1st Grade Lead Teacher

Prospect Sierra is an independent, coed TK–8 school located on two campuses in El Cerrito, California, serving 470 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 the courage to become more than great students, but great people. 

Overview of Position

This position is for a 1st grade lead teacher, beginning in August 2024. This teacher will report to the Elementary Division Head and will work in close collaboration with the other lead 1st grade teacher and with the 1st grade teaching associates. This is a full-time teaching position.

Responsibilities

• Teach SEL, math, literacy, and humanities lessons weekly.
• Support the social and emotional development of students using the Toolbox Project and the RULER approach.
• Collaborate weekly with teaching teams, to ensure consistency between classes.
• Uphold a strong commitment to a balanced literacy approach, which includes the use of the Being a Reader curriculum.
• Maintain our math program by following the Bridges and Number Corner curriculum currently in place.
• Coordinate buddy experiences, finding creative ways to connect across groups both at the elementary and middle school campuses.
• Collaborate with specialist teachers regarding the individual behavioral and learning needs of specific students.
• Collaborate weekly with the grade-level learning specialist and the school counselor to determine pull-out and push-in support needs for students.
• Maintain regular communication and contact with parents, including regular digital newsletters.
• Assess students regularly through unit assessments, reading assessments, projects, and class work.
• Write narrative reports two times annually for all students.

Required Qualifications

• Appreciation for and desire to work with TK-4th grade students
• Authentic love of helping students excel in their learning
• Knowledge of the essential role social-emotional literacy plays in the workplace and interest in the 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

In addition to the required qualifications, desirable additional skills include:

• Strong communication skills, both written and verbal
• Flexibility
• Excellent interpersonal skills
• Organizational skills and the ability to multitask
• Knowledge of educational technology to support teaching and learning
• Understanding of differentiated learning techniques
• A nuanced understanding of DEI/social justice knowledge from a personal or programmatic perspective
• Willingness to be flexible, given the uncertain times we are living through

Salary

The salary is competitive. Benefits included. Our 2023-24 salary schedule can be found here.

How to Apply

Send a résumé (including contact information for three references) and one-page cover letter to:

Quise Rodriguez, Elementary School Division Head
tapscottjobs@prospectsierra.org  

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.