Elementary Environmental Science & Garden Teacher '23-24

  • Full-time

Company Description

La Scuola International School is a vibrant Pre-K - 8th Grade international community with a focus on inquiry-based learning, creative expression and language immersion. La Scuola is San Francisco’s first IB-PYP, IB-MYP School and the first Reggio - IB Italian Immersion program in the world. 

We believe our community thrives through diversity of backgrounds, perspectives and realities. Only through a persistent drive to listen and learn from one another, create and promote equitable opportunities and to continue to reflect and evolve will we be able to establish systems which will address the needs of the one and the many.

La Scuola’s mission is to inspire brave learners to shape the future.  La Scuola aims to nurture children’s innate ability to learn by challenging them academically, creatively and innovatively, while immersing them in the Italian language and making them keenly aware of the world around them and their place in it. 

Job Description

The International Baccalaureate (IB) Environmental Science and Garden Teacher reports to the K - 5 Division Director and leads and plans for garden and environmental science classes developing them within the IB PYP Curriculum framework and in line with the Reggio Emilia philosophy. The teacher also offers critical support to teachers and students to ensure that a school can maximize and grow the educational potential of the garden.

Essential Duties
• Facilitates joyful and meaningful garden and environmental science learning experiences
• Collaborates closely with classroom teachers/the IB PYP Coordinators to support classroom teaching and IB PYP units of inquiry in a range of curriculum areas (science, social studies, mathematics, language arts, etc.)
• Oversees and coordinates students’ hands-on experiences in the garden (planting, tending, harvesting);
• Builds involvement in and commitment to the school garden within the school community, including teachers, administrators, students, parents and community volunteers;
• Builds involvement in and commitment to the school garden outside of the school community;
• Develops teacher skills in outdoor classroom management techniques;
• Maintains the garden, coordinating volunteers and working to secure all needed supplies;
• Oversees the preschool Environmental Science & Garden Teacher and program

Schedule:  The teacher is expected to be onsite for in-person instruction from 8:00AM to 4:00PM
 
Job Responsibilities:
• Teaches or facilitates classes on school campuses;
• Manages the school garden, plan and prepare for garden work activities, manage planting schedule, ensure availability of tools and other necessary materials;
• Plants and cares for vegetable garden and other planting areas with students or independently, as best and appropriate;
• Maintains composting system;
• Maintains irrigation system and be the point person for outside contractors;
• Attends school wide staff meetings/professional development days/open houses/roundtables;
• Coordinates garden events and parents work days to bring students, families, teachers and community
members together;
• Coordinates school-wide garden events as needed and works with Atelieristas on other specialist events
• Attends K-5 Collaborative planning meetings and planning meetings with teachers/IB Coordinators;
• Monitors, documents, and reports on all activities and extent of student learning;
• Prepares Garden and Environmental Science Newsletters.

Qualifications

Essential Requirements:

  • Flexible and creative approach to teaching and learning
  • Ability to organize work and to function independently
  • Ability to work with children, staff, and parents
  • Excellent writing skills and computer literacy
  • Able to have some flex scheduling of hours and days for a Saturday work day when needed.
  • Experience and comfort in public speaking for parent nights, tours, and other outreach events.
  • Passionate about supporting eco-literacy development in young children.

The Teacher is guided by/expected to meet the following performance standards:

  • Maintaining an awareness of the school’s mission and philosophy;
  • Performing tasks and responsibilities in a complete and timely manner;
  • Maintaining a creative, team-building approach to job performance and seeking to bring a constructive, problem-solving orientation to all tasks;
  • Seeking opportunities to develop skills and create opportunities to teach co-workers;
  • Communicating in a timely, honest and sufficient manner;
  • Exercising professional judgment and discretion; and
  • Working well with a diverse staff and school community.

Additional Information

Additional Information

Must be authorized to work in the U.S.

La Scuola may be able to offer a teachers exchange visa for 3 years, for teachers with a BA in Education / Pedagogy / teaching credentials in their country of origin AND a MINIMUM of two years of teaching experience in a primary/elementary school.

Prior to beginning work and as a condition of employment in order to comply with the law, all employees must provide documentation to prove eligibility to work in the United States.

In addition, the final candidate will need to pass both Criminal Justice Department and Federal Bureau of Investigation Fingerprint Clearance and a physical exam, and provide a recent copy of a negative TB test and other immunization records.

Benefits

Position receives excellent benefits, including medical, vision and dental coverage. The school also offers group life insurance, employer-matched retirement, long-term disability insurance and commuter benefits. Other fringe benefits include PTO, paid holidays, daily warm lunch and outstanding professional development.

Estimated annual salary range: $62,400 to $126,697 depending on credentials, qualifications and experience.

To be considered for the position, please apply here with a letter of intent, a resume and a minimum of 3 references. More information about our school can be found here https://www.lascuolasf.org/. 

Non-Discrimination Policy

In order to provide equal employment and advancement opportunities to all individuals, employment decisions at La Scuola will be based on merit, qualifications and abilities. La Scuola does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, ancestry, citizenship, sexual orientation, gender identity, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical condition, marital status, veteran status, physical or mental disability (actual or perceived), medical condition, genetic characteristics, political affiliation or any other characteristic protected by state, federal or local law. This policy governs all aspects of employment, including hiring, job assignment, compensation, discipline, termination, layoff, promotion, transfer and access to benefits and training. If you feel you may have been discriminated against on the basis of sex or would like more information, please contact Dani Sollberger, COO, by email or 415-558-9006 or by mail at 728 20th Street, San Francisco, CA 94107.