Middle School Associate Teacher

Associate Teacher

Khan Lab School, founded by Sal Khan in 2014, is an innovative TK-12 independent school with 3 campuses, serving over 260 students in Silicon Valley, CA and Wichita, KS. Our Lower School (grades TK-5) is in Palo Alto, CA, our Middle and Upper Schools (grades 6-12) are in Mountain View, CA.

We were established to test and refine the educational vision outlined in Sal Khan's 2012 book, "The One World Schoolhouse," which explores the development of modern education, the origins of Khan Academy, and a forward-thinking approach to both in-person and online learning.

Building on this foundation, Sal Khan's latest book, "Brave New Words," further expands on his educational philosophy and vision for the future. At Khan Lab School, we're committed to implementing these innovative ideas and preparing students for success in the rapidly evolving knowledge economy.

The Associate Teacher partners with the Middle School Director and the Middle School teaching team to teach a rigorous, mastery-based curriculum and facilitate active learning experiences. In alignment with the KLS vision, the KLS Middle School Program is designed to offer students the opportunity to accelerate. Thus, our middle school science program provides the opportunity for advanced study in high-school-level topics, including conceptual physics, chemistry and biology.

This position also includes participating in our advisory program and guiding students in their social and emotional development. In addition, all members of the Middle School teaching team are expected to contribute to the broader life of the school via participation in school activities and events, the admissions process, and faculty and staff meetings.

Academic Duties:
Teach a minimum of 8 hours per week of science courses as assigned by the Middle School Director, making efficient use of existing materials and tools.

• Lead or assist with an Exploratory elective each session, 2 hours per week.
• Facilitate or lead a Play Lab elective each session, 1 hour per week.
• Support Science Olympiad and/or iGem Teams, 1-2 hours per week.
• Teach one module in the Life Skills Lab curriculum, 1 hour per week.
• Meet weekly with department and/or mentor teachers and observe classes. 1-2 hours per week.
• Clearly outline course expectations, goals, and assignments at the beginning of the term using the school's Learning Management System (LMS), internal materials, and external resources such as Khan Academy, where applicable.
• 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.
• Other duties as assigned.

Teaching & Vision Alignment:

• Facilitate classes with an emphasis on active learning and real-world contexts, minimizing direct instruction. Primarily utilize methods such as think-pair-share, experiential learning, case studies, peer teaching, independent studies, and project-based learning.
• Leverage assessment data to inform instruction, provide timely feedback to students, and complete progress reports by identified deadlines.
• Utilize external instructional resources, including Khan Academy, to accommodate diverse learning needs and backgrounds for in-person courses. Collaborate with school leadership to identify materials.
• Develop curriculum and learning experiences aligned with the KLS teaching vision, in the absence of high-quality resources.
• 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.
• Create an inclusive environment where students of diverse backgrounds and political perspectives feel welcome, fostering critical thinking through thoughtful questioning.

Contribution to KLS:

• Fulfill duties as assigned by the Middle School Director, such as lunch and goal time supervision.
• Be accessible to students for interaction and support.
• Lead advisory sessions for a group of students, focusing on academic progress,…