Substitute Teacher (On-Call)

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 school 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 18 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 300 children and their families through a birth to three program, parent wellness program, full-day preschool, and elementary 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 6th grade for our 2023-2024 school year. In our school program, we currently serve over 350 students across two preschool grades (3 and 4 year olds) and kindergarten through fifth 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 birth to 3 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 substitute Teacher is a part-time position and it reports to the Principal. This position is responsible for supporting classrooms across Kindergarten-7th grade. They work with the support of the grade level Deans and in partnership with grade level teachers to support classrooms when a teacher is absent. The Substitute Teacher will teach multiple grade levels throughout the year, so they will need to be skilled at working with different age levels and building relationships quickly. While this person will not be responsible for instructional planning, they will be responsible for the execution of plans. Should there not be a need for a substitute, the Substitute Teacher will float between classrooms that need extra support and care. This person will need a strong academic and social-emotional background to be able to adapt to various environments. 

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Instructional delivery in large group, small group, and individualized formats
• Ongoing collaboration with the multiple grade levels to sustain enriching, positive, joyful classroom climates and rigorous academic content
• Collaboration with other teachers to practice skills and jointly problem solve
• Participation in reflection and coaching, both 1:1 with the School Leader and in group context with colleagues
• Full participation in Professional Development with all teaching staff

The critical features of this role are described above but are not all encompassing; as our school grows and evolves your responsibilities may shift accordingly.

QUALIFICATIONS

• You have at least three  years of teaching experience 
• You have substantial experience serving a community similar to East Palo Alto
• You have an Associate’s degree or are in pursuit of a college degree
• You are adaptable and able to think on your feet
• Your work demonstrates a practice of creating transformative classroom culture for all kids. You are committed to social justice and take proactive steps to build an equitable classroom practice
• You have a deep commitment to all students