Lead Preschool Teacher 2024-2025

ABOUT US

The Primary School is creating a new school model that brings together all of the adults in a child’s life, including parents, educators, and medical and mental health providers, starting from a very early age. We recognize the entrenched racism that exists within our public systems and the unjust impact this has had on families of color. Our aim is that children and families most impacted by systemic poverty and racism receive the multidisciplinary support they deserve to be well, learn, and thrive. 

Long-term, we hope to create a game-changing model that can be replicated across the country. As we continue to learn and grow, we plan to share what we’ve learned and pursue policy and systems change on a local, state, and national level. We are supported by a growing coalition of philanthropic partners, building on the generous support of the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative.

Our approach has three defining characteristics:

• We start early. We start working with children as young as 12 months and provide full-time school starting at age three to reach them at a critical stage in development. 
• We partner with parents. We believe that when parents thrive, children thrive, so we support the wellness and growth of parents alongside the growth of their children.
• We integrate services. Our unique model unites health care and education, building a multi-disciplinary team and holistic system of care around a child’s full needs.

In 2016, we opened our flagship school in East Palo Alto, California, with our first class of four year olds. We have grown to serve over 400 children and their families through our Early Family Foundations program, parent wellness program, full-day preschool, and elementary/middle school, which will grow through eighth grade. In 2021, we opened our second site in the East Bay.

ABOUT OUR EAST PALO ALTO SITE

We are continuing to grow our East Palo Alto site and are excited to launch 7th grade for our 2024-2025 school year. In our school program, we currently serve over 400 students across two preschool grades (3 and 4 year olds) and kindergarten through sixth grade. Integrated into our program are the other core components of our model including our parent program - partnering closely with parents throughout their child’s development and providing wellness programming for caregivers; our Early Family Foundations program - coordinating early developmental screenings and intervention services; and our medical home partnerships - working with existing health care providers in the community to coordinate care for children.

ABOUT THE ROLE

The Lead Teacher reports to the Principal and is responsible not only for leading their own instruction, but also supporting junior teachers on their team in developing and executing comprehensive, integrated units across all parts of a student’s day. Lead Teachers are tone setters for the school and are responsible for high quality instruction, culture building within and across classrooms, and strengthening home-school connections through deep engagement with families. Lead Teachers also serve as our models for how to deeply integrate academics, socio-emotional learning, and health into our classrooms on a daily basis.

This role reports to the Principal  and will be a part of the East Palo Alto site team. This position follows an instructional calendar.

RESPONSIBILITIES

The Lead Teacher will be responsible for:

• Annual, weekly, and daily instructional planning tailored to the needs of each child
• Instructional delivery in large group, small group, and individualized formats
• Regular assessment and analysis of quantitative and qualitative student data with the goal of tailoring responsive instruction and support
• Ongoing, informal support and coaching of the Associate Teacher and Assistant Teacher that make up your Grade Level Team
• Collaboration with other teachers to practice skills and jointly problem solve
• Regular meetings with and outreach to families, including daily documentation and notes
• Proactive collaboration and frequent engagement with The Primary School Parent Coaches and staff, and external health practitioners and partners
• Participation in reflection and coaching, both 1:1 with your Instructional Coach and in group context with colleagues
• Active participation in the ongoing design and implementation of the TPS model through research, curriculum development, engagement with school and organizational leadership, and focused professional development
• Coordinate family engagement activities to encourage family participation in school related events 

The critical features of this role are described above b