Upper School Spanish Language Acquisition Teacher in Palo Alto, California at Silicon Valley International School

Summary of the Position

Silicon Valley International School (INTL) seeks an Upper School Spanish Teacher (Grades 6-12) for the 2026-2027 school year.

Teachers at INTL develop schemes of work and lesson plans in line with IB Middle Years Programme and Diploma Programme framework and objectives. They facilitate learning by establishing a relationship with students and by their organization of learning resources and the classroom learning environment. They develop and foster the appropriate skills and social abilities to enable the optimum development of children, according to age, ability, and aptitude. They link students' knowledge to earlier learning and develop ways to encourage it further. They challenge and inspire students to help them deepen their knowledge and understanding.

The Upper School Spanish Teacher must demonstrate commitment to INTL’s mission and the population we serve, as well as be experienced with teaching at the Upper School level. They must also be responsible, self-motivated, friendly, willing to work with a team of colleagues, and be accepting and adaptable to a working environment with different cultures.

The position involves teaching through inquiry according to the MYP framework and relevant DP Curriculum Guides, while also ensuring necessary skill acquisition and collaborating extensively. Time for collaboration with the other teachers is built into the schedule. INTL seeks teachers who know how to combine academic rigor with student engagement and have experience with inquiry-based teaching and learning.

Who are we?

Our Mission

Silicon Valley International School’s focus on inquiry and bilingualism empowers young minds to embrace complexity, think critically from multiple perspectives, and demonstrate integrity and sensitivity across cultures.

Our Guiding Principles

​​1. We emphasize inquiry-based learning to foster intellectual curiosity and encourage depth of knowledge and thought.

2. We focus on academic depth and rigor, instilling confidence to tackle the challenges of an increasingly complex world.

3. We celebrate diversity on a daily basis through our bilingual immersion programs and our commitment to the IB learner profile.

4. We are honest, respectful, inclusive, and we take responsibility for our actions and their consequences.

5. We pursue service and impact whenever and wherever we are.

Our C.O.R.E. Values

Community: We respect, support, and collaborate to achieve results greater than we could ever reach individually.

Openness: We appreciate different cultures and perspectives by communicating honestly and without bias.

Resilience: We accept challenges, commit to overcoming them, and learn from our mistakes.

Empathy: We strive to understand each other and to treat everyone with care and kindness.

Qualifications

• High level of Spanish proficiency required
• Bachelors degree and minimum 2 years teaching experience required; masters degree and minimum 5 years teaching experience preferred
• Authorization to work in the United States or ability to meet requirements for sponsored J-1 teacher exchange visa
• Proficiency in English to teach, communicate with parents and colleagues, understand curriculum, and write report cards
• Experience with the best practices in Spanish language acquisition for upper school

Compensation and benefits

Our compensation is based on education and years of experience. The salary range for this full time teaching position for the 2026-2027 school year is $83,403 (BA Step 3) to $126,672 (PhD Step 23).

We offer an excellent and comprehensive benefits package, including:

• Employer-paid medical, dental, and vision insurance for the employee only
• Employer paid short-term & long-term disability, life insurance, employee assistance program
• 10 days paid sick leave
• 2 days paid time off
• 7 days paid holidays during the school year
• Summer break and 5 weeks of school breaks during the school year
• Professional development tailored to teacher needs/interests and aligned with the school mission
• 403(b) retirement plan with a generous employer match after 2 years of service

The above compensation and benefits are applicable to full-time employees.

We’d love to hear from you!

If this sounds like the job for you, please submit your resume and cover letter. Please note that priority will be given to applicants with a letter of interest.

Silicon Valley International School is committed to a policy of equal employment opportunity for all applicants and makes employment decisions based on merit. INTL prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, ancestry, national origin, ethnicity, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, genetic characteristic or information, marital status, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. INTL will afford equal employment opportunities to all qualified applicants and employees as to all terms and conditions of employment, including, without limitation, hiring, training, promotion, compensation, transfer, discipline, and termination.