On Friday, January 20th, Presidio Knolls School celebrated Chinese New Year 2012. The entire PKS community gathered at Fort Mason Center to welcome the year of the Dragon, with a wonderful event organized by our parent volunteers and school staff.

Chinese New Year is the most important holiday in the Chinese culture– it’s the equivalent of Thanksgiving and Christmas combined.  And at PKS, the annual Chinese New Year party is a way for students, families, faculty and staff to come together with food and fun, expressing our gratitude for the  blessings of the past year and looking forward to the year to come.

This year’s event featured readings by noted children’s author Oliver Chin, calligraphy activities, and a spectacular lion dance that delighted the children. There was a video showing the students’ New Year’s preparations over the last few weeks.  The walls were decorated with their artwork. And of course, there was plenty of delicious Chinese food, including many of the traditional dishes and snacks served at Chinese New Year (the candied fruit was especially popular with the children). The children danced and played, and parents and teachers had a chance to eat and mingle.

January 23rd, 2012 starts the Chinese New Year, the Year of the Dragon. The Dragon is considered a very auspicious symbol. An extroverted bundle of energy, everything a Dragon does is on a grand scale. Thus, it is fitting that PKS is opening its elementary school in the fall of the Dragon year– we have ambitious plans and high expectations for our school and for our children.

Let us hope the innovative, enterprising, brave, and passionate drive of the Dragon will bring a great 2012 to you and your family!

Happy Chinese New Year!

For two weeks leading up to Chinese New Year, PKS parents, students, teachers and staff prepared to make this year’s celebration the best ever. This video was shown on Friday, January 20th, at Fort Mason Center where the Presidio Knolls School celebrated Chinese New Year 2012.

• When: Wednesday, February 29, 2012, 6pm – 8pm
• Where: Presidio Knolls School — 250 10th Street San Francisco, CA 94103 (map)
• Description: Presidio Knolls School is expanding to an elementary school. Attend an information session to learn more about this innovative Mandarin immersion education. You can sign up online to reserve a space at an upcoming general information session or call us at 415.202.0770 or email us at admissions@presidioknolls.org to get started now (adults only).

For a list of other upcoming information sessions and admission-related activities, please review the PKS admissions calendar.

• When: Wednesday, March 21, 2012, 6pm – 8pm
• Where: Presidio Knolls School — 250 10th Street San Francisco, CA 94103 (map)
• Description: Presidio Knolls School is expanding to an elementary school. Attend an information session to learn more about this innovative Mandarin immersion education. You can sign up online to reserve a space at an upcoming general information session or call us at 415.202.0770 or email us at admissions@presidioknolls.org to get started now (adults only).

For a list of other upcoming information sessions and admission-related activities, please review the PKS admissions calendar.

1. Academic Excellence. PKS believes that high academic achievement and a love of learning are essential foundations for preparing students to succeed in high school, college and beyond.

2. Exceptional Teachers. PKS takes great pride in its unparalleled teaching staff who participate in robust ongoing professional development to maintain the highest teaching standards.

3. Progressive Educational Best Practices. PKS students learn in a hands-on collaborative environment with their teachers and peers to master material, develop critical thinking, problem solving and communication skills, build technological literacy, and spark creativity and innovation.

4. Comprehensive Mandarin Immersion. PKS aims to develop highly proficient and confident bilingual communicators with a deep knowledge of Chinese culture.

5. Community Engagement and Global Perspective. PKS nurtures compassionate global citizens in a diverse multicultural environment, and fosters a strong ethic of social responsibility to the School community and the broader world.

6. Passionate School Community. PKS boasts a vibrant and highly engaged parent community that actively partners with teachers and staff to create a uniquely rich experience and supportive environment for the entire PKS community.

7. Continuous Improvement. PKS will continue to evolve to incorporate new research-based improvements and best practices, delivering a world-class educational experience now and in the future.

PRIMARY ROLES

The Founding Head of School reports directly to the Board of Trustees (“Board”) and will serve as a centralizing leadership figure within the school and the local community.

Developing a Culture of Achievement
• Leads the development of a world-class Mandarin immersion K-8 school based on Presidio Knolls School’s guiding principles,
• Aligns Presidio Knolls School’s mission and guiding principles with instructional strategies,
• Sets clear academic goals and strong accountability systems to measure student success,
• Recruits, trains and supports high performing staff,
• Designs and implements an employee evaluation system based on professional standards,
• Remains informed on education trends, research and legislation in general and specifically, Mandarin immersion and elementary education issues.

Building Relationships and Influencing Others
• Serves as public media and campus wide spokesperson for Presidio Knolls School,
• Represents Presidio Knolls School’s mission to all prospective partners (including families, funders, volunteers, local businesses & non-profit organizations, and the city),
• Cultivates and sustains long-term community relationships to achieve goals,
• Collaborates with Board as a primary resource for assessing growth and implementing new strategies and initiatives.

Managing Operations in a Growing Start-Up Environment
• Leads school grade per year expansion to encompass K through 8th grades,
• Designs effective, data driven operations and decision-making systems,
• Establishes specific direction aligned with Presidio Knolls School’s vision,
• Ensures adherence to all applicable federal, state, and local compliance laws and regulations,
• Executes the financial policy determined by the Board,
• Supports fundraising efforts and long term financial planning,
• Supervises day-to-day school operations.

PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS
• High degree of maturity and self-awareness,
• Demonstrated flexibility,
• Demonstrated instructional leadership in developing a high performing school,
• Proven track record in achieving academic results,
• Expertise in Mandarin immersion program design strongly desired,
• Demonstrated ability to identify and implement progressive educational best practices,
• Entrepreneurial passion; the ability to thrive in the excitement and ambiguity of a start-up environment,
• Role model with the highest standards of honesty and ethics,
• Ability to attract, inspire and mentor a community of high quality teachers,
• Prior success managing relationships with potential partners, funders and families,
• Excellent verbal, written and interpersonal communication skills,
• Literacy in instructional multi-media technology to improve student learning,
• Strong operational and financial management capabilities with experience in fundraising,
• A minimum of an advanced degree,
• Bilingual (Mandarin/English) speaker preferred.

Salary and compensation competitive.

Presidio Knolls School’s mission is to educate and inspire its students to become confident, creative and responsible individuals engaged in the global community through an innovative Mandarin immersion program that combines academic excellence with social and emotional development to foster a lifelong passion for learning.

Presidio Knolls School (“PKS”) was founded in 2008 as a Reggio Emilia inspired preschool program, and has become a distinguished Mandarin immersion preschool in San Francisco. With the ever-increasing demand for PKS’s unique style of Mandarin education, and the backing of a passionate group of highly-committed parents, PKS will be launching a K-8 Mandarin immersion elementary and middle school program beginning Fall 2012.

TO APPLY

Interested and qualified candidates should submit a cover letter, resume, statement of educational philosophy statement and references (4) with contact information to: Judith R. Glickman, Educators’ Collaborative, LLC, jglickman@educatorscollaborative.com.

Candidates are encouraged to contact Judith Glickman (415-655-9974) with any questions. Presidio Knolls School offers equal opportunity to all and is non-discriminatory.

Information Session Details:

For a list of other upcoming information sessions and admission-related activities, please review the PKS admissions calendar.

• When: Thursday, April 19, 6pm – 8pm
• Where: Presidio Knolls School — 250 10th Street San Francisco, CA 94103 (map)
• Description: Presidio Knolls School is expanding to an elementary school. Attend an information session to learn more about this innovative Mandarin immersion education. You can sign up online to reserve a space at an upcoming general information session or call us at 415.202.0770 or email us at admissions@presidioknolls.org to get started now (adults only).

For a list of other upcoming information sessions and admission-related activities, please review the PKS admissions calendar.

SCHOOL OVERVIEW
Presidio Knolls School (PKS) was founded in 2008 as San Francisco’s first Reggio Emilia-inspired Mandarin immersion preschool and has grown to more than 100 students today. Demand for our unique combination of innovative educational practices within a Mandarin immersion framework has been strong, and PKS is launching a K-8 elementary school in the fall of 2012.

The PKS mission is to educate and inspire our students to become confident, creative and responsible individuals engaged in the global community through an innovative Mandarin immersion program that combines academic excellence with social and emotional development to foster a lifelong passion for learning.

PKS takes great pride in its unparalleled teaching staff and its unique teaching environment:
• Hands-on, collaborative learning using progressive educational best practices
• Small class sizes with 10 to 1 student-teacher ratio
• Large 1.5 acre campus, an urban oasis in San Francisco’s SOMA neighborhood
• Robust professional development and career growth opportunities
• Passionate and supportive school community
• Well-funded and resource-rich independent school

MANDARIN IMMERSION TEACHER POSITIONS
PKS is seeking exceptional Mandarin teachers to help launch and build our elementary school program. We are looking for experienced educators who have an entrepreneurial spirit, employ modern instructional strategies in the classroom, and have aspirations to grow professionally with the long-term vision of the school. Teachers will assume a founding role and be responsible for Mandarin immersion curriculum development using research-based best practices. We are currently hiring teachers for Kindergarten, 1st and 2nd grades.

PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS
• Minimum of 2 years experience teaching in respective grade level, preferably in an immersion program
• Bilingual and bi-literate in Mandarin Chinese and English with native or near-native Chinese proficiency, Including ability to teach traditional, simplified and pinyin writing systems
• Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s degree desirable
• CSET, CBEST and/or BCLAD certification desirable (http://www.ctc.ca.gov)
• Proven track record in achieving strong academic results using progressive educational best practices
• Contagious enthusiasm and charisma; the ability to engage and inspire students, parents and colleagues
• Creativity, excellent multitasking skills, and ability to thrive in an entrepreneurial start-up environment
• Outstanding verbal, written and interpersonal communication skills

EMPLOYMENT DETAILS
• Competitive compensation package commensurate with experience
• Comprehensive benefits
• Generous relocation assistance for teachers outside the Bay Area
• H-1B visa sponsorship for international teachers

TO APPLY

Interested and qualified candidates should submit a cover lette and résumé to employment@presidioknolls.org.

Presidio Knolls School offers equal opportunity to all and is non-discriminatory.

Parents at Presidio Knolls School, a San Francisco pre-K to 8th grade Mandarin progressive immersion school, reflect on joining the school and look forward to the K-8 program.

Soccer workout for kids in the Bamboo preschool classroom at Presidio Knolls School, a pre-K to 8th grade Mandarin progressive immersion school with an large campus located in the SOMA neighborhood of San Francisco.