The Saklan School is seeking a Middle School Humanities teacher. This teacher will teach Humanities, a combination of Language Arts and History, to students in grades 6-8. The ideal candidate will be an engaging, thoughtful, and student-centered educator who can help middle school students grow as readers, writers, thinkers, researchers, and community members.

Candidates should have experience with or a strong interest in project-based learning, integrated curriculum, and progressive education. We are seeking someone reliable, adaptable, collaborative, and able to build strong relationships with middle school students.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Teach Middle School Humanities, integrating Language Arts, History, research, writing, discussion, and project-based learning.
• Design meaningful learning experiences that help students think critically, write clearly, read deeply, and make connections between history, literature, current events, and their own lives.
• Develop and implement both long-range and short-range plans for the Middle School Humanities program.
• Create an engaging classroom environment where students feel known, supported, challenged, and willing to take academic risks.
• Use a variety of instructional approaches to meet the needs of different learners, including direct instruction, discussion, collaboration, independent work, projects, and fieldwork.
• Support students in developing strong writing skills across genres, including analytical, creative, reflective, and research-based writing.
• Help students develop the skills of historical thinking, including asking meaningful questions, analyzing sources, understanding multiple perspectives, and making evidence-based arguments.
• Build project-based learning experiences that culminate in authentic products, presentations, or demonstrations of student understanding.
• Provide clear learning goals, expectations, and feedback that are understood by students, parents, and administrators.
• Develop and use assessments that provide a consistent basis for evaluating and communicating student progress.
• Serve as a Middle School Advisor, supporting the social, emotional, and academic growth of a small group of students.
• Collaborate with Middle School colleagues to support students, strengthen curriculum, and build a positive middle school culture.
• Coordinate with the Dean and Student Support Team to provide academic and social-emotional support for students.
• Communicate with families in a timely, thoughtful, and professional manner.
• Contribute to the life of the school beyond the classroom, including fieldwork, assemblies, student exhibitions, and other community events.
• Be available to take students on field experiences (some overnight) and, when needed, drive the school van for these experiences

The aforementioned essential duties and responsibilities indicate the general nature and level of work expected. It is not a comprehensive inventory of all duties and responsibilities.

The successful candidate will have the following characteristics and skill set:

• At least two years of exemplary classroom teaching experience
• A bachelor’s degree is required; an advanced degree is preferred
• A valid teaching credential or relevant teaching qualification is preferred
• Experience teaching Language Arts, History, Humanities, or an integrated middle school curriculum
• Understanding of project-based learning
• A visible love and respect for children
• Strong understanding of middle school students and their academic, social, and emotional development
• Experience designing and teaching an integrated curriculum
• Experience adapting curriculum to different learning styles
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Strong organizational, time management, and follow-through skills
• A creative, compassionate, and courageous thinker and doer
• A team player with colleagues and parents
• A good listener and communicator
• A good sense of humor
• Comfort with the use of technology
• A high degree of diplomacy, confidentiality, and professionalism
• A desire for lifelong learning through ongoing professional development
• A strong desire to teach and learn from middle school students

About The Saklan School

The Saklan School, founded in 1954, offers an outstanding coeducational Preschool-8 program to over 130 students. The school community embraces the ethnic, cultural and socioeconomic diversity of the Lamorinda area and well beyond. The school's educational program is driven by its mission of Thinking Creatively, Acting Compassionately Living Courageously and fosters all of the skills of 21st Century pedagogy. Our small class size and project-based learning approach cultivates confidence, self-esteem and leadership skills. The Saklan School places much emphasis on the arts, a strong sense of community, responsibility, personal growth and balance. The Saklan School is located in Moraga, California, with easy access to many points in the East Bay area.

Connections working at The Saklan School