Middle School Math Teacher

SYNAPSE SCHOOL POSITION OVERVIEW:

Middle School Math Teacher

The Synapse School in Menlo Park, CA, an innovative TK-8 independent school located in the heart of Silicon Valley, dedicated to rethinking and reimagining education, seeks a MIDDLE SCHOOL MATH TEACHER for an immediate opening to teach seventh and eighth grade.

Synapse educates a community of Change Makers by combining Social-Emotional Learning (SEL), leading-edge academics, and the practice of innovation. We have an unwavering belief in the capacity of children, and our teachers work alongside our students to unlock their powers of curiosity, discovery, and creativity. Synapse’s program provides a deep and unique range of integrated academic, social, and creative experiences to help children use their hearts and hands to unleash their passion for learning. Synapse draws students from around the San Francisco Bay Area.

Synapse is a place for people who like being in schools — who bring energy, perspective, and a sense that what we do for our students, families and colleagues matters. Teachers who are optimistic about young people and about the world, who collaborate and communicate generously, and who approach challenges with creativity rather than cynicism, thrive at Synapse.

As a lab school, we are actively integrating AI and emerging technologies into teaching, learning, and operating. Strong candidates will be open to using AI as a tool for planning, feedback, differentiation, and innovation. Comfort with experimentation and continuous learning is essential; perfection is not.

Equally important, we’re looking for educators who model strong emotional intelligence and embody our Change Maker Outcomes: communication, perspective, risk-taking, follow through, creativity, advocacy, inquiry, feedback, and iteration. These habits of mind shape our culture and learning environment, and teachers play a central role in making them visible, practiced, and lived each day.

POSITION DESCRIPTION

Synapse’s math program is committed to providing students with a rich and positive experience that fosters a sense of joy and confidence about the art of mathematics. Our math program values exploring multiple strategies to model and solve authentic problems, investigating both real-world and pure mathematical contexts and is often project-based and integrated across disciplines. The most important goal of our math program is for our students to love math!

Synapse School has a full time opening for a middle school math teacher for the 26-27 school year, teaching grades 7 and 8. The ideal candidate is passionate about exploring mathematics with middle school students, a creative and enthusiastic teacher who has a strong commitment to meeting the learning needs of each student, has a teaching style that supports differentiation of instruction, has a collaborative spirit, and has an interest in building community and being able to make math a lasting learning adventure for our middle school students in grades 5-8. The candidate will develop differentiated curriculum, provide direct instruction, and support the assessment process. Additional responsibilities include active involvement in student advisory, collaborative teacher meetings, and supervisory duties.

We are looking for a middle school teacher who loves middle schoolers, is highly collaborative, loves innovation and design, has a growth mindset, always puts the child first, understands constructivism, is committed to SEL, and wants to be part of an exciting team of forward-thinking educators looking to do big things.

RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING

● Teach project and problem-based, mixed-aged and mixed-ability middle school Math classes ● Collaborate with teachers and specialists to develop and document integrated theme-based curriculum ● As part of the math team, contribute to the school math culture beyond the math classroom, including but

not limited to: conducting after school programs, hosting math competitions throughout the school year, participating in community math circle events, and holding math office hours for students ● Integrate appropriate technology to enhance learning

● Collaborate effectively with students, teachers, and parents

● Model flexibility in implementing best learning practices

● Provide timely and thoughtful feedback to students and parents in the forms of assessments, written narrative feedback, student-parent-teacher conferences, and meetings/conferences with parents ● Serve as a middle school advisor, including mentoring middle school-aged students to support their personal and social-emotional growth

● Attend faculty, division, and other meetings as needed

AN IDEAL CANDIDATE WOULD POSSESS THE FOLLOWING QUALIFICATIONS

● Minimum of three years of teaching experience, preferably in middle school and in independent schools ● Advanced degree, preferably in mathematics or a mathematical science

● Experience designing and implementing project-based, problem-based curriculum, as well as explicit skill development

● Desire to be innovative and creative in curriculum design and pedagogy

● Experience differentiating mathematics instruction

● Passionate about sharing the art and beauty of mathematics with students through rich low-floor-high-ceiling tasks and investigations

● Proven experience leveraging tools such as manipulatives, visual models, and technology to help move student understanding from the concrete to the abstract

● Demonstrated commitment to equity and inclusion in mathematics education

● Effective classroom management skills

● Excellent oral and written communication skills

● Creativity, flexibility, a sense of humor, and a love of learning

● Demonstrate kindness, enthusiasm, a sense of humor, investment in continued learning and professional growth, and a passion for supporting children as they grow and learn

● A passion to work cooperatively with colleagues on a consistent basis and actively cultivate an inclusive environment and support a school community grounded in empathy, social responsibility, and an appreciation and respect for individual differences

SALARY RANGE AND BENEFITS

$100,000 - 120,000

Synapse offers a generous benefits package including health, dental, and retirement, as well as additional lifestyle perks. Housing stipends available to those who qualify.

APPLICATION PROCESS

Applicants should email a cover letter of interest, three names of references with contact information and a résumé to Kate McCallum, Head of Middle School, [email protected]. This position is open until filled.

Synapse School does not discriminate in employment opportunities or practices on the basis of race, color, religion, sex or sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability and familial affiliation or any other characteristic protected by law. All applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States.

Pay: $100,000.00 - $120,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Professional development assistance
• Vision insurance

Work Location: In person