At Curtis School, salaries are one component of a compensation package that includes a generous benefit package, retirement matching, lunch credits, health & life, AD & LTD insurance. The anticipated annual base salary range the school reasonably expects to pay candidates for this position is $60,000 to $115,000, depending on factors such as years of experience.
Internal Number: UETT001
Curtis is seeking an Upper Elementary Technology Teacher to join a team-oriented, inclusive, and professional learning community. Curtis School is a DK-6 co-ed elementary school whose mission is to “develop, in every child, a sound mind in a sound body, governed by a compassionate heart.” We place an equal emphasis on academic, physical, social-emotional, and character education and instill a growth mindset modeled by faculty and staff who are the best in their craft.
The Upper Elementary Technology Teacher will be responsible for teaching foundational technology, coding, and computer science skills to 4th-6th grade students and creating a program that fosters curiosity, problem-solving, perseverance, and responsible digital citizenship. The successful candidate is a collaborative and innovative educator who combines strong technical knowledge with a passion for working with elementary school students. They will work closely with 4th-6th grade homeroom and specialist teachers, under the supervision of the Director of Educational Technology and Innovation, to build an engaging technology and coding curriculum that fulfills Curtis’s mission and values. The candidate must have excellent time-management, organizational, and communication skills, be innovative and creative in instructional planning, dynamic and adaptable to shifting work conditions, and open to feedback. A collegial personality and responsiveness to direction are essential traits, as is a love of working with elementary-school-aged children.
Curtis School is fully committed to a diverse faculty and student body. The candidate should possess an abundance of respect and sensitivity around racial, ethnic, socio-economic, and all differences.
Teaching an age-appropriate curriculum in computer skills, digital citizenship, engineering principles, robotics, and coding to 4th-6th grade students
Facilitating a 6th grade homebase (equivalent of advisory)
Facilitating hands-on, project-based learning experiences that encourage creativity, experimentation, and the engineering design process
Providing expert instruction and technical guidance to students in the use of tools such as Google Workspace for Education, LEGO Spike Prime robotics, FTW Drone, Scratch, Code.org, Khan Academy, Tinkercad for CAD modeling, Glowforge for laser cutting, and Bambu Studio (slicing software)
Introducing and reinforcing acceptable use, responsible online behavior, and internet safety, using resources such as Common Sense Media
Working with the homeroom faculty and other specialists to integrate STEAM concepts into core academic areas
Supporting interdisciplinary projects that strengthen communication, teamwork, empathy, and innovation
Showcasing student work and collaborating with the Science, Art, and other departments in planning, organizing, and managing the annual STEAM-Maker Day event
Assessing students using current strategies and tools to inform instruction and give feedback
Completing skills checklists and occasional narrative reports and communicating with parents about student performance and progress
Maintaining and organizing student technology resources including iPads, robotics equipment, and STEM materials
Troubleshooting basic hardware and software issues and modeling proper device care for students
Supervising children during morning break, lunch and recess, and afternoon dismissal/pickup
Attending Back-to-School Night, Open House, faculty workshop days, grade-level and division meetings, relevant all-school events, and all mandatory professional development
A successful candidate will:
Have a bachelor’s degree, preferably in technology education or a related field (master’s degree and teaching credential preferred)
Ideally have 3-5 years’ teaching experience (Grades 4-6 preferred)
Possess broad experience and proficiency with instructional technology (certifications preferred, e.g. Common Sense Media, Google Certified Educator, Apple Certified Educator)
Implement strong classroom management skills suitable for elementary-age students
Be organized and able to maintain systems of organization in the classroom for students and self
Have excellent communication skills and the ability to explain technical concepts clearly to students, families, and colleagues
Be cognizant of current trends, pedagogy, research, and topics of importance in educational technology and be willing to apply them in the classroom and share with other teachers
Continually seek professional growth and development
Possess excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to collaborate with students, colleagues, and parents
Participate actively in student and community life inside and outside the classroom
Understand and believe in the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion in education and act in accordance with those values
Provide a portfolio of teaching with examples of innovative lessons or projects that demonstrate creative and critical thinking and/or teach a demo lesson
Be flexible about working in outdoor weather conditions and able to regularly sit, stand, walk, use hands, reach with arms, talk and hear, and occasionally lift up to 10-25 pounds
Curtis School is an independent, DK-6 coeducational day school, located on a spacious 27-acre campus in the Mulholland Corridor of the Santa Monica Mountains. Curtis has 492 students and 68 faculty members. Curtis is a family school of happy children, enthusiastic teachers, supportive administrators, and active parent volunteers. Working together in a warm, nurturing environment, we pursue our educational goal of "a sound mind in a sound body governed by a compassionate heart". The School just celebrated its 90th anniversary and appointed its Head of School, Meera Ratnesar.
