Kindergarten Teacher

School Description

Santa Catalina School is a vibrant, independent, Catholic school offering student-centered co-education to PreK through grade 8 and an all-girls’ boarding and day college preparatory upper school serving grades 9 through 12. Santa Catalina exists to develop in each student a striving for excellence, a maturing awareness of moral and spiritual values, a sense of responsible purpose, and a determination to serve the world with courage, grace, and compassion. With the cornerstones of excellence, spirituality, service, and responsibility, the school is committed to providing a supportive learning community for each student to grow in their intellectual, personal, and spiritual life, making Santa Catalina a transformational educational experience for its students.

Position Summary
Santa Catalina School, a nationally recognized, independent, Catholic school in Monterey, California, seeks an innovative, dedicated, and student-centered Kindergarten teacher for the 2024-2025 school year. The Lower and Middle School is composed of over 200 PreKindergarten through eighth grade students, whose dedicated faculty and staff collaborate to design and deliver a dynamic learning environment. This is a unique opportunity to join students and teachers who joyfully and actively engage together in a creating values-based, intentional community. The Kindergarten  teacher will join a highly collaborative and dedicated faculty that are committed to strengthening and enriching learning through innovative teaching methods that enable students to identify and solve problems, bridge content across traditional “subject” domains, and develop an unshakable growth mindset.

Description

This role is responsible for teaching academic subjects; establishing positive relationships with students, their families, and colleagues; grade-appropriate curriculum planning and instruction; for innovation, creativity, integration between disciplines, and integration of technology use throughout the program. Reporting to the Head of Lower and Middle School, the Kindergarten teacher will join a department that works closely together and values collegiality.

Santa Catalina School believes that each employee makes a significant contribution to its success. That contribution should not be limited by the assigned responsibilities. Therefore, this position description is designed to outline primary duties, qualifications, and job scope, but not limit the incumbent nor the organization to just the work identified. It is our expectation that each employee will offer his/her services wherever and whenever necessary to ensure the success of our endeavors.

Essential Responsibilities:

●   Apply knowledge of child development to teaching and classroom management

●  Establish and communicate clear instructional objectives for all learning activities and assessment metrics, in alignment with existing curricular standards and programs

●  Understand and employ developmentally appropriate pedagogical approaches and varied presentation styles to ensure high student engagement

●  Actively employ various assessment methods in order to more fully address different learning needs

● Create a classroom environment centered on problem-solving, synthesizing information, and integrating knowledge

● Communicate clearly in writing and verbally to students, other teachers, parents, and administrators regarding student progress and student needs

●  Maintain accurate and complete records of student progress and development to adjust teaching strategies 

● Pursue professional development to maintain expertise in performance of teaching responsibilities and promote the sharing of best practices with other members of the school’s faculty community

● Show genuine concern for students: demonstrate deep investment in student learning and success both in and out of the classroom

●  Manage student behavior in and out of the classroom by establishing and enforcing rules and procedures

● Participate and support the life of the school through various duties as assigned

●  Attend and engage in department, school, and parent meetings

Qualifications:

● A Bachelor’s degree is required. Preference will be given to candidates with a teaching credential and/or a Master’s degree in a related field

●  Minimum 5 years of primary grade teaching, preferably at an independent school

●  Knowledge of child development and learning and demonstrated ability to apply this knowledge to teaching and classroom management

● Demonstrated use of relevant techniques, lesson plans, and instructional technology to support and differentiate instruction. Examples will be requested

●  Ability to plan active, hands-on and engaging lessons for a classroom with students exhibiting a range of learning styles and interests

●  A demonstrated ability to support students’ social-emotional development

● Experience with and/or interest in learning and applying the following curricular approaches:

○ Dimensions Singapore Math

○ Guided Reading

○ Orton Gillingham

○ Lucy Caulkin’s Writing Workshop

○ Full Option Science System

○  Toolbox

○  Use of instructional technology tools such as iPads, Macbooks, and Promethean Board

Competencies

●Demonstrated use of relevant pedagogy to support and differentiate instruction

● Excellent writing, communication, and public speaking skills

●  Approachable and welcoming demeanor

●  Cultural competence and enthusiasm for working with a diverse and dynamic community

●Strong interpersonal skills, including good listening, humor, tact, and intuition

● Ability to create responsive, caring, and appropriate relationships with students, families, and colleagues

● Strong organizational and record-keeping skills and digital literacy

● Ability to assess and respond to the needs of the school and act as a representative of the school

● Commitment to professional growth and education

Supervisory Responsibilities

● This position does not supervise other employees

Working Conditions and Compensation

● Work in a classroom, standing and sitting, and using a computer screen for extended periods of time each day

●  Ability to access buildings and facilities throughout a 36-acre campus, with reasonable accommodations, in order to meet with students and faculty

●  Work in a school environment with a wide variety of challenges, deadlines, and people

●  Additional time is required beyond a normal day or week for evening and weekend meetings

● Santa Catalina School offers competitive insurance and retirement benefits

●  Salary Range: $55,000 to $90,000 annually, depending on experience

Equal Employment Opportunity

Santa Catalina School is an equal-opportunity employer. Employment at Santa Catalina School is based solely on qualifications and competence for a particular position, without regard to race, color, national origin, citizenship, age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran status, disability, marital status, or any other category protected by the law.

To Apply

Interested candidates should visit our website to complete and submit an application, resume, and cover letter:

https://www.santacatalina.org/employment

Electronic submission of candidate papers in .pdf format is preferred.

Santa Catalina provides reasonable accommodations to employees and applicants with disabilities. Applicants who need accommodations to participate in the application process should contact employment@santacatalina.org