Preschool / Early Education Teacher (San Francisco or Silicon Valley)

Job Description

Job Description

Company Description

La Scuola International School is the only Reggio Emilia inspired, International Baccalaureate (Early, Primary and Middle Years) and Italian Language Immersion school in the world. Teachers are researchers and are supported with robust Professional Development opportunities throughout the year. 

Learning is a part of everything that we do, not just what happens in the classroom. While our school experience is rooted in highly regarded curricula, the magic of La Scuola is more than what we teach. It is how we teach and learn, which is truly a way of living, thinking, and interacting with the world. To learn more, please visit us at  

Founded: 2002

Number of students: 465

Locations: San Francisco and Silicon Valley

La Scuola International School is an independent non-profit school accredited by NAIS, CAIS, WASC and CIS and is one of two Italian schools recognized by the Italian government in the United States.

Job Description

La Scuola International seeks experienced and passionate Preschool / Early Childhood Education teachers for the upcoming school year.

We are particularly interested in teachers with experience in the Reggio Emilia Approach and International Baccalaureate (IB) Early Years framework. Applicants should be collaborative, proactive and flexible. Solutions-oriented thinkers, strong communicators and curious learners will thrive in La Scuola’s diverse and dynamic environment. 

The teacher will support and implement the daily program in accordance with the policies and philosophy of the School under the supervision and direction of the Division Director and the Head of School. 

Role & Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Set educational and developmental goals for the children in the classroom, both as a group and individually;
• Prepare the environment (indoor and outdoor) thoughtfully every day so that it supports those objectives;
• Plan (progettazione) and carry out appropriate daily curriculum and long-term projects to further support those goals;  
• Assess and document the group dynamic, as well as individual developmental progress toward group and individual goals is required;  
• Effectively communicate with staff and parents; a weekly bulletin (Momenti) describing classroom activities is required for all classes. The weekly bulletin will also explain why the described activities are chosen and what children are learning through them.

Qualifications

Required Skills, Knowledge & Abilities

• Familiarity and ability to plan curriculum within the Reggio Emilia Approach, Language Immersion models and the International Baccalaureate (IB) Curriculum framework or inquiry/project-based learning;
• Ability to thrive in a dynamic, fast-paced environment that prioritizes reflection and fosters growth as the school continues to evolve;
• Ability to be open-minded, creative and curious learning in relationship with colleagues and students alike; 
• Excellent communication skills, verbal, written and interpersonal, and ability to present in public to both parents, colleagues and other educators;
• Strong time management skills including consistent attendance, punctuality, ability to meet deadlines and participation in school life; 
• Ability to find joy in working with all children and finds ways to differentiate learning and connect across learner profiles; 
• Dedication to being an active, enthusiastic member of the La Scuola community, contributing collaboratively within an internationally diverse team and learning environment; 
• Ability to work well within a team and in a very collegial and collaborative environment;
• Passion for the school’s mission and values in addition to the curricular focus;
• Commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging in our community.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bilingual and bi-literate in Italian and English with native or near-native Italian proficiency;
• Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education and / or Child Development Certificate, or 5+ years experience working with children required;
• 4 core classes of Early Childhood Education (ECE):
  • Introduction to the Field of Child Development (3 units) CDEV 65
  • Child Growth and Development (3 units) CDEV 53
  • Child, Family and Community (3 units) CDEV 67
  • Curriculum for Young Children (3 units) CDEV 66
• Minimum of 2 years’ experience teaching in preschool preferably in a Reggio Emilia-inspired environment. Language Immersion and  International Baccalaureate (IB) experience is a plus; or 5+ years experience working with children.

Additional Information

Start date:  Immediately

Salary Range:  Based on an annual salary of $70,000 - $80,000 commensurate with experience and credentials.  

Benefits & Compensation

Full time positions receive generous compensation and benefits package, including medical, vision and dental coverage. The school also offers an Employer-Matched Retirement Account (up to 5%), Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA), Health Savings Account (HSA), Commuter Benefits, Group Life Insurance, Long-Term Disability Insurance, Employee Assistance Program, World Travel Assistance. Benefits may be available for employees who work between 20-29 hours per week with employees being responsible for 50% of the monthly premiums.

Other benefits include Personal Time Off, Paid Federal Holidays and School Closures, daily warm lunch while on site, Employee Referral Bonuses, Outstanding Professional Development and Mentorship throughout the year, Free Employee Childcare for students enrolled at La Scuola during Professional Development Days.

Additional Information

Candidates must be authorized to work in the U.S.  Prior to beginning work and as a condition of employment in order to comply with the law, all employees must provide documentation to prove eligibility to work in the United States.

Final candidates will need to pass both Criminal Justice Department and Federal Bureau of Investigation Fingerprint Clearance and a physical exam, and provide a recent copy of a negative TB test and other immunization records.

Work Visa Sponsorship

La Scuola may be able to offer a teachers exchange visa for 3 to 5 years, for those who meet the requirements. Teachers must possess the equivalent of a Bachelor’s Degree in  Education, Pedagogy or equivalent in their country of origin, have a MINIMUM of two years of full time teaching experience in a school and be actively employed as a teacher at the time they apply. Applicants must be able to demonstrate fluency in English. 

How to Apply

Refer to the Employment Opportunities within and apply online. Please include a cover letter sharing your background and interest and your résumé (translated into English) as a first step. Applicants should be prepared to share three professional references and a teaching demonstration. 

As part of the interview process, you can expect to meet with our Human Resources team and Assistant Head of School as well as the Hiring Manager, in most cases the Division Director.