Exciting Opportunity at Francis Parker School in San Diego, California 

Francis Parker School (Parker) is seeking an enthusiastic, dedicated, and passionate educator who shares its core values: Students First, Academic Excellence, Global Perspective, Strength of Character, Inclusive Community, and No Limit to Better. Collegial and collaborative, Parker faculty create a learning environment that is dynamic and engaging. Parker faculty are content and pedagogical experts who invest in professional growth generously supported by the School. Importantly, Parker’s unswerving commitment to being a diverse, equitable, and inclusive community creates a culture of respect for all.  

If Parker’s values and school culture resonate with you, we encourage you to consider this opportunity.

About Parker:

Parker is a coeducational independent day school in San Diego, California with 1,330 students in Junior Kindergarten through Grade 12. Founded in 1912, the school’s mission is “to create and inspire a diverse community of independent thinkers whose academic excellence, global perspective, and strength of character prepare them to make a meaningful difference in the world.” Parker has two campuses: one in Mission Hills (Lower School, Junior Kindergarten - Grade 5) and a second in Linda Vista (Middle and Upper School, Grades 6 - 12).

Job Description:

Francis Parker School seeks an enthusiastic, dedicated and passionate teacher to teach in our Visual Art Department. The range of visual arts courses in the Upper School includes ceramics, sculpture (bronze and stone), woodworking, video, photography, drawing, and painting. Courses give students the experience of producing original works of art from concept to completion. Formal elements and principles of design are introduced and emphasized with an appreciation of a diverse global artistic heritage. Students are encouraged to create personal works of art appropriate for their skill level in Parker's state-of-the-art studio facilities.

The Middle School, which includes grades 6-8 and enrolls 300+ students, is a lively and dynamic place. True to the vision of the school’s namesake, Colonel Francis W. Parker, the Middle School emphasizes the importance of learning through doing.  A rigorous curriculum guided by a passionate and caring faculty nurtures in students a lifelong love of learning.

The Upper School, which includes grades 9-12 and enrolls 500+ students, is a rigorous and supportive academic environment focused on preparing students for intellectual engagement while in high school and in the years beyond. Building on the work of the Lower and Middle Schools, the Upper School emphasizes academic achievement, global citizenship, and strength of character in order to prepare students to make a meaningful difference in the world. 

The preferred candidate will have a depth of content knowledge that equips them to teach in the Upper School, while also having the broad teaching repertoire required for a range of both learners and grade levels. For the 2026-27 school year, the teaching assignment will most likely include, but may not be limited to, courses in Ceramics. In order to best meet student interest, the preferred candidate will have the content knowledge and skills to teach a wide variety of courses in our 6-12 Visual Art Department. 

Essential Duties/Responsibilities:

• Daily classroom instruction; including planning and teaching a challenging course of study in a developmentally appropriate manner, with experience in differentiating instruction
• Prioritizing and examining inclusive curricula, teaching practice and environment
• Ongoing communication and conferencing with parents
• Advising and mentoring a group of students in our life skills program
• Conferencing with students and colleagues as required
• Weekly collaboration with teaching partners to maintain and develop consistency within course offerings
• Active participation in the curricular improvement of the department
• Willingness to initiate or participate in co-curricular activities such as Science Olympiad, Global Education Trips/Discovery Week, Camp, Math Team, or Coaching Athletics

Qualifications:

• A BFA degree, preferably an MFA. A teaching certificate in Visual Art is preferable.
• Knowledge of processes for working with clay including: hand building, wheel throwing, glaze mixing, kiln firing (both gas and electric), and safety protocols in a Ceramic studio.
• The ability and willingness to teach art courses in a broad range of media as needed.
• Samples of recent work, evidence of an active studio practice, exhibition history, samples of student work, and the like are preferred.
• The ability to serve as an advisor and mentor to Middle School or Upper School students
• A strong and sincere commitment to professional development both in pedagogy and content area
• Multicultural curriculum development and culturally responsive teaching experience are preferred
• Strong interpersonal and cultural competency skills when working with students, parents, faculty, and School leadership
• High standards and high expectations for students
• Commitment to being a positive and contributing member of the professional community.
• A love for working with children, a passionate commitment to Visual Art, and a desire to work with all types of learners
• Extraordinary communication and presentation skills
• A proficiency in the use of technology
• A desire to work in a highly collaborative environment

Salary and Benefits:

Parker is committed to attracting and retaining the highest quality faculty and staff through a substantial compensation plan, including competitive salary, TIAA retirement benefits, and full medical/dental coverage. Individual salary is negotiable depending on years of experience and educational background.

Salary Range: $82,000 - $120,000 per year

The actual salary will be determined by the candidate’s educational degree and their years of full-time teaching experience.  The starting salary listed reflects this position’s minimum experience and educational requirements; the ending salary listed represents the top of the salary structure for this position. Most candidates can expect to enter in the lower to middle section of this salary range, depending on their specific experience and education.

Non-Discrimination:

Parker values diversity and seeks talented students, faculty, and staff from different backgrounds. All employment decisions are made without regard to unlawful considerations of race, color, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding and related medical conditions), gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, religion, national origin, ancestry, ethnicity, creed, age, mental or physical disability, medical condition, genetic information, military or veteran status, or any other basis prohibited by federal, state, or local law.   

Application Process:

To be considered, interested candidates must submit the following:

• Online employment application. Please click HERE to get started
• Cover Letter
• Resume
• Transcripts

Your application will be considered incomplete if you do not include all required information, including completion of the Employment History, Education, and References sections of the online application, required attachments, and responses to all application questions.

About Francis Parker School

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