Middle School Project Teacher at Presidio Knolls School Inc – San Francisco, California

About the Role:

A PKS Middle School Project Teacher will partner with the Head of the Middle School to design and implement an engaging, interdisciplinary, project-based curriculum. The ideal candidates will be bilingual and bicultural; will have a passion for and experience with middle school children; will prioritize progressive educational aims and interdisciplinary instruction; will understand how to design a program with rigor and flexibility; and, most of all, they will be excited to help co-author a new chapter in the life of an incredible school. This role offers significant opportunity for professional growth, curriculum leadership, and contribution to school-wide strategic initiatives. This is a full-time, exempt position that reports to the Head of Middle School.

Responsibilities:

• Co-author, coordinate, and implement a well-organized and focused curriculum.
• Design assessments that make learning visible; document student growth.
• Teach assigned middle school classes.
• Create a warm, caring, joyful learning community.
• Create a classroom space that is differentiated, engaging, responsive, and beautiful.
• Participate in reflection and coaching activities.
• Coordinate and travel with students on an immersive 10–14 day experiential learning trip annually.
• Maintain open communication with parents.
• Must be able to start work in San Francisco around August 1, 2026.
• Advise a group of 8-12 middle school students and work with them in a daily advisory block (focused on social emotional health and good decision making).

Required Qualifications:

• BA required, Master’s degree preferred.
• Bilingual and bi-literate in Mandarin Chinese and English with native Mandarin Chinese proficiency. Experience teaching Chinese language and literacy.
• Demonstrated success inspiring middle school children.
• Background in curriculum design, ideally including a project-based approach.
• Contagious enthusiasm and charisma; the ability to engage and inspire students, parents and colleagues.
• Experience helping children construct interdisciplinary knowledge.
• 2+ years experience teaching in an independent school setting helpful.

We encourage you to apply if you:

• Have a commitment to professional development and a growth mindset about learning for all. We believe that everyone can improve and should continually work toward excellence.
• Enjoy contributing to student and community life inside and outside the classroom. PKS is a community and our close relationships build a solid foundation for our kids.
• Work towards social justice and support multicultural education. As a progressive school, we are growing engaged global citizens equipped with empathy, compassion and practices that position them to thrive in a diverse society.
• Possess an ability to integrate theory with practice in designing and implementing appropriate learning strategies for each student.
• Love collaboration, iteration, and innovation.
• Are ready to roll up your sleeves and join a team that has a deep commitment to student growth and a collaborative, solution-oriented mindset.

If you are excited by the opportunity to shape a dynamic middle school experience within a joyful, mission-driven community, we would love to hear from you.

PKS offers equal opportunity to all, and considers all qualified applicants for employment PKS does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, identity, national origin, ancestry, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression, ability or any other characteristic protected by law. We strongly encourage those with a demonstrated commitment to culturally responsive teaching and the advancement of equity in bilingual and multicultural education to apply.

Salary & Benefits PKS offers a competitive compensation package. The full-time salary range for faculty is $76,140 - $135,901 per year. Our teachers' base salaries are set according to years of experience and degrees earned. PKS offers a strong benefits package for all full-time employees.

To apply, please submit your cover letter, resume and Statement of Philosophy and Beliefs, as one pdf attachement.

Offers of employment are contingent upon clear LiveScan fingerprinting and TB risk assessment. Other requirements include completing first aid/CPR training, mandated reporter training, anti-harassment training, and Workplace Violence Prevention training. Access to all mandatory training is provided and paid for by the school.

About Presidio Knolls School:

Presidio Knolls School (PKS) was founded on a bold premise: that progressive, student-centered education and rigorous Mandarin immersion are not competing priorities—but powerful complements. For nearly two decades, PKS has demonstrated that children can experience deep joy in learning while achieving exceptional academic and linguistic fluency.

Our progressive philosophy positions students as co-constructors of knowledge. Classrooms are active laboratories of inquiry where students engage in hands-on, interdisciplinary projects that connect academic disciplines to real-world questions. Learning frequently extends beyond the classroom walls, to our campus, our city, and the world. Our students complete three projects each year on our state-of-the-art campus. Middle school students also participate in a field study experience each year. conducting research and applying learning in Hawaii, Taiwan and China. We prepare our students for competitive high school admission and have high expectations for them. While we maintain high academic standards and prepare students for competitive high school admissions, we do not grade or rank students. Instead, we emphasize narrative feedback, authentic assessment, and demonstrations of mastery to foster intrinsic motivation and deeper learning.

PKS offers equal opportunity to all, and considers all qualified applicants for employment PKS does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, identity, national origin, ancestry, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression, ability or any other characteristic protected by law. We strongly encourage those with a demonstrated dedication to social justice, collaboration, innovation and student-centered education to apply.

SB848 Disclosure: As required by California law (SB 848 and related Education Code sections), applicants are required to provide a complete list of prior educational employers as part of the application process. By applying for this position, you consent to the school contacting all prior educational employers listed on your application to inquire about any credible complaints, substantiated misconduct investigations, or disciplinary actions, as required by California law.