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Posted: 02-Apr-25
Location: Menlo Park, California
Type: Full Time
Salary: 100,000 - 117,000
Required Education:
The Synapse School in Menlo Park, CA, an innovative TK-8 independent school located in the heart of Silicon Valley, dedicated to rethinking and reimagining education, seeks a MIDDLE SCHOOL MANDARIN TEACHER.
Synapse educates a community of change makers by combining social-emotional learning, leading-edge academics, and the practice of innovation. We have an unwavering belief in the capacity of children, and our teachers work alongside our students to unlock their powers of curiosity, discovery, and creativity. Synapse’s program provides a deep and unique range of integrated academic, social, and creative experiences to help children use their hearts and hands to unleash their passion for learning. Synapse draws students from around the San Francisco Bay Area.
POSITION DESCRIPTION
Synapse School has a full time opening for a Middle School Mandarin teacher for the 25-26 school year. The ideal candidate will be a creative and enthusiastic teacher who has a strong commitment to meeting the learning needs of each student, a teaching style that supports differentiation of instruction, a collaborative spirit, an interest in building community and be able to make foreign language acquisition a lasting learning adventure for our Middle School students in grades 5-8. The candidate will develop and iterate on existing, differentiated curriculum, provide direct instruction, and support the assessment process. Additional responsibilities include active involvement in student advisory, collaborative teacher meetings, and supervisory duties.
We are looking for a middle school teacher who loves middle schoolers, is highly collaborative, loves innovation and design, has a growth mindset, always puts the child first, understands constructivism, is committed to SEL, and wants to be part of an exciting team of forward-thinking educators looking to do big things.
RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING
- Teach project-based, mixed-aged and mixed-ability middle school Mandarin classes
- Collaborate with teachers and specialists to develop and document integrated theme-based and project-based curriculum
- Integrate appropriate technology to enhance learning
- Collaborate effectively with students, teachers, and parents
- Model flexibility in implementing best learning practices
- Provide timely and thoughtful feedback to students and parents in the forms of assessments, written narrative feedback, student-parent-teacher conferences, and meetings/conferences with parents
- Serve as a Middle School Advisor
- Hold individual parent-teacher conferences and join other teachers for conferences as needed
- Lead a middle school advisory and be a middle school advisor, including mentoring middle school-aged students to support their personal and social-emotional growth
- Mentor an associate teacher
- Chaperone field trips, overnight trips, expeditions
- Attend faculty, division, and other meetings as needed
AN IDEAL CANDIDATE WOULD POSSESS THE FOLLOWING QUALIFICATIONS
- Minimum of three years of classroom experience teaching Mandarin, preferably in Middle School
- Excellent verbal and written skills and ability to communicate with students, parents, and colleagues
- A bachelor’s degree in education, modern language, or a related field is required.
- An advanced degree is preferred, though not required.
- Experience designing and implementing project-based, problem-based curriculum, as well as explicit skill development
- Desire to be innovative and creative in curriculum design and pedagogy
- Creativity, flexibility, a sense of humor, and a love of learning
- A passion to work cooperatively with colleagues on a consistent basis and actively cultivate an inclusive environment and support a school community grounded in empathy, social responsibility, and an appreciation and respect for individual differences
- Experience integrating technology effectively into student learning
- Demonstrate kindness, enthusiasm, a sense of humor, investment in continued learning and professional growth, and a passion for supporting children as they grow and learn
- Effective classroom management skills
- Experience mentoring middle school-aged students to support their personal and social-emotional growth
- Success in significantly growing students’ capacity to communicate in a variety of forms, lead among them writing
SALARY RANGE AND BENEFITS
$100,000 - 117,000
Synapse offers a generous benefits package including health, dental, and retirement, as well as additional lifestyle perks.
APPLICATION PROCESS
Applicants should email a cover letter of interest, three names of references with contact information and a résumé to Stephanie Seto, Head of Middle School, stephanie.seto@synapseschool.org. This position is open until filled.
Synapse School does not discriminate in employment opportunities or practices on the basis of race, color, religion, sex or sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability and familial affiliation or any other characteristic protected by law. All applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States.