Welcome, Applicant!

Thank you for your interest in a CalWest opening.
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Applying for Position:
Founding Elementary Director & Lead Teacher

This opening calls for specific administration and teaching qualifications set by the school.

CalWest client school in Mendocino/Sonoma County, California, seeks a Founding Elementary Director & Lead Teacher to begin July 2025. 

Are you passionate about designing an innovative elementary education experience from the ground up? This is a unique opportunity to shape an entire learning space, set the curriculum, hire a team of dedicated teachers, and build an educational experience deeply connected to nature and experiential learning. 

Responsibilities 

  • Design a learning environment & curriculum that balances academic rigor, critical thinking, and creativity. 
  • Build out a schedule that supports mixed-age learning and student growth, with an expected expansion of 5 to 7 students annually. 
  • Recruit, hire, and mentor a team of specialist teachers and assistants. 
  • Incorporate project-based and self-directed learning to meet students' interests and learning styles. 
  • Foster social-emotional learning and interpersonal skills development. 
  • Oversee school administration, including admissions, scheduling, resource planning, classroom design, and budgeting for materials. 
  • Engage with the local community to enhance student learning opportunities. 

Qualifications 

  • Five years of experience in elementary education, including literacy, math, and science. 
  • Background in progressive or alternative education is a plus. 
  • Experience in supervising and hiring staff. 
  • Degree in Education or a related field. 
  • Ability to pass a background check upon hire. 

CalWest and our partner schools are unable to respond to all applicants.

Candidates may be submitted to multiple positions during their time with CalWest. Also, candidates may not be chosen to move forward in the search they initially expressed interest in pursuing.

Our client schools make the final decisions.

Deciding to Apply

At minimum, applicants should have:

About CalWest Educators Placement

CalWest is the “go-to” firm for educators seeking new positions at independent schools on the West Coast. We focus on increased communication and understanding with our candidates, providing reliable and candid advice about the schools they are considering.

If you have questions about the qualifications to apply, please contact us at mysearch@calwesteducators.com.