Open Positions

Open Positions

  • Reports To: Head of School

    Associate Teacher Job Description

    Westland School, located in Los Angeles in the Santa Monica Mountains on Mulholland Drive, is a K-6 school with 130 students. Founded in 1949 on developmental and progressive principles, the school has a social studies core curriculum with specialist classes in the arts, science, woodworking, gardening, printing, dance, and a commitment to community involvement, environmental stewardship, diversity, equity and inclusivity. The tight-knit school community is noted for its vitally involved parents, and its collaborative faculty and staff. The two-acre campus, which provides a natural setting with trees and gardens, stimulates learning and nurtures childhood.

    Responsibilities include:

    • Effectively supports children, using the Westland’s mission as guide.  

    • Supports social and emotional growth and development of students through caring interaction, supervision, and instruction in and outside of the classroom. 

    • Carries out those aspects of the program within the classroom as agreed by and decided upon with the head teacher. 

    • Instructs individual students, small groups, or the whole class to carry out the curriculum planned with the head teacher.

    • Supports integrated social studies-based curriculum as designed by the head teacher. 

    • Acts as the classroom teacher in the head teacher’s absence. 

    • Supports logistical arrangements for special projects: field trips, special class activities, etc.  

    • Researches, prepares, organizes, and cares for instructional materials as directed by the head teacher.  

    • Helps the head teacher maintain a creative, welcoming, safe, and orderly classroom including assisting in maintaining the curriculum library. 

    • Maintains positive relationships with colleagues.

    • Supports conference report writing process through providing feedback. 

    • Supports a unified approach with the head teacher in responding to parents regarding children, program, and school policy. 

    • Attends and participates in meetings: weekly staff meetings; conference; August “Intro” and June “Outro” Week meetings; head teacher, head of school and/or Educational Advisory committee meetings at assigned times; and other school-wide events as directed by Head of School. 

    • Performs duties as assigned by the head teacher and Assistant Head of School, i.e. lunch coverage, pick-up, safety drills, etc. 

    Skills, Knowledge and Abilities:

    • Knowledge and understanding of child development, progressive philosophy and practice. 

    • Excellent communication skills.

    • Ability to be self-motivated and a team player.

    • Ability to provide for several levels of student ability and learning style.

    • Ability to support thematically integrated curriculum and social justice and anti-bias curriculum.

    • Desire and ability to embrace continuing education. 

    • Experience, knowledge, and a grounding in multicultural awareness and practice.

    Qualifications and Compensation:

    • Undergraduate degree required, preferably in education or related field

    • Salary is dependent upon personal qualifications and experience. Starting range is $47,413 - $59,188. 

    • Benefits are competitive and include: medical, dental, disability insurance, and retirement plan

Thank you for your interest in joining our team. We encourage you to check back regularly for future opportunities.

Hiring Process

When openings occur at Westland, a search is begun for candidates with a progressive background, an investment in equity and inclusivity, and experience. A faculty and administrative interview committee meets with select candidates, and finalists for head teaching positions are invited to teach a demonstration lesson.


Equal Employment Opportunity Employer

Westland School promotes a community of inclusion and emphasizes an appreciation of the value of all people. The school maintains a policy of nondiscrimination toward all employees and applicants for employment. Thus, to the full extent required by law, the school will not discriminate against any employee or applicant based on their race, color, religious creed, religion, national origin, ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, age, sexual orientation, military and veteran status, or any other protected characteristic, all as defined by applicable law. The school also does not discriminate against employees or applicants on account of pregnancy or perceived pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions. Discrimination based on any ground listed in this paragraph is unlawful.