Lower School Humanities Specialist (Grade 2/3)

KHAN LAB SCHOOL

In 2012, Sal Khan wrote The One World Schoolhouse that outlines how modern education developed and how Khan Academy came to be. The book outlines a vision for the future of both in-person and online education given the tools we have and the need to participate in the knowledge economy. In 2014, he founded Khan Lab School to test and refine these ideas in an actual school setting.

Khan Lab School is a K-12 independent school on two campuses serving over 290 students in Silicon Valley. The Lower School (grades TK-5) program is located in Palo Alto, California. The Middle and Upper School (grades 6-12) are located in Mountain View, California.

ABOUT THE POSITION

This position will teach second grade for Academic Year 2025-2026 and third grade for Academic Year 2026-2027. The Humanities Specialist is an experienced teacher with a clear understanding and background in mastery-based learning in the context of a Lower School experience. The Humanities Specialist partners with the Lower School Director and Lower School teaching team to teach a rigorous, mastery-based curriculum, facilitate active learning experiences aligned with the KLS vision and guide students in their social and emotional development. In addition, this position involves contributing to the broader life of the school via participation in school activities and events, school admissions and faculty and staff meetings.

All teachers are required to participate in a number of admissions events (see below) and after school events that are beyond the normal work day that ends at 4:00 PM. 

SPECIFIC DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Academic Duties

• Teach a minimum of 20 hours per week as assigned by the Lower School Director, 
  • Humanities Specialist: Teach Humanities (which includes Reading, Writing, Language, and Social Studies) and Advisory (SEL curriculum) utilizing the provided Humanities and Advisory curriculum, to students in specific grades, as assigned by the Lower School Director.
• Teach using California content and Common Core Standards as a guide, with a commitment to mastery-based and project-based approaches aligned with KLS vision.
• Advisors: Lead Advisory students in assigned grade. Work with students on social emotional and executive functioning skills and build authentic relationships with students.
• Maintain regular communication with students, families, teachers, and other professionals about student progress and submit progress reports by the due date at the end of each term. Prepare students to participate in student-led parent-teacher conferences.
• Other duties as assigned.

Teaching & Vision Alignment 

• Teach a minimum of 20 hours per week of lower school level courses as assigned by the Lower School Director, making efficient use of existing materials and tools. Return student work in a timely manner, within 5 days. 
• Facilitate classes with an emphasis on active learning by primarily utilizing methods such as project-based learning, think-pair-share, experiential learning, and real world scenarios and case studies. 
• Leverage assessment data to inform instruction and provide timely feedback to students. 
• Utilize external instructional resources, including Khan Academy and other provided curriculum, to accommodate diverse learning needs and backgrounds.  Collaborate with school leadership to identify and modify materials. 
• Develop learning experiences aligned with the KLS teaching vision. Create real-world projects that are relevant to students and apply the knowledge they’ve learned through asynchronous curriculum and in-class activities. 
• Identify, select, and modify instructional resources to meet the needs of students with varying backgrounds, learning styles, and learning needs in collaboration with the school leadership and founder. 
• Integrate technology into the classroom appropriately, including AI tools relevant to each discipline. 
• Effectively communicate and collaborate with students, families, teachers, and other professionals regarding student progress, including timely submission of progress reports on specific dates. 
• Create an inclusive environment where students of diverse backgrounds and political perspectives feel welcome, fostering critical thinking through thoughtful questioning.

Contribution to KLS

• For  5th grade only: Participate in one student overnight trip (e.g. Camp Campbell Outdoor Science School).  Note that this will include an overnight stay of 2-3 nights.
• Complete duties during the school day as assigned by the Lower School Director including, but not limited to, morning drop off, recess supervision, lunch supervision, afternoon pick-up, front desk, and substitute teaching coverage for colleagues. 
• Serve as a faculty ambassador for the Admissions team during our re-enrollment and admissions period in the Fall and Spring. This includes, at minimum, 6-8 hours for Pre-Admission events (Open House, Preview Days, and Shadow Days) and 10 hours of Post Application Events (Student Visits and Observations, Parent Interviews, Application reads); these events may take place outside of school hours. 
• Participate in two  or more activities that contribute to the life and culture of KLS, to be determined in collaboration with the Lower School Director. This could include: participating in and planning all-school events (Lit-Khan, Night in the Lab), facilitating a student club during the academic year (e.g. student government), contributing to the planning and preparation of KLS events (e.g., Stepping Up day, Family Association events - Fall Festival, Khanival), serving as a representative on the KLS DEIB Committee. 
• Attend all team meetings and participate in professional development, including departmental meetings (e.g. Humanities team, STEM team, TK/K/1 team). Invest in the life of the school by participating in additional school events, team meetings and any and all aspects that support student growth. 
• Uphold professional and ethical standards in all interactions within the school community.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• Ability to occasionally lift, carry, push and pull up to 25 pounds as some regular organizational tasks involve moving desks, chairs, electronics, paperwork and other school supplies and equipment as needed.
• Must be able to remain in a stationary position at least 50% of the time.
• Capability of occasionally moving about inside an office setting to access file cabinets, office machinery, etc.
• Ability to proficiently and frequently operate a computer and keyboard as well as other office equipment such as calculators, copy machines, printers, and projectors.
• Consistently practice safe working habits while using school supplies, equipment, and electronics as well as the ability to maintain a safe and hazard-free workstation for yourself and others at the school.
• Occasionally required to work weekends, nights, or be on-call for special events, which are sometimes held outside and require the ability and willingness to work in all weather conditions at any time of the year.
• Ability to properly communicate information and ideas so other people can understand as well as the ability to ascertain and understand information communicated from others.

APPLICATION PROCESS
Applications should include:

• A cover letter.
• A resume.
• Names and contact information for three professional references.

Successful candidates will have a demonstrated familiarity with the Sal Khan’s school model outlined in his book The One World Schoolhouse.

Compensation: $85K-$108.5K per year. Competitive compensation commensurate with experience.
Benefits: Medical, dental, and vision insurance. Generous PTO. Life insurance. A 401k retirement plan with an employer match.

Location: Palo Alto, CA

Khan Lab School is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not unlawfully discriminate based on race, color, creed, place of national origin, sex, age, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender (including gender identity, gender expression, and transgender), religion (beliefs, observances, or practices, including religious dress or grooming), marital status, registered domestic partner status, ancestry, genetic information, physical or mental disabilities, medical conditions, and/or military or veteran status in its employment practices or any other considerations made unlawful by federal, state, or local laws.

Salary : $85,000 - $108,500