About Burke’s

Burke's is an independent K-8 gender-inclusive all-girls’ school located on a 3.5-acre campus in San Francisco. Burke’s is one of California’s leading elementary schools with a 116-year tradition of educational excellence. Our mission is to educate, encourage, and empower girls. The school combines strong academic and co-curricular programs with an emphasis on project-based learning and personal growth in a diverse and inclusive community. We emphasize the development of fundamental and higher-level critical thinking skills in an atmosphere of creativity, exploration, academic rigor, and joyful learning.

Position Description

Burke’s Teaching Institute is a two-year program that provides on-campus training for our Associate Teachers. Through regular pedagogical workshops, we provide Associate Teachers with information about teaching methods, curriculum development, assessment, and classroom management skills. Examples of recent Teaching Institute topics and discussions include: Social-Emotional Life of Girls, Exploring Anti-Racist Curriculum and System Inequalities, Supporting Diverse Learning Styles, Responsive Classroom Philosophy and Strategies, and Preparing Resumes and Interview Skills. In addition, each year we choose a book to examine closely. Some titles we have read are Limitless Mind (Boaler), Culturally Responsive Teaching and The Brain (Hammond), Through Other Eyes (Skolnick, Dulberg & Maestre), and Identity Safe Classrooms (Steele & Cohn-Vargas).

Associate Teachers are partnered with Lead Teachers who play a vital role in helping the Associate develop teaching skills. By observing and working with our experienced teachers and participating in the life of the school, Associates gain valuable experience as well as opportunities to develop their own philosophy and teaching style.

The Associate Teaching position is a 2-year position. Burke’s has one Associate Teaching position in each Lower School classroom. Having Associate Teachers allows us to increase the small group attention that we offer in our Lower School classrooms and to provide opportunities for people interested in becoming educators to experience working in a K-8 independent school. In addition, Associate Teachers are expected to be enrolled in a credential or masters program by the beginning of their second year.