Lower School Art & Tinkering Teacher (Long-Term Substitute)

Location: San Francisco, California
Type: Contract
Salary: $200-400/day

About the School

Founded in San Francisco in 2010, Alta Vista School implements an inquiry-based STEAM program serving approximately 315 students across two campuses. Alta Vista School encourages students to go beyond a strong academic foundation to pursue their passions with the help of our community. Faculty, administrators, and families believe experiences and hands-on activities are the best practice for meaningful learning.

Alta Vista educators benefit from small class sizes and are intentional in their instruction. Teachers serve as guides for students as they explore, observe, predict, measure, and analyze for themselves in an inquiry-based journey of discovery and knowledge-making. Likewise, AVS teachers are serious about play. We love learning alongside our students, believing that children learn better in joyous, authentic settings.

Most important to the AVS approach is a foundation rooted in the scientific method and a belief that science and technology, guided by the arts, can be leveraged to benefit all. At AVS, students learn to embrace technology and apply the principles of design thinking as powerful tools for innovation. Technology is thoughtfully integrated into each classroom.

About the Role

As Lower School Art & Tinkering Teacher, you will foster a welcoming, studio-thinking environment where young artists (JK–5th grade) feel empowered to explore materials, express ideas, ask questions, and take creative risks. Through engaging, inquiry-based projects—incorporating traditional media as well as elements of tinkering and maker-based exploration—you will establish a positive studio culture that seamlessly supports the interdisciplinary STEAM initiatives that define an AVS education.

Working closely with classroom teachers, specialist colleagues, the Assistant Head of Lower School, and the Head of Lower School, you will cultivate a space where creativity, wonder, and hands-on discovery thrive.

Responsibilities

• Curriculum & Studio Instruction
  • Teach visual arts & tinkering classes to Lower School students (JK through 5th Grade), implementing hands-on, developmentally appropriate, and inquiry-driven art experiences during the school day, 9:30-3:30pm
  • Be a support teacher during Bookends, our after school program, 3:30-5:30pm
  • Establish and maintain a joyful, orderly, and inclusive art studio culture, teaching foundational skills in studio habits, material care, and artistic process over product
  • Guide students through creative exploration using diverse media, which can include but is not limited to drawing, painting, sculpture, ceramics, and mixed media
  • Integrate interdisciplinary concepts, connecting art projects with grade-level units of inquiry, humanities, and STEAM concepts
  • Incorporate tinkering & maker exploration through hands-on tinkering lessons, encouraging students to experiment with varied materials, construct 3D forms, and embrace creative problem-solving
• Classroom Management & Student Support
  • Cultivate a safe, supportive classroom environment aligned with AVS’s social-emotional learning (SEL) framework and commitment to equity and inclusion
  • Honor diverse learning styles and creative expressions, providing thoughtful differentiation to meet individual student needs
  • Maintain clear routines and expectations that encourage student agency, independence, and collaboration
• Community & Professional Collaboration
  • Partner collaboratively with Lower School faculty, specialist colleagues, and the Head of Lower School to ensure smooth transitions and consistent routines during the start of the school year
  • Communicate effectively with families including the writing of a weekly paragraph about their curriculum for our Week Ahead post
  • Prepare student artwork for display around campus to celebrate artistic expression and learning processes
  • Support the after school program, known as BookEnds, Monday - Friday, 3:30 - 5:30 pm. Play with and supervise children after school
  • When necessary, step in as a substitute teacher if another after school teacher is absent

Schedule

Start date: August 5, 2026
End date: Mid-October 2026
Hours: 9:30am–5:30pm

Pay

$200–400/day based on experience

Requirements

• Education: Bachelor’s degree (required)
• Experience: Demonstrated teaching experience in elementary/lower school visual arts & tinkering
• Pedagogical Alignment: Passion for inquiry-based, experiential learning, studio-habits frameworks, and interdisciplinary/STEAM connections
• Classroom Leadership: Strong classroom management skills rooted in positive reinforcement, SEL, and cultural responsiveness
• Collaboration & Energy: Warmth, flexibility, enthusiasm, and a growth mindset—especially comfortable stepping into a vibrant school community at the start of the academic year

Physical Demands

• Regularly lifting or carrying 1-20 lbs
• Regular pushing, pulling, bending, stooping, and kneeling
• Regularly climbing stairs
• Regularly sitting or standing 4-8 hours
• Requires physical presence; work to be performed on campus