Lower School Extended Care Coordinator & Creative Movement Teacher

Lower School Extended Care Coordinator & Creative Movement Teacher - 26-27 School Year

Position Summary

Position Status: Full-Time, Salaried, Academic Calendar Position

Primary Schedule: Monday–Friday, 9:45 a.m.–6:15 p.m.

The Lower School Extended Care & Creative Movement Teacher plays an integral role in the daily life of the Lower School. This position combines leadership of the aftercare program, creative movement instruction for our youngest learners, and student support across recess, lunch, and classroom settings. The ideal candidate is an organized, collaborative educator who enjoys variety, thrives in a dynamic school environment, and is passionate about fostering joyful, inclusive experiences for children throughout the school day.

Position Status: Full-Time, Salaried, Academic Calendar Position

Primary Schedule: Monday–Friday, 9:45 a.m.–6:15 p.m.

A Day in the Life

No two days are exactly alike, and that's part of what makes this role so rewarding.

You might begin your morning leading a joyful 45-minute creative movement or theater class for a group of PreK or Kindergarten students. Through movement, storytelling, music, and play, you help students build confidence, creativity, and collaboration while working alongside a classroom associate teacher or aide.

After class, you spend time reflecting on the lesson, preparing for upcoming classes, responding to emails, and coordinating plans for the aftercare program. Before long, you meet with a classroom teacher to plan how your movement curriculum can connect with an upcoming homeroom unit, ensuring students experience meaningful connections across their learning.

As lunchtime approaches, you walk through the recess spaces, checking in with supervisors and observing how students are using the different play areas. A few students excitedly share ideas for new recess materials. Rather than simply saying yes or no, you encourage them to gather input from their classmates and think about how their ideas could benefit the broader community.

You notice one play space is especially busy and stay to support supervision before heading to the café. There, you partner with the lunch supervision team to create a welcoming, well-organized environment where students enjoy lunch, connect with friends, and receive gentle guidance when needed.

After enjoying lunch alongside colleagues, you facilitate the weekly aftercare team meeting. Together, you plan upcoming activities, reflect on successes and challenges, and discuss strategies to support children and strengthen the program. Coaching and developing your team are important and rewarding parts of your work.

Later in the afternoon, you spend time supporting a classroom teacher before preparing for aftercare. You check that materials are ready, connect with your team, and welcome students as they transition into the afternoon program. While team members lead a variety of engaging activities, you supervise students, connect with families during pickup, and observe your staff, offering encouragement and feedback along the way.

By the end of the day, the last students head home, the spaces are reset for tomorrow, and you leave knowing you've contributed to nearly every meaningful aspect of the children's Lower School experience—from a joyful class and meaningful play to a safe, welcoming after-school community.

Primary Responsibilities 

Aftercare Program Leadership 

• Coordinate and supervise the Lower School aftercare program.
• Plan and coordinate programming for aftercare and special school events, including New Faculty Orientation, Workweek, Conferences, Back-to-School Night, and other community events.
• Supervise, coach, and support the aftercare team.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for aftercare registration and communication with families, faculty, and staff.
• Ensure the safe operation of the aftercare program, including emergency preparedness and supervision protocols.

Creative Movement OR Theater Instruction 

• Design and teach a developmentally appropriate creative movement or theater curriculum for a select number of classes each semester.
• Foster creativity, confidence, self-expression, and joyful exploration through engaging instruction.
• Create occasional opportunities to showcase learning with families, while preserving a focus on process rather than product.
• Collaborate with classroom teachers to support students' overall development and school experience.

Lower School Support 

• Coordinate and supervise Lower School lunch and recess operations in partnership with the café team.
• Oversee recess supervision, shared expectations, and the care, organization, and replenishment of recess materials and equipment.
• Supervise students during recess and other assigned supervisory duties.
• Provide classroom support as assigned.
• Serve as a substitute teacher as needed.

Additional Responsibilities

• Perform additional duties as assigned 
• Co-chaperone an overnight Lower School class trip during the school year (typically one to three nights, depending on grade level and assignment).

