Develop Readers. Cultivate Writers. Nurture Curiosity. Build Community.

Just north of the Golden Gate Bridge, Mount Tamalpais School (MTS) is seeking a thoughtful, passionate educator to join our vibrant K–8 community as a 1st Grade Homeroom & Humanities Teacher. It’s an opportunity to intentionally create a joyful, creative, and structured classroom for first graders, where curiosity is sparked, confidence is built, and children grow beyond what they may have thought possible.

Why This Role Matters

At MTS, we believe young children are capable of deep thinking, meaningful expression, and engaged participation in the world around them. Literacy is the pathway through which students build knowledge, communicate ideas, and make sense of their world.

In this role, you will:

• Teach homeroom (including SEL) and two sections of Humanities (phonics, reading, writing, and social studies)

• Develop strong readers through a science of reading approach—building phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension

• Cultivate confident writers and communicators, helping students express ideas with clarity, structure, and voice

• Integrate reading, writing, and social studies so students build knowledge, ask questions, and make meaningful connections

• Foster curiosity and creativity, inviting students to explore, imagine, and engage with ideas in multiple ways

• Teach students how to think and learn: seeing inspiration around them and building their identities as readers and writers, organizing ideas, using evidence, participating in discussion, and reflecting on their growth

• Nurture empathetic, engaged community members who understand themselves, others, and their role in the world

• Establish clear routines and expectations that maximize learning time and support independence

• Partner closely with families to support each child’s growth
  

Teaching & Learning at MTS

We are looking for an educator who approaches literacy as a connected, purposeful process. In your classroom:

• Phonics, spelling, and foundational skills are taught explicitly and systematically

• Reading strategies to promote comprehension, vocabulary, fluency, accuracy are explicitly taught and practiced

• Reading about topics across a variety of genres, authors, and time periods helps us understand ourselves and others

• Writing craft techniques, structures, and mechanics are explicitly taught, practiced, and promoted

• Vocabulary and knowledge-building are developed through rich content, discussion, and experience

• Social studies provides meaningful context for literacy, critical thinking, and inquiry

• Creativity and structure work together, supporting both skill development and authentic expression

• Experience with research-based literacy and writing approaches (e.g., Orton-Gillingham, Slingerland, Fundations, The Writing Revolution, InquirEd); experience with SEL best practices (Responsive Classroom, Institute for Social Emotional Learning, CASEL, Kimochis) is highly valued

What Makes MTS Different

At MTS:

• Learning is revered. Education is joyful.

• Children are challenged to think, express ideas, and engage meaningfully

• Strong relationships are the foundation of great teaching

Our shared values guide our work:

• Lead With Kindness

• Honor Childhood

• Practice Active Inclusion

• Celebrate the Journey

• Ask, “What’s Possible?” 

Who Thrives Here

We are looking for educators who bring both skill and heart. You might be a strong fit if you:

• Love teaching first grade and believe deeply in what young children are capable of

• Are passionate about early literacy, language development, and social studies

• Balance academic rigor with joy, creativity, and curiosity

• Are committed to equity, inclusion, and identity-affirming classrooms

• Value collaboration, reflection, and continuous growth

• Build strong, authentic relationships with students and families

A Collaborative, Growth-Oriented Environment

At MTS, you will:

• Collaborate closely with a dedicated first grade team

• Engage in meaningful professional development

• Receive coaching, feedback, and opportunities to grow

• Contribute to a culture that values thoughtful teaching and continuous improvement

Our Community

MTS is a departmentalized K–8 independent school serving ~270 students in Mill Valley, CA. Our students are curious, engaged, and eager to learn. Our educators are deeply committed to both academic excellence and student wellbeing.

Compensation
Salary: $85,000 – $120,000 depending on experience and education.

Apply
Please send a cover letter and resume to: jobs@mttam.org

Our Equal Opportunity Employment Policy

As an academic institution, the School strives to provide equal opportunity for all employees and applicants without regard to race, color, age, religious creed, national origin, ancestry, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, related medical conditions, and breastfeeding), reproductive health decision-making, genetic information, physical or mental disability, medical condition, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, military or veteran status, citizenship status, or any other basis protected by federal, state or local law. The School prohibits discrimination or harassment based on these classifications. Discrimination and harassment based on a perception that anyone is in any of these protected classifications, or is associated with a person who has or is perceived as being in any of these protected classifications, are also prohibited. This policy applies to all areas of employment, including recruitment, hiring, training, promotion, compensation, benefits and other stated conditions of employment.

About Mount Tamalpais School

Mount Tamalpais School, 100 Harvard Ave, Mill Valley, CA 94941 (Telephone 415-383-9434), is a coeducational day school enrolling children in Kindergarten through Grade 8. The suburban community of Mill Valley is 12 miles north of San Francisco in Marin County. Students have access to the museums, theater, opera, symphony, and ballet of the city, and visit the Pacific Ocean and Mount Tamalpais for hiking and nature study. Private bus service is available between the school and local communities; public bus stops are within walking distance of the campus. Mount Tamalpais School is dedicated to the active pursuit of knowledge and to integrity, community service and fairness. We want our students to embrace diversity, honoring the value of each individual's strengths, choices, feelings and ideas. We strive to celebrate the human spirit by being responsible members of our families, our school community, and our world. We are committed to a strong, interactive and multidisciplinary curriculum, designed to challenge and enlighten, and to faculty who serve as guides and role models for our students.

Connections working at Mount Tamalpais School