Preschool & Auxiliary Assistant Teacher

Preschool & Auxiliary Assistant Teacher

About Presidio Knolls School
Founded in 2008, Presidio Knolls School (PKS) is a relatively new addition to the Bay Area’s independent school community—one that has grown rapidly since it opened in 2008. The mission of Presidio Knolls School is unique in its blending of progressive education and Mandarin immersion—a curricular combination that has caught on with families across the Bay Area. 
 
The progressive philosophy of Presidio Knolls School embraces kids as co-collaborators in their education-helping children to shape their own learning journey toward topics of greatest interest. The school has a commitment to social-emotional learning that pervades the culture of the school.
 
The PKS curriculum is Reggio Emilia- inspired in preschool; project-based and interdisciplinary; elementary Units of Exploration integrate math, science, social studies, art, drama, and movement around overarching topics of inquiry in English and Chinese, contextualizing all learning through a real-world lens. Critical to this approach is hands-on, experiential instruction. As such, learning often takes place outside of the classroom.
 
PKS offers equal opportunity to all, and considers all qualified applicants for employment PKS does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, identity, national origin, ancestry, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression, ability or any other characteristic protected by law. We strongly encourage those with a demonstrated dedication to social justice, collaboration, innovation and student-centered education to apply.

Job Description
The Preschool & Auxiliary Teaching Assistant works closely with assigned homeroom teachers to support the class, provide supervisory assistance of children and provide continuity of care from the day program to after school program. 

This is a full-time, non-exempt position working 40 hours Monday to Friday typically from 9am – 6pm and reports to the Head of Preschool (during day program hours) and the Director of Auxiliary Programs (during after school hours). 

Responsibilities

• Work with the teaching team to create and implement daily learning activities which encourage questioning, problem solving, language, creativity, and concept forming in young children.
• Interact with children using positive, supportive, respectful, and open-minded attitude, language, and tone.
• Support the homeroom teachers to create and deliver a rich, thoughtful, and effective Mandarin immersion curriculum for all the students in the class. 
• Perform active supervision, safety routines and procedures in accordance with licensing requirements.
• Always maintain active visual and auditory supervision of children to ensure their safety in the classroom, on the playground, and on field trips.
• Supervise, teach,  and engage with groups of students during arrival, instruction, meal times, nap/rest times, dismissal, and extended care. 
• Actively ensure that the classroom and outdoor environment is kept safe, clean, organized, free of clutter, and materials are rotated to reflect and support the children’s developmental needs, abilities, and interests.
• Encourage children to develop friendships and conflict resolution through play, language, games, and activities.
• Support children to build critical and creative thinking skills through inquiry, observation, and experimentation. 
• Support children’s social and emotional growth through modeling, problem solving, and proactive strategies. 
• Support classroom operations, including attendance, record keeping, documentation, environment setup, and snack preparation.
• Collaborate with colleagues and maintain professional, respectful communication with staff and families.

• Participate in team meetings, reflection and coaching activities, be open to grow from reflection, observations, and feedback.
• Support teaching team to prepare and host various classroom events and activities, including parent visits, Curriculum Night, Learning Celebration, end of year celebration, etc.
• Performs other duties as directed by the Head of Preschool, Director of Auxiliary, Homeroom teachers.

Skills & Qualifications
To succeed in this role, you must be compassionate, respectful, positive, and willing to work hard and have a flexible schedule. Successful candidates should also possess the ability to interact with children in a joyful, positive and productive manner.

• Joy in working with children and assisting their progress.
• Bachelor’s degree in education or a related filed, or in the process of obtaining preferred
• Minimum of 12 ECE units required, and/or Child Development Teacher permit.
• At least 6 months teaching experience is desirable.
• Fluency in both Mandarin and English.
• Contagious enthusiasm and charisma, the ability to engage and inspire students, parents, and colleagues.
• Knowledge of Progressive Education and/or Reggio Emilia approach preferred.
• Strong knowledge of child development and a passion to grow in the field.
• A commitment to reflective practice, and an openness and dedication to continual professional development.
• Contagious enthusiasm and charisma; the ability to engage and inspire students, parents, and colleagues.
• Desire to learn, collaborate, and grow both on a team and individually.
• Creativity, excellent multitasking skills, and ability to thrive in an entrepreneurial start-up environment.
• Verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills.

Salary & Benefits: PKS offers a competitive compensation package. The full-time hourly rate for Preschool Teacher Assistants is $26.00-$42.00 per hour. Our faculty base salaries are set according to
years of experience and qualifications earned. PKS offers a strong benefits package for all full-time
employees.

Start your Application here : Preschool & Auxiliary Assistant Teacher

SB848 Disclosure: As required by California law (SB 848 and related Education Code
sections), applicants are required to provide a complete list of prior educational employers as
part of the application process. By applying for this position, you consent to the school
contacting all prior educational employers listed on your application to inquire about any credible complaints, substantiated misconduct investigations, or disciplinary actions, as required by California law.
 
Offers of employment are contingent upon clear LiveScan fingerprinting and TB risk
assessment. Other requirements include completing first aid/CPR training, mandated reporter
training, anti-harassment training, and Workplace Violence Prevention training. Access to all
mandatory training is provided and paid for by the school.

 

Work Life at PKS

Presidio Knolls School is committed to fostering a workplace where talented educators and professionals thrive. We prioritize competitive compensation, robust benefits, and a supportive culture that values innovation, reflection, and collaboration. Our 2025-2026 benefits package includes:
Signature PKS Advantages
● Monthly commuter benefits up to $325/month, PKS subsidizes $60
● A unique bicultural learning environment that promotes personal growth, intentional practice, and collective purpose
Financial Well-Being
● 5% Employer match contribute to your 403(b)-retirement plan
● Salaries aligned with Bay Area market rates, with annual cost-of-living adjustments
● Tuition remission offered for full-time employees who have child(ren) enrolled at PKS, to 75% discount on tuition for one enrolled child, subject to admissions process and eligibility.
Comprehensive Health Coverage
● 100% employer paid medical, dental, vision, short and long-term disability, and life insurance for employees
● Affordable options for spouse family coverage
● Pre-tax Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) for healthcare and dependent care
● Wellness benefits and EAP
● Mental health benefits via Springhealth
Paid Time Off & Holidays
● Paid holidays in accordance with the school calendar
● Non-exempt admin / support employee accrued 120 hours / year
● Accrual of 10 sick days annually
 
School Culture & Appreciation
● Regular staff appreciation lunches
● Monthly Birthday celebration
● Complimentary tickets to our annual Gala
● Celebration lunch as part of our Lunar New Year Festival
● Happy hour events: past events have been Ping Pong,  Bowling,  Karaoke, SF Giants game, Mahjong, Holiday Party, End of School Year Celebration