About us

Manzanita School and Institute, founded in 2013, is an independent, non-profit, co-educational day school, serving students in grades K through 12. We are located on 21 acres in the rugged and bio-diverse Topanga Canyon, northwest of Los Angeles. Currently in our 13th year, with a program emphasizing human ecology and land stewardship, we received accreditation from the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) in 2017.

Teaching Role:

Manzanita School is seeking a collaborative and visionary middle school teacher to join our remarkable team for the 2026-2027 school year. The middle school teacher will be responsible for teaching the following courses in a multi-grade-level setting:

• A multidisciplinary subject that integrates middle school science and humanities, known as Unit of Study at Manzanita. The Unit of Study teacher will co-create learning experiences that invite students to investigate real-world questions, engage in sustained projects, and develop both analytical and imaginative capacities. 
• The Unit of Study teacher will also co-teach Nature Connection alongside an experienced naturalist. This class, nature-based learning experiences alongside a naturalist designed to cultivate a deep relationship with place and the more-than-human world through embodied experiences. 

Other Core Roles and Responsibilities:

• Serve as a homeroom teacher, holding a consistent group of students, including facilitating morning check-ins, end-of-the-day closing circles, council practices, and act as a primary relational anchor for students, tracking emotional, social, and academic development, communicating with families, and supporting conflict resolution and community health. 
• Collaborate with their naturalist in planning 1-2 four to five-day off-campus expeditions designed to build group unity, while giving the students hands-on experience with their core Science, Humanities, and Nature Connection curricula.
• Participate in whole-school rhythms like community gatherings, festivals, field experiences, faculty reflection and curriculum development.
• Contribute to the evolving mission and vision of Manzanita as a nature-based, community-rooted learning environment.

To apply for this position:

1. Read our school website
2. Send a resume and a cover letter (describing why you are interested in working at Manzanita School) to the Middle School Head of School, Jeremy Sands, at sands@manzanitaschool.org

Qualifications

• 3 to 5 years of experience teaching middle school (Grades 6–8) in science, humanities, or interdisciplinary settings
• Bachelor's degree or higher
• Demonstrated ability to design project-based or inquiry-driven curriculum
• Comfort teaching across disciplines or willingness to grow into an integrated model
• Experience or strong interest in nature-based or place-based education
• Capacity to hold both:
  • Academic rigor
  • Relational and emotional attunement

Highly Desired Qualities

• Sees learning as both intellectual and human
• Able to move between structure and emergence
• Strong collaborator and co-teacher
• Grounded presence with adolescents
• Values community, reflection, and rhythm

Professional development in Unit of Study, Nature Connection, and curriculum development will be provided.

Manzanita School is an Equal Opportunity Employer and we strongly encourage a diverse field of qualified applicants.

About Manzanita School and Institute

Manzanita School and Institute, founded in 2013, is an independent, non-profit, co-educational day school, serving students in grades K through 12. We are located on 21 acres in the rugged and bio-diverse Topanga Canyon, northwest of Los Angeles. Currently in our 9th year, our program emphasizes human ecology and land stewardship. We received accreditation from the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) in 2017.

Connections working at Manzanita School and Institute