K-5 Teacher
San Francisco, CA
K-5 Teacher
Full Time • San Francisco, CA
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- Health insurance
- Paid time off
About the Role:
Sylva School is seeking a deeply adaptable, emotionally intelligent, and growth-minded educator to join our all-outdoor elementary program serving mixed-age children in grades K–3.
This is not a traditional teaching position.
Sylva was created for families seeking a different kind of childhood. Our program blends focused academics with child-led exploration, emotional support, real-world experiences, and full immersion in outdoor learning environments throughout San Francisco and surrounding areas.
Our children spend their days learning not only through curriculum, but through movement, relationships, nature, community experiences, problem-solving, and exploration of the world around them.
We are looking for educators who understand that behavior is communication, that emotional safety matters deeply, and that childhood should be protected, not rushed.
Responsibilities:
Lead and support children through daily outdoor learning experiences
Facilitate academic instruction and individualized support
Help children navigate emotions, conflict resolution, and self-regulation
Support child-led exploration while maintaining safety awareness
Adapt daily plans according to weather, energy levels, locations, children’s needs, and environmental conditions
Collaborate closely with Sylva’s Operations Manager and teaching team
Assist with transitions, group management, and communication with families
Participate in field trips, workshops, city exploration, and outdoor excursions
Model leadership, emotional regulation, self-regulation, flexibility, and professionalism
Support the long-term growth and development of Sylva’s philosophy and culture
Help train new staff according to Sylva Philosophy training
Lead and support children through daily outdoor learning experiences
Facilitate academic instruction and individualized support
Help children navigate emotions, conflict resolution, and self-regulation
Support child-led exploration while maintaining safety awareness
Adapt daily plans according to weather, energy levels, locations, children’s needs, and environmental conditions
Collaborate closely with Sylva’s Operations Manager and teaching team
Assist with transitions, group management, and communication with families
Participate in field trips, workshops, city exploration, and outdoor excursions
Model leadership, emotional regulation, self-regulation, flexibility, and professionalism
Support the long-term growth and development of Sylva’s philosophy and culture
Help train new staff according to Sylva Philosophy training
Requirements:
Valid Multiple Subject Teaching Credential OR relevant educational certification/experience
Experience working with elementary-aged children
Strong classroom management rooted in connection and emotional awareness
Ability to walk long distances and work outdoors in varying weather conditions
Comfortable navigating parks, trails, beaches, museums, urban environments, and changing terrain
Ability to remain calm and adaptable in fast-moving situations
Strong communication and collaboration skills
CPR/First Aid Certified (or willingness to become certified)
Valid Multiple Subject Teaching Credential OR relevant educational certification/experience
Experience working with elementary-aged children
Strong classroom management rooted in connection and emotional awareness
Ability to walk long distances and work outdoors in varying weather conditions
Comfortable navigating parks, trails, beaches, museums, urban environments, and changing terrain
Ability to remain calm and adaptable in fast-moving situations
Strong communication and collaboration skills
CPR/First Aid Certified (or willingness to become certified)
About Us:
This is not a traditional teaching position.
Sylva was created for families seeking a different kind of childhood. Our program blends focused academics with child-led exploration, emotional support, real-world experiences, and full immersion in outdoor learning environments throughout San Francisco and surrounding areas.
The ideal candidate does not become overwhelmed by change, but instead sees adaptation as part of the beauty of the work.
The ideal candidate does not become overwhelmed by change, but instead sees adaptation as part of the beauty of the work.
This is a physically active, emotionally engaged, and deeply collaborative environment. We are not looking for educators who simply manage children. We are looking for people who can truly see them and help them feel seen.
Compensation: $65,000.00 per year
About
We are 100% outdoor, structured learning based in the area of San Francisco's Golden Gate Park & Ocean Beach.
We are a curriculum and nature-based Transitional Kindergarten and Kindergarten program.
Why Forest School?
With every step children take in the outdoors, they are making critical decisions that exercise their executive function. These are the skills that help us plan, negotiate, prioritize, multitask, problem-solve, create, and navigate.
As their brains fire off the multiple connections needed to accomplish using these skills, they build crucial pathways that will enable them to have a headstart on making quick, balanced, critical decisions for the rest of their lives. By the age of 5, a child's brain begins to prune connections that are not being used regularly to focus on making deeper pathways on connections that are being used consistently.
The goal is to keep as many connections firing and building as possible. This is done by utilizing all pathways through physical, emotional, social, and academic exercise.
Our Wish
Educating in nature comes with learning to thrive in an outdoor environment in all kinds of weather. This type of challenge teaches the children how to self-care, push past their comfort zones, and practice defining their limits while sharpening their self-regulation skills.
As the world rapidly and unpredictably changes around us, it is our wish that every child has the opportunity to dig in the dirt, splash in the rain, climb a tree, roll down a hill, balance on a boulder, climb a mountain, walk in the woods, see animals in their habitat, and meditate on the beach. These are the very elements of our daily explorations.
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