English Language Literacy Specialist

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, Silicon Valley & Milano

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

Position Overview

La Scuola seeks an English Language Literacy Specialist to support our elementary effective immediately. The individual will be an integral part of our Teaching and Student Support teams and will be responsible for developing the English Language curriculum for students in Kindergarten through Grade 2 and supporting English language learning at the Elementary level. The position reports to the Elementary Director and collaborates closely with teachers, educational specialists, pedagogical leadership and administrative team members to ensure we are meeting each student’s individual needs. 

Primary Responsibilities 

• Plans, organizes, and provides instruction in English across elementary grades. Instruction must be consistent and coordinated with the instructional program so that students meet and exceed learning targets and the requirements outlined in the curriculum.
• Develops and delivers lesson plans utilizing a broad range of appropriate differentiated techniques and strategies addressing all aspects of communication that develop each student’s ability to read, write, speak, and listen in content areas at levels that ensure learners meet or exceed learning targets.
• Address learning strategies, study skills, developmental issues, executive function systems, social and emotional wellness, and other learning challenges. 
• Administers academic and language assessments for the purpose of evaluating student’s progress in meeting academic learning targets and progress in language acquisition. Maintains complete and accurate records of student’s progress and evidence of growth and progress. 
• Provides a nurturing, supportive, and positive learning environment with high expectations that encourage student responsibility, enhance motivation, clearly communicate classroom routines, and incorporate challenging instructional strategies.
• Collaborates with homeroom teachers to make connections between English literacy and units of Inquiry as well as Italian. Engages in weekly co-teaching including small group and station work.
• In collaboration with the Student Success Group and Pedagogical Team, plans and delivers literacy interventions for individual and small groups of students.
• Other duties as noted by the school.

Qualifications

Minimum

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree and or Master's degree Education in or related field of study
• 3-5 years teaching experience.
• Experience in bilingual education, International Baccalaureate and Reggio Emilia philosophies a plus!
• Fluency in Italian and / or Spanish a plus!

Preferred Skills, Knowledge & Abilities

• Fully embrace and embody La Scuola’s mission, vision, and values and promote them to students, staff, other faculty, parents, and members of the outside community;
• Deep belief in La Scuola’s mission, values, and commitment to diversity and inclusion; 
• Be part of the orientation of new and returning parents before the start of the school year to emphasize the responsibilities of parents, teachers, and students; 
• Maintain positive, constructive and professional relationships with students, their families, and colleagues;
• Counsel students and their families through social challenges as referred by faculty, with the collaboration and support of the Division Head;
• Communicate regularly with families and develop a supportive home-school relationship; 
• Patience, flexibility and a problem-solving approach to issues;
• Outgoing, well-organized individual who is eager to work in a highly dynamic, energetic school setting;
• Sophistication in understanding learning differences and devising appropriate strategies for accommodating them;
• Work experience at a charter or independent school preferred;
• Deep respect and understanding for teaching and learning;
• Knowledge of designated instructional services (speech and language, occupational therapy etc.);
• Creative solutions for struggling learners;
• Proactive communication with the Leadership Team and families of students with disabilities or differences;
• Desire and skills to collaborate successfully with teams of teachers;
• Commitment to constant self-improvement;
• Other job related competencies: honesty/integrity, highly organized, follow-through on commitments, persistence, proactivity, calm under pressure, strategic thinking/visioning, creativity/innovation, enthusiasm, listening skills, proactive communication, persuasion;
• Other cultural competencies: intelligent, patient, ability to handle a fast paced environment, continuous learner, passionate, engaging, personable, high EQ, collaborative, empathic.

Additional Information

Start date: Immediately

Salary:  $70,000 - $80,000 per year, 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.

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.