Website Presidio Hill School
Presidio Hill School
San Francisco, CA
Job Title: Art Assistant Teacher
Status: Full-Time, Non-exempt
Reports To: Classroom Lead Teacher
Start Date: August 2021
School Description
Presidio Hill School is an independent, progressive school located in the Presidio Heights neighborhood of San Francisco and serves a diverse population of approximately 220 students enrolled in transitional kindergarten to 8th grade, with a faculty and staff of approximately 45 people. The lower school, grades TK-5, has approximately 125 students and 20 faculty members. Established in 1918 by artist-educator-activists Helen Salz and Flora Arnstein, Presidio Hill School is the oldest continuously operating progressive school in California, with a mission and deep history connected to social justice. Our Art Assistant Teacher will have demonstrated passion and experience teaching and working with students and a school community that explicitly strives to be inclusive.
Presidio Hill offers its students a challenging, project-based curriculum that attends to their intellectual and social-emotional needs and prepares them to be agents of positive social change. Guided by a skilled and caring faculty, students learn to be confident and curious, to be creative problem solvers and independent, critical thinkers. Learning at PHS is collaborative and active. We place great value on the arts as both an academic discipline and an essential element of a meaningful life. Situated on the edge of the Presidio, our school takes full and frequent advantage of the park’s 1500 acres; whether they are studying science, art, social studies, or literature, the Presidio is a rich and vital “classroom” to our students.
Our vibrant, diverse, and supportive community allows students to explore their unique voices, traits, and talents; our emphasis on the importance of community and justice encourages students to develop self-awareness, personal character, resilience, and an understanding of their role as stewards of the planet and citizens of the world.
Presidio Hill School seeks a faculty and staff that reflects the broad range of diversity in the San Francisco Bay Area. Our school is strongly committed to promoting cultural competency in all interactions and programs. Invested in the growth, happiness, and preparation of our teachers, we provide generous support for their professional development.
Position Description
Presidio Hill School seeks an Art Assistant Teacher for our lower school to begin August 2021. Qualified candidates will demonstrate a deep understanding of and interest in the developmental nuances of lower elementary school-aged children, progressive education, and anti-bias teaching practices. Candidates will ideally have prior experience teaching or assisting in the primary and/or upper elementary grades, as well as some experience in higher education courses focused on child development, pedagogy, and instruction. The assistant teacher will be expected to build a safe and engaging classroom community and to scaffold and differentiate lessons for students as needed, creating a program that meets the needs of a wide variety of learners.
In addition to providing excellent teaching and maintaining effective communication with parents and students, teachers are expected to contribute to the greater PHS community through work on various committees and school events. PHS teachers work closely with each other and collaborate and engage in a positive manner; excellent interpersonal skills are a necessity.
Primary Responsibilities:
- Support the lead teacher with classroom management, student support, implementation of curriculum, updating art installations on campus, prepping for select school events, and at the discretion of lead teacher as needed
- Work closely with the lead teacher to implement lessons and activities for TK-8th grade students
- Set up the classroom and help manage materials
- Help plan field trips, events, and class celebrations
- Assist the school by covering several recess and lunch duties per week
- This position may also lead small groups, work one-on-one with students, and support the lead teacher in classroom management when he or she is leading full class lessons.
Skills, Qualifications, and Experience
The Art Assistant Teacher will be a good listener, positive collaborator, and active support for students, and will be someone who is excited about art education and innovation.
In addition, the Art Assistant Teacher will possess:
- A Bachelor’s degree. A graduate or in-progress graduate degree related to education is desirable
- Effective communication and collaboration skills
- Good humor, energy, and a love of learning
- A passion for creating and appreciating art
- Ability to support outdoor education, including extended class trips to and from the Presidio
- Ability to adhere to guidelines and recommendations from the CDC, CDPH, and SFHD
Interested candidates should send a cover letter, résumé, contact information for two to three references, and/or letters of reference via email (with Art Assistant Teacher in the subject line) to Tony Cifra (Lower School Director): cifra@presidiohill.org
To learn more about PHS, please visit our website – www.presidiohill.org
