Kindergarten Teacher

Kindergarten Teacher

Are you an experienced, imaginative, and collaborative educator who believes in progressive gifted education? Do you enjoy creating meaningful learning experiences, and being part of a diverse, supportive and talented community? If so, please consider joining our team at Tessellations. We are currently accepting applications for a full-time Kindergarten Teacher position. Successful applicants start in fall 2024-2025. Competitive salary and full benefits available.

Tessellations is a progressive K-8 non-profit school for gifted learners based in Cupertino, CA. Our mission is to provide challenging experiential education that recognizes and nurtures the individual strengths of gifted learners, empowering them to confidently express who they are and pursue a meaningful life. At Tessellations, community is a core value, as it is the reason our small and mighty school was able to form and thrive despite the global pandemic. Our team consists of passionate, qualified and dedicated staff from diverse backgrounds and includes nationally renowned gifted experts. Our first year was online only. In our second year, we quadrupled in size, and we also added our Nature Campus. We’re in our fourth year with excellent staff and student retention, and extremely high family satisfaction. We moved to a larger campus in order to house our growing population, and in Fall 2024 we will launch our high school.

If you join our team you will help us grow our program and continue designing and delivering a rich, immersive learning experience. You will be heard, respected, and celebrated for your talents and efforts. You will work with students who love to learn, engaged parents who are grateful for your work, and supportive colleagues that will help bring out your best.

Primary Responsibilities

• Work with a teaching team to shape kindergarten educational experience
• Support the growth and development of the whole child.
• Create and foster a safe and supportive learning environment for all students
• Develop and implement lessons and enriching experiences for thematic project-based curriculum that integrates English Language Arts, Social Studies, Art, and Science
• Develop students’ competencies for writing and literacy skills, as well as humanities and science content knowledge, in line with school and state standards
• Use provided curriculum to inform planning of Math and Literacy instruction.
• Plan and organize immersion events, fieldwork, and guest speakers.
• Differentiate instruction, lessons, and activities to the intellectual, physical, and social-emotional needs of students as they arise
• Maintain organizational systems in physical and digital space
• Regularly use and document multiple forms of assessment to gauge student learning and inform next steps in teaching
• Write newsletters and report cards
• Hold family conferences twice a year, and communicate with families both digitally and through family-teacher meetings as needed to support student learning
• Attend and supervise students during overnight grade-band camping trips (for kindergarten, this is a single full day trip at our Nature Campus)
• Complete other duties and responsibilities as required to ensure student safety and educational instruction

Collaborative Professionalism

• Utilize curiosity, questions, respect, and empathy in community conversations
• Use school resources, collaborate with colleagues, and seek out opportunities for professional development to ensure execution of educational programming, support of student learning, and growth as an educator
• Conduct action research and/or try new strategies and approaches to improve educational practices and curriculum development
• Be proactive in serving the community (such as picking up trash, supporting a colleague, volunteering to help cover an emergency absence etc.)
• Ensure proper supervision of all students under your care

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience
• Prior kindergarten (or related) teaching experience
• Passing a criminal background check upon hire
• Proficiency with technology (GSuite in particular)
• Strong verbal and written communication skills
• Social-emotional teaching experience
• Curriculum development experience
• Familiarity with and commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion practices
• Openness and flexibility in designing improved learning experiences
• Values collegial collaboration and individual improvement
• Enthusiastic life-long learner

Bonus Points

• Experience teaching gifted learners
• Experience teaching twice-exceptional learners
• Master’s degree

Compensation

Salary range: $77,000 - $110,000

Benefits include medical, dental, vision, life, 401(k), flexible spending account, paid time off, holidays, and school breaks.

To Apply

Please submit a cover letter and resume to careers@tessellations.school. For more information about our school, visit https://tessellations.school.

Tessellations is an Equal Opportunity Employer — we do not discriminate against any employee or job applicant on the bases of race, color, gender, national origin, age, religion, creed, disability, sex, or reproductive health decision making.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $77,000.00 - $110,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Flexible spending account
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Grade levels:

• Kindergarten

Schedule:

• Monday to Friday

School subjects:

• Math
• Reading
• Science
• Social Studies

School type:

• Private school

Application Question(s):

• Did you include a cover letter? Due to the large number of applications, we will only consider applications that include a cover letter.

Work Location: In person