Since 1939, San Francisco’s Town School for Boys has had a rich history as a school specializing in teaching boys. The school is also known for the New Teacher Institute and its commitment to training teachers new to their craft. The school’s goals include teaching boys to be good citizens, to enjoy their childhood, to develop a positive sense of self, to give back to their greater community, and to develop academic and intellectual skills which will serve them well through their lifetimes. The school prizes its growing diversity of background, religion, and race, as well as the diversity of interests which is so noteworthy in its student and alumni bodies. Located in San Francisco, Town School for Boys is a K-8 independent day school. Since its founding, Town School has been committed to providing the best possible education for boys and is recognized as one of California’s leading independent elementary schools.

Position Description:

Town School for Boys seeks a part time (T, Th, F) Outdoor Studies Associate Teacher for the 2022-23 academic year who is a collaborative educator ready to assist in connecting our students with the natural world. Our specialized program blends the strength of relational education and place-based learning with the academic excellence of a Town School education. Extending our classrooms from the building into the heart of the Presidio forest helps elevate the curriculum. We broaden the boys’ curiosity and leadership skills through environmental stewardship, teamwork, core routines and storytelling. Developing activities to learn about nature and the environment adds dimension to our rich curriculum. Our Outdoor Studies program uses The Coyote’s Guide to Connecting With Nature as a foundational tool to create safe and healthy classrooms in the Presidio, with strong connections woven throughout the core curricula. 

We recognize that the ideal candidate for this position may come from a non-traditional background, and we encourage all interested applicants to apply. The targeted start date for this job is mid-August to allow the candidate to attend New Faculty Orientation as well as general Faculty Orientation and Professional Development prior to the official start of the school year for students.

Specific responsibilities 

• Collaborate with the Director of Outdoor Studies to implement curriculum and manage the outdoor classroom

• Exercise sound judgment and decision-making

• Apply feedback to teaching practice

• Maintain established school procedures and a positive learning environment

• Maintain a physically and emotionally safe environment for students and staff

• Collaborate with other grade level classroom teachers

• Assist in the planning and preparation of daily lessons and materials

• Co-teach and lead groups of students in the outdoors in varying weather conditions, and on uneven terrain, along with grade-level and program colleagues

Desired Qualifications and Skills 

• Bachelor’s degree

• Experience working with children across grades K – 4

• Strong communication and collaboration skills

• Flexibility, adaptability, initiative, and a willingness to learn

• Commitment to school’s mission, values, and vision

• Positive attitude and a strong work ethic

• Detail-oriented with strong follow through

• Experience working in the outdoors

• Wilderness First Aid & CPR/AED certification

• Some physical requirements of this position may include prolonged standing, bending, stooping, walking long distances, hiking, climbing, stretching and may include the need to lift up to 50 lbs; requires eye-hand coordination and manual dexterity to manipulate outdoor equipment and program activities; requires a normal range of hearing and eyesight to record, prepare, and communicate appropriate student activities/programs 

COVID Procedures:

When schools were forced to close their physical doors in the spring of 2020, Town quickly and successfully pivoted to online learning, supported by thorough planning and a nimble team of faculty, administration and board members. In the fall of 2020, Town was the second school in the city of San Francisco to be granted permission to reopen, taking exceptional caution to protect the safety of employees and students. Since October 2020, we have welcomed all grades in the building five days a week. The 2022-23 school year will be held in person, following all SF Department of Health Guidelines. All adult employees of Town School for Boys are required to provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination.

Town School for Boys Mission

At Town School learning is prized, love of school is essential, and boyhood is celebrated.

Philosophy:

As an all boys’ school, Town provides a rich, challenging and rigorous educational experience that addresses the distinctive energy levels and developmental styles of boys. Town values being a diverse community that nurtures integrity, sensitivity and respect in its boys, and prepares them to become productive and contributing members of an ever-changing world.

Town School Values:

Respect: We respect ourselves and others.

• We treat others the way they want to be treated.

• We practice good listening, compassion and empathy.

Curiosity: We are curious.

• We ask questions, think critically and solve problems.

• We seek opportunities to reach our highest potential.

Belonging: We all belong.

• We embrace and celebrate each of our unique stories and experiences.

• We seek to ensure that every member of our community feels an equal sense of inclusion. 

Integrity: We act with integrity.

• We have the courage to do the right thing even when nobody else is watching.

• We always try our best and when we fail, we try again.

Joy: We are joyful.

• We make space for play, fun and laughter.

• We know joy can be found in hard work, risk-taking and perseverance.

Statement of Teaching Philosophy:

Our goal is for each boy to be engaged in an environment that weaves together collaboration, critical thinking, integrity, empathy, and creativity. These broad skills, as well as a firm grounding in core academic competencies, offer boys an excellent preparation for their further education. We promote social and emotional learning as a foundation of academic excellence and self-discovery. We prepare students to meet challenges in the world by helping them develop an appreciation for a variety of perspectives from the local to the global. We celebrate diversity by fostering a community of learners built on mutual respect. Learning experiences are inclusive, relevant, flexible, innovative, and adapted to reflect the needs of all kinds of learners. In our joyful, active, and collaborative school, boys flourish.

We achieve these goals through an authentic curriculum that originates in the classroom, travels through the halls, and extends into the world. Our teaching balances traditional methods with key student-centered approaches including inquiry, project-based learning, and teaching for understanding. We stay relevant and current through our testing of innovative, research-based approaches. We model a commitment to lifelong learning, and we hone our craft by pursuing professional development and sharing knowledge with one another.

Statement on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion:

Diversity, equity, and inclusion are essential core values of Town School. The best education for our students requires a diverse experience because a broad spectrum of ideas is essential for understanding different perspectives, challenging assumptions, and inspiring curiosity, to support critical and complex thinking.

We are committed to creating an inclusive and welcoming environment where each boy is free to be himself, and where boys are confident and secure in their own identities. We equip each boy with the tools to explore differences in experiences, background, beliefs and ideas. We seek to provide each student with the support and resources he needs to succeed and thrive at Town School. 

A diverse and vibrant community is essential. To build and sustain such a community, we reach out to enroll students and families from a broad range of socioeconomic backgrounds, cultures, races, religions, and sexual orientations, and we recruit and retain faculty, staff and administrators from the same broad range of backgrounds. We cultivate an environment where every member of the Town community senses they matter as a significant part of the life of the school. Only when each person feels valued and is engaged may the school and the individual achieve their full potential.

Non-Discrimination Policy:

Town School for Boys admits students of any race, color, religion, or national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the School. The School does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sexual orientation, or national and ethnic origin in the administration of its educational policies, scholarship programs, athletic and other school-administered programs.

Salary and benefits are commensurate with our peer schools in the San Francisco Bay Area and with similar-sized NAIS schools. 

To learn more about our faculty culture and community in general, please visit our Employment page.