"Education is not the learning of facts, but the training of the mind to think."

- Albert Einstein

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OPEN POSITIONS

Mission & Vision

Imagination Lab School (ILS) is a small, progressive TK–8 school in Palo Alto that integrates social-emotional learning (SEL), project-based learning (PBL), and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to nurture the whole child—intellectually, emotionally, and socially. We believe that education should cultivate agency, belonging, and confidence in every learner.

Elementary School Lead Teachers (Grades TK–1; 2-3)

Grades 4-5 Lead Teacher

Middle School Humanities Lead Teacher

Middle School STEM Lead Teacher

Elementary School Lead Teachers (Grades TK–1; 2-3)

Overview

The Elementary Lead Teacher will join a collaborative, mission-driven faculty dedicated to fostering curiosity, critical thinking, confidence, and connection in young learners.

The ideal candidate is an experienced progressive educator who skillfully blends academic rigor with joyful exploration, SEL integration, and hands-on, interdisciplinary learning.

Responsibilities

Create a classroom culture rooted in care, curiosity, and collaboration.
Design and facilitate integrated thematic units connected to real-world contexts and student interests.
Guide students in developing strong foundations in literacy, numeracy, and inquiry.
Incorporate social-emotional learning and mindfulness into daily routines.
Collaborate with colleagues to plan and reflect on student learning and school-wide initiatives.
Maintain regular communication with families through conferences, newsletters, and student portfolios.

Qualifications

An experienced progressive educator with a deep understanding of child development, inquiry-based, and project-based learning.
Bachelor’s degree in Education or related field (Master’s preferred).
Passion for creating inclusive and culturally responsive classroom environments.
Excellent communication and organizational skills.

How to Apply: Please email a cover letter and resume to hr@imagination-school.org with the role in the subject line.

Grades 4-5 Lead Teacher

Overview

Imagination Lab School is a TK–8 school organized into four developmental cohorts: Foundational Elementary (Grades TK–1), Lower Elementary (Grades 2–3), Upper Elementary (Grades 4–5), and Middle School (Grades 6–8).
This role focuses on the Upper Elementary cohort and involves teaching one class while supporting a coherent and developmentally responsive learning progression across grades.

The ideal candidate is an experienced progressive educator who combines strong content knowledge with a creative, student-centered approach that brings math and science alive through hands-on inquiry, experimentation, critical thinking, and real-world problem solving.

Responsibilities [inclusive of all core subject areas]

Design and facilitate interdisciplinary, project-based learning experiences that integrate English Language Arts, mathematics, science, and social studies
Design engaging lessons that promote critical thinking, problem-solving, collaboration, and student voice
Differentiate instruction to meet diverse learning needs, strengths, and interests
Use formative & summative assessments to monitor student progress and inform instruction emphasizing growth and reflection.
Support students in developing executive functioning skills such as organization, time management, and self-advocacy
Collaborate with colleagues across disciplines to integrate SDG-driven projects.
Incorporate SEL and identity-safe practices to cultivate voice, belonging, and reflection.
Communicate clearly with families through narrative feedback, conferences, and portfolio presentations.
Participate in staff meetings, professional development, and school events.

Qualifications

An experienced progressive educator with a deep understanding of inquiry-based, project-based, and student-centered learning
Bachelor’s degree in Education or a related field
Experience teaching upper elementary students
Strong content knowledge across ELA, math, social studies, and science
Commitment to cultivating equity and inclusion in the classroom.
Flexibility, creativity, and enthusiasm for working in a collaborative, innovative environment.
Willingness to learn, iterate, and innovate within a project-based learning environment; commitment to continuous professional growth.

How to Apply: Please email a cover letter and resume to hr@imagination-school.org with the role in the subject line.

Middle School Humanities Lead Teacher

Overview

Imagination Lab School is a TK–8 school organized into four developmental cohorts: Foundational Elementary (Grades TK–1), Lower Elementary (Grades 2–3), Upper Elementary (Grades 4–5), and Middle School (Grades 6–8).
This role focuses on the Middle School cohort and involves teaching classes that support a coherent, developmentally responsive learning progression across grades.

The ideal candidate is an experienced progressive educator who brings a deep understanding of inquiry-based pedagogy, student voice and choice, and authentic assessment. This educator will nurture a classroom culture grounded in empathy, curiosity, critical thinking, and meaningful connection to the world, supporting students’ agency, belonging, and intellectual growth.

Responsibilities

Design and facilitate integrated humanities projects rooted in real-world questions and global themes.
Guide students in developing strong writing, communication, and analytical skills across genres and media.
Collaborate with STEM and specialist teachers to create interdisciplinary learning experiences.
Incorporate SEL and identity-safe practices to cultivate voice, belonging, and reflection.
Support advisory and community-building programs.
Communicate clearly with families through narrative feedback, conferences, and portfolio presentations.
Participate in staff meetings, professional development, and school events.

Qualifications

An experienced progressive educator with a deep understanding of inquiry-based, project-based, and student-centered learning.
Bachelor’s degree in Education, Humanities, or related field (Master’s preferred).
Demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging.
Strong writing and communication skills.
Collaborative spirit and flexibility in a dynamic environment.
A reflective, growth-oriented educator who values curiosity, critical thinking, and lifelong learning, and is eager to continuously develop their practice within a collaborative community.

How to Apply: Please email a cover letter and resume to hr@imagination-school.org with the role in the subject line.

Middle School STEM Lead Teacher

Overview

This role focuses on the Middle School cohort and involves teaching classes, supporting a coherent, developmentally responsive learning progression across grades.

The ideal candidate is an experienced progressive educator who combines strong content knowledge with a creative, student-centered approach that brings math and science to life through hands-on inquiry, experimentation, critical thinking, and authentic real-world problem-solving.

Responsibilities [inclusive of all core subject areas]

Develop and implement engaging, interdisciplinary STEM units aligned with ILS’s project-based model.
Foster mathematical reasoning, scientific literacy, and design thinking through collaborative challenges.
Guide students in applying data, measurement, and modeling to authentic community-based problems.
Use assessment as a learning tool, emphasizing growth and reflection.
Collaborate with colleagues across disciplines to integrate SDG-driven projects.
Support student innovation through the Maker Lab and Learning Lab programs.
Participate in professional learning communities and school-wide initiatives.

Qualifications

An experienced progressive educator with a deep understanding of inquiry-based, project-based, and student-centered learning
Bachelor’s degree in STEM field or Education (Master’s preferred).
Familiarity with the 8 Mathematical Practice Standards and NGSS.
Commitment to cultivating equity and inclusion in the classroom.
Willingness to learn, iterate, and innovate within a project-based learning environment; commitment to continuous professional growth.

How to Apply: Please email a cover letter and resume to hr@imagination-school.org with the role in the subject line.