Middle School Associate Teacher in Science

The Nueva School

Middle School Associate Teacher in Science

Starting Jul 1, 2026

The Position

We seek a Middle School Associate Teacher to join our Innovative Teacher Program (ITP). The associate will collaborate with a mentor teacher to co-teach four science classes. The ideal candidate will have significant interest and expertise in this subject area and be excited to work with middle school (fifth to eighth-grade) students.

This is a two-year full time position with a competitive salary and full benefits. It begins early July 2026 and runs through the end of 2026-27 school year.  

The Innovative Teacher Program (ITP)

Associate teachers are a part of the Innovative Teacher Program (ITP), a two-year program designed to provide teaching experience, mentorship, and professional development opportunities for developing teachers. They spend each day in the classroom collaborating alongside a mentor teacher to build curriculum, teach lessons, and reflect upon their practice. In addition, associate teachers attend regular professional growth workshops as part of a year-long curriculum. These weekly workshops cover classroom management, differentiation, Universal Design for Learning, lesson design, and many other relevant topics. This is also a time for debriefing, reflection, and support around day-to-day issues. We draw from readings, videos, observations, and the expertise of current Nueva teachers and staff. During their second year, associate teachers undergo an intensive reflection and observation cycle and receive support in applying for positions and/or graduate school, building a resume, and preparing for interviews. This is a great opportunity for individuals who are interested in entering the field of education or at the beginning of their teaching career and are looking to build their capacity in an experiential way.

A Day in the Life

Each day at Nueva middle school is collaborative, dynamic, and grounded in meaningful relationships with students and colleagues. As a middle school associate teacher, your day involves a combination of observing and co-teaching classes, co-running an advisory, meeting one-on-one with students, collaborating with your mentor, and engaging in the day-to-day life of the school. 

The daily routine varies day-to-day with such activities as middle school morning meetings, whole grade meetings led by our deans, advisory, and supervision duties. As a member of the Science department and a grade-level team, you participate in student support meetings where teachers, learning specialists, counselors, and administrators gather to share celebrations, concerns, and strategies in support of students.

The middle school block schedule includes eight instructional blocks over two days, alternating between Monday through Thursday. A middle school teacher’s class schedule includes four, 75-minute student-facing blocks over the course of two days. Class sizes range between 12 and 16 students, giving teachers and students an opportunity to build more thoughtful and intentional relationships. The person in this role will observe, support, and co-teach four sections of Science. Once a week, associate teachers meet with the ITP coordinator in a workshop designed to support pedagogical growth. 

The middle school has created space on Fridays for special classes planned and facilitated by teachers, including workshops to prepare students for our annual week-long trips, discussions of current events, Lit Club, and choice time at the end of the day. Fridays also feature assemblies, many of which are performances by our student musicians. These “Bonus Fridays” are tech-free, with students leaving their laptops at home. All middle school teachers and associate teachers chaperone field trips and one annual week-long trip each year.

The ideal candidate demonstrates the following qualities:

• A desire to learn by doing and to learn with and from others
• A desire to teach collaboratively
• Flexibility and creativity in working in a dynamic environment where new ideas, mistakes, and iteration are embraced
• A profound openness to feedback, iteration, and improvement.
• An ability to step up and take initiative
• Demonstrated strengths in  organization, time management, and professionalism
• Commitment to promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion in classroom culture and curriculum

Position Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in English or a related field
• Strong interest and desire to work with middle school students
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Prior experience working with youth

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 skill 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 $61,900 - $79,200. The starting salary is based upon, but not limited to, several factors that include type and years of experience, education level, and expertise.

We offer a compensation and benefits package that includes fully paid medical, dental, vision, life insurance for employees, employer contribution toward dependent insurance premiums, a generous match on our retirement plan, long-term disability insurance, 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 Toni Setteducato at tsetteducato@nuevaschool.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 : $61,900 - $79,200