Job Description

25/26 Middle School Science Teacher

At Children’s Day School, what you learn and who you become are equally important. 

Children’s Day School (CDS) is a welcoming community in the big city, a farm and garden among urban streets, an advocate for change and uplifting progressive values, an independent school with down-to-earth values, and an institution that is always asking how we can do this better. 

We strive for balance so students become both academically successful and grounded. They leave CDS confident, with the humility to listen and the resolve to speak up for what they see as right.

CDS is a co-educational preschool through eighth-grade school serving over 450 students in the Mission Dolores neighborhood of San Francisco with two campuses, two sheep, and lovely people. 

To learn more about CDS, visit our website at .

Job Summary

We are seeking an experienced, talented, and energetic Middle School Science Teacher for the 2025-2026 school year. This position reports to the middle school director and teaches students in grades 7 and 8. The ideal candidate will bring middle school expertise, cultural competence, a commitment to equity and inclusion work, and alignment with the CDS Learning Beliefs. 

Dates/Schedule:

• During the school year, the daily schedule is 7:30am - 4:00pm Monday – Friday (hours vary slightly depending on meetings and events).
• Some school events may occur on weekends.
• The new school year starts with planning and development in August with meetings beginning the week of August 11th.
• The first day of school is August 27th.
• Division Meetings take place on Wednesdays from 3:45-5:00p.

Primary Responsibilities

Essential Practices of a CDS Educator 

CDS Educators have identified and aligned on these five essential teaching practices to guide instruction and learning in the classroom. Applicants should excel in using these practices and be able to apply them to curriculum and unit design across all content areas they are responsible for.

Science Classroom Teacher Responsibilities

• Deliver high-quality science instruction to 7 through 8th-grade students using various teaching methods to accommodate different learning styles and abilities.
• Design and implement a comprehensive science curriculum that aligns with the school's educational philosophy and standards, promoting inquiry, life-long learning, hands-on learning, and competency-based learning.
• Facilitate students' social, emotional, and academic development using Responsive Classroom procedures to manage the class and any student behavior issues.
• Strong grasp of life and physical science topics including cellular biology, genetics, human physiology and evolution, physics, and chemistry
• Design purposeful performance tasks to best understand student learning track progress and student’s development of competencies and share learning goals throughout projects
• Willingness to engage in cross-curricular collaboration and lesson planning
• Evaluate and assess student performance and progress in science providing feedback and guidance to support their development.
• Writing end-of-semester narrative reports for all students
• Recommend purchase of all supplies and equipment using proper purchasing procedures.

Work with Students

• An unwavering commitment to middle school students and the community
• Enthusiasm for the opportunities and challenges inherent in working with middle school students
• Excellent interpersonal skills, with the ability to collaborate with students, colleagues, and parents
• Willingness to model professional and ethical standards when working with students and the middle school faculty
• The desire and ability to contribute to student and community life inside and outside the classroom
• A commitment to professional development
• A commitment to social justice and multicultural education

Other responsibilities will include:

• Attend middle school meetings
• Substitute coverage as needed (backup)
• Participating in an overnight education trip
• Facilitating a small group advisory (10-12 students) throughout the school year
• Performing lunch, recess, morning, and dismissal duties as assigned
• Supervise and engage with breaks, lunch supervision, free play, and program transitions.
• Provide a safe physical and emotional environment for all students. Encourage children to take the initiative to solve problems. Help children think, investigate, ask questions, and laugh. Strive to meet each child’s individual needs.
• Other duties as assigned.

Division Wide Collaboration 

• Partner with the Middle School Division Head, Grade Level Team, Learning Specialists, and Counselors to advocate for student learning and well-being.
• Partner with the Middle School Division Head, Director of Curriculum and Innovation, Team Leads, and other leaders on campus to set goals, respond to feedback, and focus on professional growth and development.
• Attend weekly division meetings, grade-level team meetings, and, as needed, meetings with families to update or check in on student progress and development.
• Build strong collaborative partnerships with specialist teachers to integrate curriculum and support student learning inside and outside of the classroom.

Whole School - CDS Team

• Engage actively in the CDS professional learning community by forwarding schoolwide initiatives and strategic priorities
• Partner with admissions and advancement as needed to promote the CDS program and mission
• Find opportunities to lead and contribute by joining committees, leading affinity groups, and collaborating with colleagues to sustain our commitment to innovation and ongoing learning

Position Requirements

• BS/BA (highly preferred); will consider relevant experience
• MA preferred
• Previous middle school or equivalent science teaching experience preferred
• Demonstrated successful experience with teaching science to middle school students in a school setting
• Demonstrated experience with curriculum development and/or oversight
• Acumen in 21st-century learning skills and issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion
• Demonstrated knowledge, skills, and habits within whole child learning practices - a focus on core academics and SEL development
• Strong communication skills and solutions-oriented mindset 
• Proficiency in the use of technology, Google Suite, and managing multiple platforms for the purpose of organization and curriculum implementation

Clearance Requirements

• TB Assessment
• Live Scan background check
• Eligible to work in the U.S. / E-Verify

Compensation

Annual salary is $59,805 - $131,264. Salary is based on qualifications and experience. Excellent benefits are offered including medical, dental, and vision insurance, paid time off, tuition remission, education reimbursement and professional development, and an employer-paid retirement plan.

CDS 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.

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