Chinese American International School seeks a
Preschool Chinese Lead Teacher
This is a Chinese language position
Exempt, full-time position
OPPORTUNITY
Join the vibrant community at the Chinese American International School’s new Forever Home campus on 19th Avenue as a Preschool Chinese Lead Teacher. Become part of a team striving to be the world’s most innovative, inspiring, and influential Chinese English dual-language immersion school.
OUR IDEAL CANDIDATE
The ideal candidate finds resonance with CAIS’s mission to Embrace Chinese, Become Our Best Selves, and Contribute to a Better World; our Core Values of Courage, Curiosity, Inclusion, Kindness, and Perseverance; and our Strategic Vision 2020-2025 to Reimagine CAIS, Reimagine Success. As CAIS aims to empower independent, effective, and inspired learners, we look for a candidate adept at student-centered pedagogy such as differentiation, use of assessment to inform teaching, and Workshop-based instruction. This candidate can foster a joyful learning community that strikes a developmentally appropriate balance between deepening students’ academic skills and nurturing the curiosity and creativity of our learners. Our new team member will collaborate with grade level Chinese partner teachers and enjoy a wealth of professional development opportunities. Within the framework of a strong curricular vision supported by the Chinese Program Director, the candidate will enjoy considerable autonomy in developing the classroom curriculum.
CAIS offers a dynamic dual culture setting in which faculty are immersed in a culture of language learners. We look for a candidate who will embrace CAIS’s work to create an equitable, inclusive environment where all faculty, students, and families are supported in their individual identities. We welcome all applicants who aim to actively support and participate in our diverse and inclusive community.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES
Position responsibilities include ( but are not limited to):
● Demonstrate teaching excellence, a growth mindset, professionalism, flexibility, and integrity
● Hold strong child development and pedagogical content knowledge
● Support young children with whole group instructions, small group activities and differentiated instruction
● Use child observation, documentation, and assessment to inform instruction, plan learning experiences
● Develop and sustain the habit of reflective and intentional practice in their daily work
● Maintain a healthy, safe, engaging, and developmentally appropriate environment
● Interact with children using positive, supportive, and respectful attitude, language, and tone
● Encompass a positive discipline approach in guiding student behavior
● Partner with families towards students’ success
● Develop a positive intellectual, emotional, and social environment within the classroom and a class community in which all children feel valued and a sense of belonging
● Collaborate with Preschool teaching team, including other lead teachers, teaching associates, support teachers and specialist teachers
● Facilitate classroom team meetings and support the growth and development of associate and support teachers
● Make sound, timely and appropriate decisions and take responsibility for the decisions
● Contribute to the development of community among staff by having open, constructive, and solution-oriented communication
● Work collaboratively and maintain standards of respect, courtesy, and mutual consideration with the school community, including students, staff, and parents
ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENTS
● Bachelor's degree
● Minimum of 12 ECE units or Child Development Teacher Permit
● 2 or more years of teaching experience in early childhood
● Mandarin Chinese language proficiency
● Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
● Ability to work with colleagues from different backgrounds
● Commitment to school mission, policies, and initiatives
● Technical/Computer skills as required for job performance
● Initial and continued tuberculosis clearance
● Initial and continued criminal background clearance by DOJ and FBI
● CPR and First Aid Certification
VALUED SKILLS & EXPERIENCE
We value, but do not require, the following attributes:
● Master's degree preferred
● Three units of administration ECE or site supervisor preferred
● Personal experience with second language acquisition
BENEFITS & COMPENSATION
The CAIS Board of Trustees and administration are expressly dedicated to ensuring that CAIS is a great place to work. The school is committed to attracting, developing, retaining, and rewarding top-tier employees with a strong benefits package. The salary range for this position is: $75,800 to $99,800, based on experience. Please see the final page for a description of benefits.
ABOUT CAIS
As the nation’s first Mandarin Immersion Preschool through 8th grade school, CAIS embodies our mission by working continuously to maintain our role as a leader in immersion education. We value honest self-assessment, thoughtful self-reflection, intentional planning, and focused implementation.
We are known as an ambitious school, and we are making substantial progress on our multi-year vision to reimagine immersion, reimagine our culture of learning, reimagine character and community, and reimagine our learning spaces. Since 2021, we have been using our new campus on 19th Avenue in San Francisco for athletics, arts, and community events. In September 2024, our entire community will begin the school year at our newly renovated Forever Home, which more than doubles our program space from our Hayes Valley locations and allows all divisions to be together on one spectacular campus.
TO APPLY
CAIS’s commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion is central to our mission. People of color and LGBTQIA candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.
Email cover letter, resume, and list of references to c_tseng@cais.org. In the subject line please indicate: “Preschool Chinese Lead Teacher Job” Please no calls.
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: $21.52 - $25.53 per hour
Expected hours: 35 – 40 per week
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- 401(k) matching
- Dental insurance
- Employee discount
- Flexible schedule
- Flexible spending account
- Health insurance
- Health savings account
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- Retirement plan
- Vision insurance
Schedule:
- 8 hour shift
- Monday to Friday
Education:
Language:
- Mandarin Chinese (Preferred)
License/Certification:
- Minimum of 12 ECE units or Child Development Teacher Permit (Preferred)
Ability to Relocate:
- San Francisco, CA 94132: Relocate before starting work (Required)
Work Location: In person