• Other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications

• Must meet California Associate Teacher licensing requirements, including completion of at least 12 semester units in Early Childhood Education (ECE) or Child Development (CD).
• Demonstrated ability to build warm, respectful, and positive relationships with children in PreK through Grade 4.
• Experience teaching creative movement, theater, dance, performing arts, or other developmentally appropriate enrichment programs for young children.
• Strong classroom management and student supervision skills across a variety of learning environments.
• Ability to design engaging, developmentally appropriate experiences that foster creativity, confidence, collaboration, and joyful participation.
• Experience coordinating programs, managing multiple priorities, and maintaining strong organizational systems.
• Excellent organizational skills with exceptional attention to detail and follow-through.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with children, families, faculty, and staff.
• Demonstrated ability to supervise, coach, and support adults in a collaborative and professional manner.
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively within a dynamic school community.
• Sound judgment, flexibility, and the ability to remain calm, adaptable, and solutions-oriented in a fast-paced environment.
• Commitment to student well-being, safety, and fostering an inclusive community where every child feels known, valued, and supported.
• A joyful, energetic, and nurturing approach to working with elementary-aged children and a willingness to contribute wherever needed throughout the school day.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university is preferred
• Ability to meet California Teacher licensing requirements (24 semester units in Early Childhood Education or Child Development) is preferred.
• Experience leading or coordinating an after-school, extended care, or enrichment program.
• Experience supporting classroom instruction or serving as a substitute teacher in an elementary school setting.
• Experience collaborating across disciplines to support the overall student experience.
• Experience working in an independent school or other student-centered educational environment.
• Knowledge of child development and social-emotional learning practices.

Encouragement to Apply

Nueva encourages anyone to apply even if they do not meet all the preferred qualifications. If you are excited about supporting gifted students, committed to equity and inclusion, and eager to grow your skills within a collaborative community, we would welcome your application.

We are seeking applicants who represent the full diversity of our community in the Bay Area. Our ideal candidate will possess a deep appreciation for the diverse socioeconomic, racial, cultural, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, academic, and ethnic backgrounds present in our community. In joining our team at Nueva, you will become a part of an inclusive, iterative and equity-minded community that recognizes that equity and social justice is a lens with which we examine all aspects of our school community in order to ensure an educational experience where all students and colleagues can thrive. 

In deciding whether to apply for a position at Nueva, you are strongly encouraged to consider whether your values align with Nueva’s Mission, Vision, and Values. 

Compensation and Benefits

The full-time equivalent salary range for this position is $80,800 - $166,00. The starting salary is based on, but not limited to, several factors, including type and years of experience, education level, and expertise.

We offer a compensation and benefits package that includes fully paid medical, dental, vision, and life insurance for employees, an employer contribution toward dependent insurance premiums, a generous match on our retirement plan, long-term disability insurance, a flexible spending account, and free lunch. Eligibility rules must be met.

To Apply

Please submit your application information - cover letter describing your interest and preparedness for the position, a resume documenting your relevant experience and expertise, and contact information for three professional references, including an explanation of your relationship - to the Nueva Employment Website.  To address specific questions, please email Megan Terra at mterra@nuevaschool.org or Elizabeth Hoang at ehoang@nuveaschool.org

The Nueva School is an Equal Opportunity Employer – we do not discriminate against any employee or job applicant on the basis of race, color, gender, national origin, age, religion, creed, disability or sex. We welcome applications from people of color and those with experience outside the education field. 

About The Nueva School

The Nueva School, an internationally recognized, nonprofit, independent day school, has served gifted and talented students since 1967. Today, Nueva serves nearly 1000 students PK-12. Nueva is located in the neighboring towns of Hillsborough and San Mateo, equidistant between San Francisco and Silicon Valley, serving six different counties throughout the Bay Area of Northern California.

A constructivist school, Nueva is known for its distinctive inquiry-based interdisciplinary studies, project-based learning, and pioneering work in social-emotional learning and design thinking. The Nueva community instills a passion for lifelong learning, fosters social and emotional acuity, and develops the imaginative mind. Our school has received the US Department of Education National Blue Ribbon Award, the US Department of Education National Green Ribbon Award, and the American Institute of Architects Award for School Design and Sustainability; has been recognized as an Apple Distinguished Program and appointed an Ashoka Changemaker School; co-founded the Common Ground Speaker Series; hosts the biennial Innovative Learning Conference, and was highlighted by the Pulitzer Prize–winning and New York Times best-selling author Thomas Friedman in his book That Used to Be Us in the chapter “Average Is Over.”

For more information about The Nueva School, visit our website: www.nuevaschool.org

Salary : $80,800 - $166,000