Oakland, California
Posted: 23-Mar-26
Location: Oakland, California
Type: Part Time
Categories:
Lower School Design, Build & Innovate Lab Specialist (Part-Time)
Redwood Day
3245 Sheffield Avenue
Oakland, CA 94602
Redwood Day is a vibrant K-8 school where students, faculty, and staff all learn together on our four-acre campus in the heart of Oakland. Everything we do is designed to keep every child engaged and growing. Academically, that means a world-class curriculum, the best teachers, and a focus on the individual student. Socially and emotionally, we teach students to work through challenges, respect each other’s differences, and honor their diverse community. We find great strength in multiple perspectives and embrace every opportunity to weave diversity in thought and action into our social, emotional, and academic lives.
Job Description
The Lower School Design, Build & Innovate Lab (DBI) Specialist will oversee the development and delivery of the Design, Build & Innovate curriculum for Lower School (K - 5) grades. In Redwood Day’s Lower School, DBI courses focus on tinkering, building, design thinking principles, computational thinking, coding, and robotics. The individual will also partner with the Middle School DBI Lab Specialist to support the alignment of a comprehensive, effective, and cohesive K-8 DBI curriculum. The ideal candidate will have experience teaching in a project-based K-5 environment and possess an understanding of particular developmental needs of elementary school students.
Primary Duties:
- Design and implement an appropriate K-5 DBI curriculum consistent with the Redwood Day philosophy and curricula, including differentiated and data-driven instruction
- Demonstrate mastery of related subject matter, instructional skills, and resource materials for K-5 DBI courses
- Assist with the School’s envisioning, and potential implementation, of an AI Tinkering Lab for K-8 students
- Establish a safe and inclusive environment for all students
- Monitor and maintain a positive classroom environment that supports school-wide behavioral expectations
- Utilize a variety of effective instructional and classroom management techniques
- Use available technology/instructional media to enhance students’ learning experiences
- Provide consistent, immediate feedback to student learning
- Provide a variety of assessments and use assessment results for planning and instruction
- Collaborate with K-5 Core and Specialist teachers (Art, Music, Physical Education, & Spanish/Mandarin) to integrate curriculum across the Lower School
- Collaborate with 6-8 DBI Lab Specialist to integrate curriculum across K-8
- Maintain communication with parents & guardians, as necessary, regarding student progress
- Communicate student achievements through written progress reports at designated grading periods
- Hold conferences with students’ guardians as required
- Maintain a safe, organized classroom, which supports students’ independent learning, collaboration and choice
- Manage class materials, and adhere to the designated supplies budget
- Maintain confidential student records and keep accurate documentation of student behavior / progress
- Establish and maintain appropriate relationships with students, parents/guardians, staff, and community members by communicating tactfully, courteously, and confidentially
- Attend and participate in staff meetings and extra-curricular/School-related activities and committees, as requested
- Demonstrate a commitment to continuous professional growth
- Supervise assigned recess and lunch duties
- Fulfill other duties as assigned from time to time
Essential Requirements
- B.A. in related field; Master’s degree preferred
- Three to five years’ experience teaching a S.T.E.A.M. oriented curriculum
- Demonstrated commitment to equity and inclusion
- Culturally competent, responsive, and sensitive to diverse populations
- Strong classroom management skills
Desired Qualifications and Traits
- Strong knowledge of child development, especially ages 5-10
- Background in a STEAM-related field — such as architecture, industrial design, fine arts, engineering, or computer science
- Ability to draw explicit connections between making and core academic disciplines in the classroom
- Experience facilitating design and engineering challenges where students define problems, generate solutions, build prototypes, and iterate based on testing and feedback
- Experience working in a Makerspace or FabLab
- Experience teaching coding and robotics
- Experience using hand and power tools, 3D printers, and laser cutter
- Experience with Google Suite (Google Docs, Google Classroom, and Google Sites), Adobe Illustrator, and CAD programs (ex. Sketchup, Tinkercad, etc.)
Schedule and Hours
This role starts August 12, 2026.
This is a part-time (.5FTE), exempt position. Classes are typically scheduled in the late mornings and afternoons, Monday-Friday.
At Redwood Day, each grade level has 2 class sections, for a total of 12 sections across K-5.
- Each grade K-2 section attends DBI class twice per 8-day instructional cycle during both the Fall and Spring semesters. Each class is 40 minutes long.
- Each grade 3 section attends DBI class once per 8-day instructional cycle during both the Fall and Spring semesters. Each class is 40 minutes long.
- Each grade 4-5 section attends DBI class either in the Fall or Spring Semester (one semester for each grade). During their assigned semester, each section meets once per 8-day instructional cycle. Each class is 55 minutes long.
Pay Scale:
The anticipated salary range the school reasonably expects to pay candidates for the part-time position of Lower School Design, Build & Innovate Lab Specialist is $37,095.00 (0 years’ teaching experience) to $58,570.00 (34 years’ teaching experience), depending on factors such as experience and education.
Apply
Please submit a can application electronically at this link by 04/17/2026. No phone calls, please.
Limitations and Disclaimer
The above job responsibilities are meant to describe the general nature and level of work being performed; it is not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities associated with the position. Employees will be required to follow any other job-related instructions and to perform other job-related duties requested by their supervisor in compliance with federal and state laws. Employment at Redwood Day is “at-will”. All job requirements are subject to possible modification to reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities. Offers are contingent on passing a background check, SB848 screening, and TB assessment.
Non-Discrimination Policy
Redwood Day is an equal opportunity employer and makes employment decisions on the basis of merit. We want to have the best available person in every job. School policy prohibits unlawful discrimination based on race (including traits historically associated with race, including but not limited to, hair texture and protective hairstyles), religion (including religious beliefs, observance or practice, including religious dress or grooming practices), color, sex (including gender, gender identity, gender expression, transgender, transitioned, transitioning or perceived to be transitioning), sexual orientation (including heterosexuality, homosexuality, and bisexuality), national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, marital status, pregnancy and breastfeeding, age, medical condition, genetic characteristics or information, military and veteran status, and physical or mental disability, or any other consideration made unlawful by federal, state, or local laws. It also prohibits unlawful discrimination based on the perception that anyone has any of those characteristics, or is associated with a person who has or is perceived as having any of those characteristics. In addition, Redwood Day does not permit discrimination based on dressing consistently with one’s gender identity or gender expression, or preferred gender, name, or pronoun usage.
Authorized Employment Status
As required by federal law, all offers of employment are contingent on verification of an applicant or employee’s authorization for lawful employment in the United States at the start of their employment. Please note, the School does not sponsor applicants for employment-related visas.