Elementary Lead Teacher (4th-5th Grade) for 2026-27 School Year

Elementary Lead Teacher (4th + 5th grade)

2026-2027 School Year

The San Francisco Schoolhouse is conducting a search for a highly motivated, enthusiastic, and collaborative lead teacher to join our growing school community. We are searching for a teacher with experience in teaching fourth and/or fifth grade.

Do you have the leadership skills to work with students who love to learn, and who have a high sense of social responsibility?

The Schoolhouse is a growing, independent, K-8 school located near Hayes Valley, San Francisco. The School’s intentionally small size, experienced and passionate teachers, experiential curriculum, and active parent participation model provide a unique opportunity for families seeking a community-minded progressive education that challenges and supports their child. Founded in 2011 by a small and dedicated group of teachers and parents and two students, the Schoolhouse now enrolls over 100 students.

Lead teachers at the Schoolhouse teach mixed-grade classes. Currently the school is configured with a combined Kindergarten/1st grade class, 2nd/3rd grade class, 4th/5th grade class, and classes with a combination of 6th-8th grade students.

Why we value progressive education

We believe children are naturally curious, creative and highly divergent in their thinking. The goal of SF Schoolhouse’s approach is to engage students in actively influencing the content and direction of the curriculum. This student-centered pedagogy supports a dynamic and engaging process of education and provides professionals with a unique opportunity to utilize knowledge and understanding of the learners as a basis for program design and implementation.

Progressive education allows students and teachers to dig deep into experiences and open-ended materials from many perspectives, and cultivates both their critical thinking skills and their abilities to learn, relate, and understand. Our goal is to provide a dynamic education that supports and develops a child’s natural love of learning, creativity and problem-solving through an authentic, relevant, hands-on curriculum that meets the needs of each child.

At Schoolhouse, we view teachers as lead learners alongside a group of children. A successful Schoolhouse teacher views themselves not as givers of knowledge but as learners with more experience who have insights to share. We have found that adults who are adept at serving as lead learners, demonstrating skills of observation and inquiry, and who love to collaborate, facilitate, guide, coach and mentor children as they learn and play, are best suited for teaching at the Schoolhouse.

Our lead teachers are responsible for:

• Teaching in a multi-age classroom.
• Team teaching with other lead teachers.
• Co-constructing academic and social-emotional learning (SEL) goals with each student, and supporting students as they show progress toward meeting these goals.
• Adapting teaching methods, projects and instructional materials to meet students' varying needs and interests.
• Regularly using the amazing resources of our neighborhood and city to create educational experiences that are relevant and real.
• Create curriculum and collaborate with other teachers, Directors and Head of School for interdisciplinary project based learning units.
• Incorporating the school’s commitment to SEL along with diversity, equity, inclusion (DEI) and social justice into all facets of learning and teaching.
• Communicating with parents through a variety of means including weekly emails or written narrative reports, meetings to discuss a student’s individual progress, and by hosting regular student-led celebrations of learning.
• Participating in daily teacher team meetings, weekly faculty meetings, and occasional evening meetings and presentations.

Our lead teachers:

• Are lifelong learners who are passionate and articulate about progressive education.
• Model strong team teaching and collaboration skills with colleagues.
• Are open to change and eager to take initiative to try new things; they are adaptable, creative and flexible.
• Have a sense of humor and warmth, and love working with children and their families, connecting easily with students, teachers and parents.
• Have the work ethic to actively participate in helping to build a new school.
• Bring a clear understanding of child development and elementary education.
• Create (with support) and curate differentiated curriculum.
• Have previous teaching experience in a multi-age elementary classroom.
• Are interested in using creative and inquiry based projects and dynamic skills based activities to teach students how to read, write, and develop mathematical skills, through creative and inquiry-based projects and dynamic skills based activities.
• Have a Bachelor’s degree; a teaching credential and/or master’s degree is preferred.

To apply, email a cover letter, resume, and the names and contact information for 3 references to hr@sfschoolhouse.org. Be sure to mention any specific training in math, science, or any other subject in your cover letter. Salary for this position ranges from $70,000-$93,000.

The San Francisco Schoolhouse is an equal opportunity employer. We welcome applications from all qualified individuals regardless of age, race, religious creed, color, national origin, ancestry, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, sex, pregnancy, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, transgender status, military or veteran status, or any other status protected by federal, state, or local laws.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $70,000.00 - $93,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Work Location: In person