Lead Preschool Teacher

A new kind of school is coming to Los Altos—a preK–8 accelerated microschool distinctly tailored to each child's unique needs and aspirations. Inspired by the successful Masterminds model in Dubai, our mission is to create an educational experience that blends academic excellence with real-world learning and community connection.

Our school is a basecamp for exploration, turning the entire Bay Area — with its rich cultural landscape, pioneering spirit of science and innovation, and endless opportunities for adventure, from tennis and golf to sailing and hiking — into our field of study, work, and play.

This is a rare opportunity to join as a founding faculty member and help shape a dynamic learning environment from the ground up. You’ll work alongside a team that values creativity, courage, and community, building a program that empowers children to think deeply, solve real problems, and love their learning journey. This is a foundational role, with potential to grow into a school leadership position as Masterminds expands to multiple locations in the Bay Area.

At Masterminds, we believe education should be an adventure — one that challenges, excites, and prepares students for the real world. Our school is built on a few core pillars:

• Accelerated, Mastery-Based Learning
  :
  Small class sizes and personalized instruction enable rapid academic growth while ensuring students engage deeply with every subject.
• Real-World Integration: Our campus is a home base, but learning extends far beyond its walls. Students explore parks, museums, libraries, and local landmarks, embedding their studies in authentic experiences.
• Holistic Enrichment: From philosophy in mathematics to Shakespeare in literature, from structural engineering to lab science, our curriculum sparks curiosity across a broad spectrum of disciplines.
• Global Standards, Local Impact: We draw on international best practices and over 60 years of research in child development, blending high academic standards with a warm, community-rooted approach.

This is a full-time, dual-role, entrepreneurial opportunity ideal for an experienced pre-school educator with strong organizational and leadership skills.

The Preschool Director will:

• Teach our first cohort of kids for the  school year! Customize lessons for each child and maintain close partnerships with parents.
• Help grow the preschool program, help recruit new teachers, and eventually lead the new teacher team.
• Ensure compliance with California licensing (Title 22) and health/safety standards.
• Lead with vision, creating a nurturing, joyful, and intellectually rich environment.

• Deliver engaging, high-quality lessons aligned with mastery-based learning principles.
• Design and adapt lessons to meet diverse student needs in a small-group setting.
• Integrate mathematics, science, writing, reading comprehension, grammar, social studies, and oral expression into creative, inquiry-based experiences.
• Connect classroom learning to real-world experiences in the local community.
• Develop and oversee individualized learning plans for all students.
• Recruit, mentor, and evaluate preschool faculty; model excellence in practice.
• Ensure licensing compliance, safety protocols, and adherence to regulatory requirements.
• Manage budgets and resources with care and efficiency.
• Partner with families through proactive communication, progress updates, and community-building events.
• Serve as an ambassador for the Masterminds philosophy, cultivating a culture of trust, warmth, and high expectations.

• Minimum 5 years of preschool director and/or early childhood education experience
• Strong knowledge of California CCCL licensing and regulatory compliance.
• Bachelor's degree in Education, Early Childhood Education, or a related field (Master's preferred).
• Demonstrated success in early childhood curriculum design.
• Experienced in mentoring and managing teachers.
• Skilled in differentiated instruction and student-centered learning environments.
• Proven ability to build strong partnerships with parents, including high-expectation families.
• Organized, adaptable, and entrepreneurial — eager to co-create a new school and wear multiple hats.
• Proficiency in budgeting and resource management

• $85,000 (with flexibility for exceptional candidates based on experience and qualifications)
• Health insurance, paid time off, and professional development support.
• Small student-teacher ratios and a collaborative, mission-driven team culture.
• Growth opportunities as Masterminds expands across the Bay Area.

• ASAP! There will be a 2-4 week training (in Dubai!). We need your for our current promotional events. We need you to lead on licensing. And we need you to start fine tuning programming for our fall launch!

Send your CV and a cover letter to:

Applications without both items will not be considered.