Upper School Physics Teacher

School Description

Santa Catalina School is a vibrant, independent, Catholic school offering student-centered co-education to PreK through grade 8 and an all-girls’ boarding and day college preparatory upper school serving grades 9 through 12. Santa Catalina exists to develop in each student a striving for excellence, a maturing awareness of moral and spiritual values, a sense of responsible purpose, and a determination to serve the world with courage, grace, and compassion. With the cornerstones of excellence, spirituality, service, and responsibility, the school is committed to providing a supportive learning community for each student to grow in their intellectual, personal, and spiritual life, making Santa Catalina a transformational educational experience for its students.

Position Summary 
Santa Catalina School, a nationally recognized, independent, Catholic, all-girls boarding and day school in Monterey, California, seeks an innovative, dedicated, and student-centered full-time Upper School physics teacher for the 2025-2026 school year. This position provides an exceptional opportunity for an educator committed to the education of young women to work with a diverse and passionate student body. Our Upper School offers a program that challenges students to understand their individual interests and then passionately apply them to their education. The Upper School physics teacher will join a highly collaborative and dedicated faculty that are committed to strengthening and enriching learning through innovative teaching methods that enable students to identify and solve problems, bridge content across traditional “subject” domains, and develop an unshakable growth mindset.

Description

The full-time Upper School physics teacher is responsible for teaching five sections of physics at varying levels as assigned by the chair of the department; grade-appropriate curriculum planning and instruction; for innovation, creativity, integration between disciplines, and integration of technology use throughout the program; for serving as an advisor to a group of students; and for being an engaging and supportive faculty member of our boarding environment. Working under the guidance of the chair of the science department and reporting to the Head of Upper School, the Upper School physics teacher will join a department that works closely together and values collegiality.

Santa Catalina School believes that each employee makes a significant contribution to its success. That contribution should not be limited by the assigned responsibilities. Therefore, this position description is designed to outline primary duties, qualifications, and job scope, but not limit the incumbent nor the organization to just the work identified. It is our expectation that each employee will offer his/her services wherever and whenever necessary to ensure the success of our endeavors.

Essential Responsibilities

Teach five sections of physics ranging from freshman level conceptual physics courses to college level advanced topic courses as part of the school’s college-preparatory curriculum
Establish and communicate clear instructional practice objectives for all learning activities and assessment metrics
Understand and employ developmentally appropriate pedagogical approaches and varied presentation styles to ensure high student engagement
Actively support various assessment methods in order to more fully address different learning styles
Create a classroom environment centered on problem-solving, synthesizing information, and integrating knowledge 
Communicate clearly in writing and verbally to students, other teachers, parents and administrators regarding student progress and student needs
Maintain accurate and complete records of students' progress and development, and use this information to adjust teaching strategies  
Pursue professional development to maintain expertise in performance of teaching responsibilities and promote the sharing of best practices with other members of the school’s faculty community
Show genuine concern for students; demonstrate deep investment in student learning and success both in and out of the classroom 
Manage student behavior in and out of the classroom by establishing and enforcing rules and procedures 
Participate in the life of the school through various duties as assigned that support the life of the school
Attend and engage in department, school, and parent meetings
Serve as an advisor to a group of students

Qualifications

A bachelor’s degree in physics or a related field preferred
Two or more years of experience as a teacher of physics at a middle school level or higher preferred
A commitment to the mission and identity of Santa Catalina School as an all-girls boarding school
A desire to participate fully in the Santa Catalina community
Successful completion of a LiveScan criminal background check as required by law

Competencies

Demonstrated use of relevant technology to support and differentiate instruction
Experience in robotics preferred
Excellent writing, communication, and public speaking skills
Approachable and welcoming demeanor
Enjoy working with female students between the ages of 14 to 18 
Cultural competence and enthusiasm for working with a diverse and dynamic community
Strong interpersonal skills, including good listening, humor, tact, and intuition
Ability to create responsive, caring, and appropriate relationships with students, families, and colleagues
Strong organizational and record-keeping skills and digital literacy
Ability to assess and respond to the needs of the school and act as a representative of the school
Commitment to professional growth and education
Supervisory Responsibilities

This position does not supervise other employees

Working Conditions and Compensation

Work at a desk and computer screen for extended periods of time each day
Ability to access buildings and facilities throughout a 36-acre campus, with reasonable accommodations, in order to meet with students and faculty
Work in a school environment with a wide variety of challenges, deadlines, and people
Additional time is required beyond a normal day or week for evening and weekend meetings
Santa Catalina School offers competitive insurance and retirement benefits
Salary Range: $55,000 to $90,000 annually, depending on experience

Equal Employment Opportunity

Santa Catalina School is an equal-opportunity employer. Employment at Santa Catalina School is based solely on qualifications and competence for a particular position, without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions and reproductive health decision-making), sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, national origin, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, genetic characteristics, citizenship, military or veteran status, off-duty and off-premises use of cannabis, age,  victims of a qualifying act of violence or other categories defined by state law, federal law or local ordinance.

To Apply

Interested candidates should visit our website to complete and submit an application, resume, and cover letter:

https://www.santacatalina.org/upper-school/who-we-are/employment

Electronic submission of candidate papers in .pdf format is preferred.

Santa Catalina provides reasonable accommodations to employees and applicants with disabilities. Applicants who need accommodations to participate in the application process should contact employment@santacatalina.org

Qualifications

A bachelor’s degree in physics or a related field preferred
Two or more years of experience as a teacher of physics at a middle school level or higher preferred
A commitment to the mission and identity of Santa Catalina School as an all-girls boarding school
A desire to participate fully in the Santa Catalina community
Successful completion of a LiveScan criminal background check as required by law