Middle School Teacher

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 the natural world.

• Experience teaching middle school students in a multi-grade-level setting.
• Ability to co-create and implement a multidisciplinary Unit of Study curriculum.
• Experience with nature-based learning and outdoor education.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively with colleagues and build strong relationships with students, families, and the wider community.