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By passionately pursuing core teaching beliefs that set us apart, we create the extraordinary every day at Phillips Brooks School. We guide children to cultivate their individual talents, explore and dig deep while working and reflecting together. In the process they discover their best selves – they flourish.

Bringing together inspiring colleagues and an amazing parent community

Being a part of the PBS team means learning something new every day from your colleagues. It means putting our students first in all our decision-making. It means partnering with parents who care deeply about the school – not just their child, but the whole community. It means having the room to try new things, having support when you falter, and having colleagues who’ll cheer when you succeed. If these are the qualities you’re looking for in your next work environment, we want to hear from you.

Investing in professional growth and development for every employee

The faculty and staff at PBS are our most valuable asset, so PBS offers a top-notch compensation package: salaries that are regularly benchmarked against other Bay Area schools and generous insurance and other benefits. Key among these investments in our people power is our ongoing support for professional development. PBS supports its employees by bringing in outside experts and by helping them seek advanced degrees, attend conferences, and pursue leadership opportunities in their disciplines.

Building a diverse and inclusive community

There’s no single PBS story. Our teachers and staff are from all over: some grew up down the road here in Menlo Park; others are transplants from the Midwest or East Coast; still others came to PBS from jobs in Saudi Arabia or South America. We represent a wide variety of cultures, ethnicities, religions, and socioeconomic backgrounds, just as our students and families do. We value and celebrate this diversity and see it as one of the many aspects of PBS that make it an amazing place to work.

Early Learning Center-Lead Teacher

Menlo Park, CA

Full Time

Experienced

Position Description

Early Learning Center - Lead Teacher

Phillips Brooks School (PBS) is seeking a lead teacher for its Early Learning Center (ELC). Reporting to the Director of the ELC, this teacher is responsible for creating a rich and intentional environment that fosters the growth of the whole child.

About Phillips Brooks School:

PBS is a vibrant and innovative ELC to 5th grade school committed to fostering a love of learning in a supportive and inclusive environment. We welcome and encourage applicants from diverse backgrounds, cultures, and identities, and PBS is committed to an inclusive work environment. You'll have an opportunity to contribute to an upbeat, growth-oriented professional learning community that appreciates collaboration, creativity, and an innovative approach to all aspects of school life. We strive daily to uphold our mission and core values of kindness, courage, community, and love of learning

About the Role:

ELC Lead Teachers are responsible for creating an exceptional early childhood program that aligns with PBS's core values. Our team of teachers deliver a Reggio-inspired, play-based curriculum that fosters curiosity, creativity, and connection. Furthermore, teachers are attuned to the specific learning needs and social emotional development of each student. As a lead ELC teacher, a dedication to creating safe spaces for children to take emotional and academic risks to help them develop confidence and positive self-esteem is essential.

Key Responsibilities and Requirements:

Social-Emotional Learning:
- Teach and model an intentional social-emotional learning curriculum to develop children's self-awareness, self-regulation, social skills, empathy, and responsible decision-making.
- Create a classroom culture that promotes emotional literacy, communication and conflict resolution skills, and a sense of belonging for every child.
- Observe and respond sensitively to children's emotional needs and provide individualized support as necessary.
Play-Based, Reggio-Inspired Academic Environment:
- Establish a play-based academic environment that is child-led and inquiry-based while integrating literacy, mathematics, science, and creative arts concepts through hands-on exploration and child-initiated activities.
- Develop and implement clear, consistent routines and expectations to promote student autonomy, self-direction, and responsible behavior.
- Organize and maintain a well-resourced classroom that encourages exploration, discovery, and engagement.
- Facilitate both child-led and teacher-guided play experiences that align with developmental milestones and learning objectives.
Family Partnerships:
- Foster positive family relationships through a variety of communication pathways, including regular newsletters, informal check-ins, formal parent-teacher conferences, and narrative progress reports that highlight individual student growth and development.
- Maintain open and effective communication with parents regarding their child's progress, experiences, and any relevant information.
- Collaborate with families to support individual learning needs and create a strong home-school connection.
- Participate in family events and activities.
Safety and Supervision:
- Ensure the safety of each student at all times by diligently supervising and actively engaging in a wide variety of indoor and outdoor learning activities.
- Maintain awareness of and adhere to all safety protocols, licensing regulations, and school policies.
- Recognize and respond appropriately to potential safety hazards and emergencies.
Collaboration and Support:
- Collaborate effectively with the ELC teaching team through regular meetings, shared planning, and open communication.
- Actively participate in discussions about student progress and support strategies based on observations of students.
- Contribute to a positive and supportive team environment.
- Seek out and participate in professional development opportunities to enhance teaching practices.

Personal Qualities and Attributes:

Bring heart, dedication, collaboration, passion, and humor to our vibrant learning community.
Demonstrate a genuine love for working with young children and a commitment to their growth and development.
Possess strong communication, interpersonal, and organizational skills.
Maintain a positive and professional attitude.
Be flexible and adaptable to the changing needs of the classroom and school.

Qualifications:

Essential:
- Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood Education or a related field and 12 hours of ECE credits.
- A demonstrated understanding of Reggio or play-based early childhood curricula.
- Knowledge of child development principles and best practices in early childhood education.
- Proven ability to build and maintain strong relationships with children, families, and colleagues.
Desired:
- 3+ years of experience teaching in a Reggio-inspired and/or play-based early learning center
- Master’s degree in Early Childhood preferred
- Experience teaching K or 1st grade in an independent school to coordinate programming with K and/or backwards design curricula in an ELC/PreK classroom and/or experience in a preschool integrated within an elementary school

Other Position Information

This is a full-time, faculty contract - a 10-month position with a salary range from $80,000-120,000 depending on background and experience. PBS has an excellent benefits program in addition to salary.

How to Apply:

Candidates for this position should submit a cover letter, resume, and contact information for three to five references (including their current supervisor.

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