To be an associate teacher at Westland School is to be part of a learning community where there is a commitment for adults to learn, grow, lead, and thrive alongside children. We are excited to announce an opening for an associate teacher for the 2026-2027 school year. Westland is a small K-6 school committed to progressive education, democracy, and equity.

Each associate teacher at Westland School partners with a head teacher to support in creating a warm, child-centered, engaging, and beautiful learning environment. The curriculum centers on Social Studies, and teaching partners guide children through integrated investigations posing essential questions such as “How does food get to the table?” Collaborating with the head teacher and specialists, including science, woodworking, gardening, printmaking, PE, and music, teachers create a learning experience for children that is hands-on, immersive, and inspired. We believe that the most effective learning takes place within a diverse school community. Westland’s core mission is rooted in equity, inclusivity, and a social justice anti-bias curriculum. 

Westland is located in Los Angeles on a two-acre nature-rich campus that inspires learning, active citizenship, and honors childhood. Salary and benefits are competitive and compelling.  

Starting salary is commensurate with prior experience and ranges from $47,413 - $59,188. Employment includes union membership. 

Please see the job description for more detailed information. www.westlandschool.org

Send materials to employment@westlandschool.org.

Associate Teacher Job Description

Westland School, located in Los Angeles in the Santa Monica Mountains on Mulholland Drive, is a K-6 school with 130 students. Founded in 1949 on developmental and progressive principles, the school has a social studies core curriculum with specialist classes in the arts, science, woodworking, gardening, printing, dance, and a commitment to community involvement, environmental stewardship, diversity, equity and inclusivity. The tight-knit school community is noted for its vitally involved parents, and its collaborative faculty and staff. The two-acre campus, which provides a natural setting with trees and gardens, stimulates learning and nurtures childhood.

Responsibilities include:

• Effectively supports children, using the Westland’s mission as guide.  
• Supports social and emotional growth and development of students through caring interaction, supervision, and instruction in and outside of the classroom. 
• Carries out those aspects of the program within the classroom as agreed by and decided upon with the head teacher. 
• Instructs individual students, small groups, or the whole class to carry out the curriculum planned with the head teacher.
• Supports integrated social studies-based curriculum as designed by the head teacher. 
• Acts as the classroom teacher in the head teacher’s absence. 
• Supports logistical arrangements for special projects: field trips, special class activities, etc.  
• Researches, prepares, organizes, and cares for instructional materials as directed by the head teacher.  
• Helps the head teacher maintain a creative, welcoming, safe, and orderly classroom including assisting in maintaining the curriculum library. 
• Maintains positive relationships with colleagues.
• Supports conference report writing process through providing feedback. 
• Supports a unified approach with the head teacher in responding to parents regarding children, program, and school policy. 
• Attends and participates in meetings: weekly staff meetings; conference; August “Intro” and June “Outro” Week meetings; head teacher, head of school and/or Educational Advisory committee meetings at assigned times; and other school-wide events as directed by Head of School. 
• Performs duties as assigned by the head teacher and Assistant Head of School, i.e. lunch coverage, pick-up, safety drills, etc. 

Skills, Knowledge and Abilities:

• Knowledge and understanding of child development, progressive philosophy and practice. 
• Excellent communication skills.
• Ability to be self-motivated and a team player.
• Ability to provide for several levels of student ability and learning style.
• Ability to support thematically integrated curriculum and social justice and anti-bias curriculum.
• Desire and ability to embrace continuing education. 
• Experience, knowledge, and a grounding in multicultural awareness and practice.

Qualifications and Compensation:

• Undergraduate degree required, preferably in education or related field
• Salary is dependent upon personal qualifications and experience. Starting range is $47,413 - $59,188. 
• Benefits are competitive and include: medical, dental, disability insurance, and retirement plan

About Westland School

Founded in 1949, Westland is a K-6 school with 130 students. Westland School is an institution committed to democracy and progressive education with a social studies integrated curriculum including specialist classes in the arts, science, woodworking, gardening, printing, and dance. We believe in a learning environment that is non-competitive, child-centered, and community-based, and that the most effective learning takes place with a diverse school community. A part of Westland’s core mission is equity, inclusivity, and a social justice anti-bias curriculum. Westland is located in Los Angeles on a two-acre nature-rich campus that inspires learning and honors childhood.

Connections working at Westland School