English Teacher (Candidate Pool) SY26-27 (California)

At Summit Public Schools, our mission is to collectively prepare a diverse community of young people with the skills, knowledge, and habits to attain economic empowerment and success in a chosen, concrete next step toward a fulfilled life. Summit is a leading network of public schools serving over 3,300 students across 10 schools in the Bay Area and Washington state. We are committed to ensuring that every student graduates ready to pursue a future of purpose and opportunity.

About the Role

Summit’s research-backed model makes teaching and learning at a Summit school unique. Teachers mentor the same group of students each year in advisory groups, building strong relationships based on deep trust. Mentors meet 1:1 with each student regularly to coach them toward their personal goals and meet daily as a mentor group. During Project Time, teachers teach universal skills through real-world deep learning projects, using their subject-area expertise to help students apply their knowledge. Summit provides teachers with research-backed curriculum tools to focus on becoming the best deep learning (project-based) teachers in the world.

We are deeply committed to continuous improvement, offering dedicated professional development days, regular coaching sessions with school leaders, and a culture of honest, actionable feedback. Teachers collaborate at the grade and subject levels, forming communities of practice to support each other in improving as educators. Our schools are intentionally small, heterogeneous, and reflect the diversity of our communities, requiring teachers to be culturally responsive and create equitable learning pathways for all students.

Responsibilities

• Project Time: Teach 90-minute blocks in high school or four 55-minute blocks in middle school per day. Most teachers teach one course for the entire grade (e.g., 9th Grade Biology) and see each section twice per week. Facilitate deep learning experiences that develop cognitive skills and apply content knowledge to real-world situations. Lead classroom discussions, coach students in applying cognitive skills, and provide feedback.
• Analyze student data, build lesson plans, support school culture, and engage in personal development activities between teaching blocks.
• Mentor Time: Meet daily with a small group of mentees for their entire time at Summit. Build deep relationships, work on habits of success as a group, and check in one-on-one with mentees. Coach and advocate for mentees both inside and outside the classroom to support their development as self-directed learners.
• Self-Directed Learning Time and Interventions: Facilitate self-directed learning time and daily literacy or math interventions without lesson planning. Provide student support, monitor progress, and check in with individuals or groups.
• Collaboration & Professional Development: Participate in all-faculty after-school meetings twice a week for community decisions, professional development, and collaboration as a grade-level or subject-level team.

Requirements

• Commitment to uphold Summit’s values and ensure all students receive a rigorous, equitable education that prepares them for success beyond high school.
• Strong commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) by embedding these values into daily practices, interactions, and decision-making.
• Teaching Credential in California or another U.S. state.
• Bachelor’s Degree (a Master’s Degree in Education is preferred but not required).
• Clear health and background check.
• Teaching experience in your subject is preferred but not required.

Qualifications

• Passion for being a world-class deep learning (project-based) teacher.
• Enthusiasm for collaboration and working with mission-aligned, high-performing colleagues.
• Willingness to teach Summit’s common curriculum and assessment system, designed for teachers by teachers in partnership with learning scientists.
• Commitment to working in intentionally heterogeneous schools and supporting all diverse students to reach a fulfilled life.
• Eagerness to engage in professional development and grow as a practitioner in a network committed to continuous improvement.
• Growth mindset and openness to feedback.
• Passion for serving as a mentor and advocate for a group of students followed year to year.
• Openness to having hard conversations to support students.
• Spanish language proficiency is a plus.

Benefits

• Retirement plan.
• 12 paid holidays and 3 weeks of organization-wide closures during the year.
• Access to multiple health, dental, and vision plans at 25% cost (Summit covers the remaining 75%).
• Employee life and disability insurance at no cost.

Pay

The salary for this position starts at $63,718 and goes up to $99,987, commensurate with experience and qualifications.

Schedule

A student school day runs from approximately 8:00–8:30 a.m. to 3:00–3:30 p.m., depending on the school. Teachers' workdays begin no earlier than 8:00 a.m. and end no later than 5:00 p.m.