Interim Middle School Science Teacher

Peninsula School, a leader in progressive education since 1925, is a Preschool-8th grade school where children thrive and develop to their full promise as confident contributors in the world. At Peninsula, children learn about themselves and others, discover their passions, and grow intellectually in an inclusive community rich with choices, exploration, and play. In addition to intellectual development, social and emotional learning. Peninsula School has an explicit focus on educating for democracy, student choice and voice, and social justice. Peninsula School is celebrating its centennial in 2025.

The purpose of the Science program at Peninsula School is to nurture student interest in the sciences in a progressive, independent school environment. The Middle School Science Teacher is part of the Specialist team. Specialist teachers work as part of the whole school team, sequencing and coordinating curriculum and collaborating to serve our children. Specialist teachers are provided flexibility in their classrooms to enable them to best serve the needs and interests of their students in alignment with their content specialty while remaining true to the mission, values, and progressive pedagogy of Peninsula School.  The Middle School Science Teacher also collaborates extensively with Head teachers and the Director of Instruction & Belonging to realize a cross-disciplinary program. 

Job Title:  Interim Middle School Science Teacher, 0.75 FTE

Hourly Range: $40-$50/hour, based on experience

• Inspiring Community: Immerse yourself in a supportive, inclusive community dedicated to learning and engaged citizenship.
• Room for Growth: Grow both personally and professionally in an environment that values diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging and supports professional development experiences for our staff members.

The Interim Middle School Science Teacher position maintains two areas of school program: 1. Weekly scheduled science classes in the Middle School classrooms (5th-8th grade); 2. Daily afternoon Middle School science Activities time (student elective)

Essential functions  and responsibilities:

• Support and promote Peninsula School’s mission and values by providing a progressive science program for 5th through 8th grade children using innovative instructional methods and materials that foster a positive learning experience and measurable student growth. 
• Maintain a cooperative classroom environment that encourages authentic application of learning, problem solving, creativity, critical thinking, and intellectual curiosity.
• Teach Middle School Science (5th-8th Grade)
• Class instruction - Develop, plan, and teach developmentally appropriate science units that integrate STEAM initiatives and project-based learning at each level in Middle School
• Collaborate with peers (heads and ATs) to create a transdisciplinary science program that is connected across subject areas. 
• Science Activities - Daily student choice-based schedule block
• Curate and design activities that are inquiry-based that integrate STEAM and provide students with expanded opportunities for STEAM exploration through lab work, makerspace challenges, or campus exploration. 
• Create and maintain a welcoming, safe, equitable, and respectful learning environment that honors and values the learning and cultural diversity of the student population
• Maintain an organized, clean, safe, positive classroom space free of clutter. 
• Monitor student learning and collaborate with peers and families on student growth and development. 
• Maintain open lines of communication with parents/caregivers and clearly communicate student learning to students, parents, and colleagues. 
• Collaborate and communicate constructively with other teaching staff, the  Director of Instruction & Belonging, Learning specialists, and all staff members. 
• Integrate anti-racist principles and practices into teaching and learning
• Recognize and address the unique needs and varied learning styles of all children, ensuring each child’s progress in all areas. 

Competencies: To perform the job successfully at Peninsula School, an individual should demonstrate the following competencies: 

• Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging - A demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion and an ability to work with and support a diverse population of students and families. An ability to remain sensitive to the experiences of students, parents, and staff in all situations and integrate feedback into practice. 
• Growth Mindset – Recognizes the importance of learning, adopting, and modeling a growth mindset. Stays abreast of best practices in schools and in supporting positive child and youth development, enthusiastically seeks out professional growth opportunities.
• Relational Skills – Ability to relate well to a wide range of people, including building rapport with students, parents, faculty, staff, and administrators. Willingness to work to understand the culture of the school. Knowledge of each child’s challenges and strengths. Skill with conflict resolution, consensus building, and decision-making. 
• Emotional Intelligence, Regulation, and Maturity – Ability to interact with individuals in heightened emotional states and navigate complex and emotionally challenging situations involving children and adults. A high degree of emotional stability, the ability to separate one’s own emotions from a situation, and the ability to maintain perspective in the midst of emotional situations are essential.  A willingness to center children.
• Communications Skills – Ability to communicate effectively with a wide range of constituents. Maintains open communication channels with teaching staff, parents, and administrators. Present information formally and informally effectively, both through oral presentations or conversation and through written means. Has a strong understanding of the power of word choice and the need for a high level of tact and professional, accurate communication. 
• Time Management Skills – Ability to manage many tasks and projects simultaneously and to prioritize them appropriately.
• Organizational Skills – Ability to balance many tasks and processes, including keeping track of progress on longer-term projects or goals, managing details accurately, and following through in a timely fashion. 
• Problem Solving Skills – Ability to consider a broad range of internal and external factors when solving problems. Grasps complexities and perceives relationships among different problems or issues. Uses various solution-focused problem-solving strategies appropriate to the situation, including enlisting and seeking advice from others when appropriate. 
• Strategic Thinking Skills – Ability to work with others to gather, synthesize, and analyze quantitative and qualitative information and to develop plans for meeting short and long-range goals that support student learning and growth and advance the broader strategic direction of the school. 
• Child-Centered:  ability to center children, the Mission Statement, and the values of the school. 

Qualifications and Requirements: 

• B.A. required
• Experience teaching science in 5th-8th grades
• Passionate about working with children
• An understanding of child development
• Adept at facilitating group dynamics among mixed ages
• Ability to work with a diverse population
• Embracing progressive education ideals and pedagogy
• Display initiative, internal motivation, growth mindset, flexibility, curiosity, and a commitment to whole-child learning and growth
• Initial and continued criminal background clearance by DOJ and FBI
• Current First Aid/CPR (to be renewed every two years)
• Initial and continued tuberculosis clearance (to be renewed every 4 years)
• Mandated Reporter training per the State of CA and Department of Education

Physical Demands: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of the job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. 

The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, the ability to adjust focus, and good hearing. The ability to speak clearly and coherently is required. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit; use hands, talk, and hear. The employee is frequently required to reach with hands and arms. On occasion, the employee is required to stand, walk, stoop, kneel, or crouch. Employee is required to operate a computer and office productivity machinery, communicate across a variety of media, and work in close proximity to others. The role may also require the employee to work in inclement weather during special activities and work at a desk for extended periods of time. 

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to listen, physically direct, and speak. The employee is required to sit (sometimes for extended periods); stand; walk on a variety of surfaces; climb stairs, bend, and squat when communicating with younger students; use hands to finger, handle, or feel, and reach with hands and arms. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, and the ability to adjust focus. The noise and activity level in the work environment is variable, with times of quiet and times of high stimulation and activity. 

TO APPLY

Please fill out an employment application (also found on the Join Our Team page of our website https://www.peninsulaschool.org/about-us/join-our-team) and send it with a resume and cover letter to HR@peninsulaschool.org.

Peninsula School actively promotes the principles and practices of diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging throughout the school community. We are an equal-opportunity employer and encourage people from under-represented groups to apply.

About Peninsula School

At Peninsula School, a leader in progressive education since 1925, nursery-8th grade children thrive and develop to their full promise as confident contributors in the world, learn about themselves and others, discover their passions, and grow intellectually in an inclusive community rich with choices, exploration, and play. In addition to intellectual development and social and emotional learning (SEL), Peninsula School has an explicit focus on educating for democracy, student choice and voice, and social justice.

Connections working at Peninsula School