Founding Elementary Lead Teacher (K-5)

Masterminds Academy; Los Altos (CA); On-site; USD 80,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Paid time off

Professional development

Job summary

Masterminds Academy in Los Altos, California is seeking a founding elementary lead teacher for Kindergarten through Fifth Grade to anchor our new campus. This is a rare, on-site opportunity to help design and nurture a rigorous, deeply human educational program from day one.

You will teach across core subjects in very small groups of 5–6 students, adapt curricula for individual readiness, collaborate with a Dubai-trained academic team, and partner closely with families to support every child’s

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or higher in education or a relevant discipline.
• Significant experience teaching elementary-aged children.
• Strong competency in elementary literacy and mathematics instruction.
• Confidence teaching science and humanities/social studies.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• The ability to work effectively with children across different ages and levels of academic readiness.
• A collaborative and adaptable mindset and enthusiasm for being part of a growing school.

Responsibilities

• Teach across the elementary curriculum, including English language arts, reading, writing, grammar, mathematics, science and humanities/social studies.
• Work with students across Kindergarten through Grade 5, including students working above or below conventional grade-level expectations.
• Teach primarily through very small instructional groups, typically approximately 5-6 students, together with individualized instruction where appropriate.
• Understand each student's academic development and help implement personalized learning plans and goals.
• Create intellectually rich learning experiences using great literature, strong writing, mathematical reasoning, historical inquiry and scientific investigation.
• Make science highly experiential through experiments, demonstrations, engineering challenges and project-based learning.
• Incorporate STEM/STEAM experiences and interdisciplinary projects where appropriate.
• Use conceptual and problem-solving approaches to mathematics. Experience with Singapore Math or similar mastery-based mathematics approaches is particularly valued.
• Identify opportunities for students to move beyond conventional grade-level expectations when they are ready.

Skills

Elementary education

Reading instruction

Mathematics instruction

Science instruction

Humanities instruction

Communication skills

Collaboration

Adaptability

Multi-age teaching

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher in education

Job description

Full-Time | $80,000-$90,000

About Masterminds Academy

Founding Elementary Lead Teacher (K-5)

Masterminds Academy | Los Altos, California

Full-Time | $80,000-$90,000

About Masterminds Academy

Masterminds Academy is bringing to California an educational model developed and refined over more than a decade in Dubai.

We are building a small, ambitious and deeply human Preschool – Grade 8 microschool in Los Altos - one that treats learning as an intellectual adventure and children as serious thinkers. Our approach combines rigorous academics with personalized learning, hands‑on exploration, interdisciplinary experiences and unusually close relationships between teachers and students.

Students typically learn in small instructional groups of approximately 5-6, allowing teachers to understand each child deeply, personalize instruction and move students forward based on readiness rather than simply age or grade.

Our California faculty will not be starting with a blank sheet of paper. They will have access to an established educational philosophy, curriculum frameworks, resources and training developed through Masterminds' experience in Dubai, while having the opportunity to help adapt and build the program for our California students.

We are now looking for an exceptional Founding Elementary Lead Teacher to become the academic anchor of our elementary program.

Who This Role Is Really For

• Loves children - and loves learning.You are as excited about helping a child become a powerful reader and writer as you are about making mathematics intuitive, bringing history to life or turning science into an experiment or engineering challenge.
• Is a true elementary generalist.You are confident teaching across English language arts, mathematics, science and humanities/social studies rather than seeing yourself as a teacher of only one subject.
• Values small-group teaching.You are excited by what becomes possible when you can teach groups of approximately 5-6 students rather than managing a conventional large classroom.
• Thinks in learning trajectories, not simply grade levels.You are comfortable working across K-5 and meeting students where they actually are academically.
• Thrives on personalization.You can assess individual strengths and gaps and move comfortably between individualized instruction, small groups and collaborative learning.
• Makes learning active.You enjoy experiments, projects, investigations, discussions, field experiences and STEM/STEAM challenges - not simply textbooks and worksheets.
• Wants to help build something exceptional.You value the support and structure of an established educational model while also being energized by the opportunity to help establish its California campus and culture.

The Role

As a founding faculty member, you will lead core academic learning for our elementary students and work closely with school leadership and the broader Masterminds academic team.

Teaching & Learning

• Teach across the elementary curriculum, including English language arts, reading, writing, grammar, mathematics, science and humanities/social studies.
• Work with students across Kindergarten through Grade 5, including students working above or below conventional grade-level expectations.
• Teach primarily through very small instructional groups, typically approximately 5-6 students, together with individualized instruction where appropriate.
• Understand each student's academic development and help implement personalized learning plans and goals.
• Create intellectually rich learning experiences using great literature, strong writing, mathematical reasoning, historical inquiry and scientific investigation.
• Make science highly experiential through experiments, demonstrations, engineering challenges and project-based learning.
• Incorporate STEM/STEAM experiences and interdisciplinary projects where appropriate.
• Use conceptual and problem-solving approaches to mathematics. Experience with Singapore Math or similar mastery-based mathematics approaches is particularly valued.
• Identify opportunities for students to move beyond conventional grade-level expectations when they are ready.

Program Building & Collaboration

• Help bring the established Masterminds educational model to life in California, working within its core philosophy and academic approach.
• Receive curriculum resources, training and ongoing support from the broader Masterminds team, including our experienced Dubai academic team.
• Work with school leadership to adapt curriculum, learning plans and instructional approaches to individual students and the developing California cohort.
• Collaborate with specialist and enrichment teachers to create an integrated student experience.
• Develop interdisciplinary projects and experiences that connect literature, history, science, mathematics, art and the wider world.
• Partner closely with families, communicating student progress, learning goals and areas for development.
• Participate in admissions events and other opportunities to help families understand the Masterminds approach.
• Help establish a joyful, rigorous and intellectually curious founding-school culture.

What We’re Looking For

• A bachelor's degree or higher in education or a relevant academic discipline.
• Significant experience teaching elementary-aged children.
• Strong competency in elementary literacy and mathematics instruction.
• Confidence teaching science and humanities/social studies.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• The ability to work effectively with children across different ages and levels of academic readiness.
• A collaborative and adaptable mindset and enthusiasm for being part of a growing school.

Particularly valuable - but not required - experience includes:

• Singapore Math or other mastery/conceptual mathematics approaches.
• Hands-on science, STEM/STEAM or engineering education.
• Personalized learning.
• Mixed-age or multi-age classrooms.
• Gifted or advanced learners.
• Inquiry-based or project-based learning.
• Curriculum development.
• Experience teaching or supporting students into the middle-school years.

We are less interested in finding someone who checks every box than in finding an exceptional educator with strong fundamentals, intellectual curiosity, adaptability and a genuine desire to help children reach their potential.

Compensation & Benefits

$80,000-$90,000 annually, depending on experience and qualifications, with flexibility for an exceptional candidate.

Benefits include health insurance, paid time off and professional development.

Location & Start Date

This is an on-campus position in Los Altos, California.

Masterminds Academy is currently operating on a rolling-start model, with an initial student cohort potentially beginning as early as January 2027 and the broader 2027-28 school year beginning in September 2027.

Accordingly, the start date has some flexibility and could range from January to September 2027.