approx. late April-June 2025; and late August-November 2025
APPLYThis is a Chinese language Homeroom position; native Chinese language proficiency is required.
Exempt, full-time position
WELCOME!
Join the vibrant community at the Chinese American International School’s Lower School campus as a lead Chinese Homeroom Teacher (long-term leave coverage, approx. late April-June 2025 and late August-early November 2025). We are open to candidates who are interested and available for either or both periods. Become part of a team striving to be the world’s most innovative, inspiring, and influential Mandarin immersion school.
OUR IDEAL CANDIDATE
The ideal candidate finds resonance with CAIS’s mission to Embrace Chinese, Become Our Best Selves, and Contribute to a Better World. As CAIS aims to empower independent, effective and inspired learners, we look for a candidate adept at student-centered pedagogy such as differentiation, use of assessment to inform teaching and Workshop-based instruction. This candidate can foster a joyful learning community that strikes a developmentally appropriate balance between deepening students’ academic skills and nurturing the curiosity and creativity of our learners. Our new team members will collaborate with their grade-level English partner teacher and enjoy many professional development opportunities. The candidate will enjoy considerable autonomy in developing the classroom curriculum within a strong curricular vision supported by English and Chinese program directors.
CAIS offers a dynamic dual-culture setting in which faculty are immersed in a culture of language learners. We look for a candidate who will embrace CAIS’s work to create an equitable, inclusive environment where all faculty, students, and families are supported in their individual identities. We welcome all applicants who aim to actively support and participate in our diverse and inclusive community.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES
Position responsibilities include (but are not limited to):
● Develop a positive intellectual, emotional, and social environment within the classroom
and a class community in which all children feel valued and a sense of belonging.
● Demonstrate teaching excellence, a growth mindset, professionalism, and integrity.
● Support the educational program by challenging, supporting, and engaging students.
● Encompass a positive discipline approach in guiding student behavior.
● Develop engaging instructional strategies employed in each student’s target language.
● Actively support and collaborate on school initiatives, such as events and committee work.
● Work with English partner teachers to develop and deliver integrated Social Studies and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion units.
● Work collaboratively and maintain standards of respect, courtesy, and mutual. Consideration with the school community, including students, staff, and parents.
● Communicate effectively, promptly, and proactively with families.
● Prepare assessments, grades, and progress reports according to school procedures.
● Attend Teacher Collaboration Time (TCT) meetings to plan and discuss pedagogies in all
aspects with the Chinese Program Director and division meetings during the term of employment.
● Engage in school-wide cultural events and collaborate with cross-division grade level teams.
● Work collaboratively with Chinese Language Support (CLS) teachers to monitor how students progress in Chinese and set individual academic goals.
● Supervise student field trips
● Perform other duties and responsibilities as determined by the Early Childhood Head and the Chinese Program Director
ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENTS
● Native or near-native proficiency in Mandarin
● Experience teaching upper elementary Mandarin in an immersion program
● Minimum of bachelor’s degree
● Ability to work with colleagues from different backgrounds and cultures
● Strong communication skills in English and Mandarin
● Desire to ability to work collaboratively
● Motivation to seek and implement innovative teaching practices
● Commitment to the school’s mission, core values, vision, and annual strategic objective
● Commitment to the school’s approach to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging
● Excellent work ethic
● Flexibility, patience, resilience, and good humor
● Technical/Computer skills as required for the job
VALUED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE
We value, but do not require, the following attributes:
● Teaching credential, Master’s in Education (M.Ed.), or equivalent
● Personal experience with second language acquisition
BENEFITS
The CAIS Board of Trustees and administration are expressly dedicated to ensuring that CAIS is a great workplace. The school is committed to attracting, developing, retaining, and rewarding top-tier faculty and excellent educators.
ABOUT CAIS
As the nation’s first dual-language Chinese and English Preschool through 8th-grade school, CAIS embodies our mission by continuously maintaining our role as a leader in immersion education. We are known as an ambitious school, and we have made substantial progress on our multi-year vision to reimagine immersion, reimagine our culture of learning, reimagine our community connectedness, and reimagine our learning spaces. Our entire community began the school year at our newly renovated campus on 19th Avenue.
COMPENSATION
CAIS has an established salary scale that recognizes experience and other qualifications including (but not limited to) education and training, leadership, and bilingualism. The salary range for this position is $78,800 – $126,800, prorated.
TO APPLY
CAIS’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion is central to our mission. People of color and LGBTQIA candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.
Email cover letter, resume, and list of references to w_qian@cais.org. In the subject line, please indicate “First Grade Lead Chinese Long-Term Leave Teacher.” In your cover letter, please reference how you learned of this opening. Please no calls.
Chinese American International School:
Chinese American International School (CAIS) in San Francisco, CA is hiring a 6th-8th Grade educator to serve as our first Mandarin World Language Pathway Teacher. The Mandarin World Language Pathway opens the opportunity for middle school students with little or no Mandarin background to enter CAIS and learn Mandarin. For details of this special position, program, and place, please see the posting at https://www.cais.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Mandarin-World-Language-Pathway-6th-8th-Grade-Teacher.pdf