed to a diverse faculty and student body. The candidate should possess an abundance of respect and sensitivity around racial, ethnic, socio-economic, and all differences. 

Duties and Responsibilities

Include, but are not limited to: 

• Embracing Curtis School’s Mission, Vision, Purpose, Values, and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion statement
• Supporting the Lead Teacher and the grade-level team to plan and implement an appropriately challenging curriculum in reading/language arts, math, anti-bias, social studies, and social-emotional learning 
• Collaborating with the Lead Teacher to maintain the classroom environment (e.g., organizing materials, designing bulletin boards, setting up learning centers and work areas, and photocopying materials)
• Promoting academic, social-emotional, and physical development of young children in individual, small group, and whole class settings
• Helping to assess students using current strategies and tools to inform instruction
• Supporting the Lead Teacher to provide student feedback in checklists and narrative reports and participating in twice-yearly parent-teacher conferences 
• Supervising children during morning break, lunch, recess, and afternoon carpool
• Substituting for the Lead Teacher, when necessary 
• Helping to integrate meaningful and appropriate use of technology within the curriculum and as a communication tool
• Collaborating and communicating openly with the Lead Teacher regarding classroom responsibilities, delivery of curriculum, and individual student and parent needs
• Attending Back-to-School Night, Open House, faculty workshop days, grade-level and division meetings, relevant all-school events, and all mandatory professional development 

Qualifications: 

A successful candidate will:

• Have a bachelor's degree (applicants with a Master's degree or enrolled and those who have completed a teacher credentialing program are strongly encouraged to apply)
• Have experience working with elementary school-aged children
• Continually seek professional growth and development 
• Possess excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to collaborate with students, colleagues, and parents
• Have excellent verbal and written communication skills to effectively communicate with students, parents, the Lead-Teacher, and Supervisor. 
• Participate actively in student and community life inside and outside the classroom
• Understand the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion in education
• Provide a portfolio of teaching with examples of innovative lessons or projects that demonstrate creative and critical thinking and/or teach a demo lesson 
• Be flexible about working in outdoor weather conditions and able to regularly sit, stand, walk, use hands, reach with arms, talk and hear, and occasionally lift chairs and student lunches during field trips. 
• Be punctual and professional at all times. 

Salary

At Curtis School, salaries are one component of a compensation package that includes a generous benefit package, retirement matching, lunch credits, health & life, AD & LTD insurance. The anticipated annual base salary range the school reasonably expects to pay candidates for this position is $55,000 to $60,000, depending on factors such as years of experience.

Non-Discrimination Policy: 

Curtis School is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, national or ethnic origin, age, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, disability, veteran or marital status, or any other legally protected status in its employment practices.

About Curtis School

Curtis School is an independent DK-6 coeducational elementary day school whose mission is “to develop, in every child, a sound mind in a sound body governed by a compassionate heart”. Over 60 Faculty Members are dedicated to fulfilling this mission. Located on a spacious 27-acre campus in the Mulholland Corridor of the Santa Monica Mountains, Curtis School has 490 students and 68 faculty members.

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