Working at Urban
Located in the world-famous Haight-Ashbury neighborhood, Urban is a high school that’s been proud to do things differently for almost 60 years. Our unique three-term academic year, with students taking four courses each term, and each course taught across extended periods, means classwork goes deep and subjects are explored through a range of instructional styles. San Francisco’s thriving natural ecosystems, world-class museums, leadership in science, technology, and more — combined with the realities of being a big city today — mean fieldwork, field trips, and service learning are integrated into Urban’s academic experience for every grade. The result is a close-knit community of 80 educators committed to joyfully inspiring life-long learning among our diverse student body — and one another. The strong rapport between students and faculty shapes our values of collaboration, curiosity, and inclusion: whatever your role at Urban, we celebrate creativity and courage.
Share your materials with Us
We're always on the lookout for creative thinkers who bring unique perspectives and skills to our school community. Ideal faculty candidates should have curriculum development experience and at least two years’ experience teaching at the secondary level. We invite you to share your materials with us whether or not there is currently an open role for you.
Urban teachers are dynamic and creative, have an enthusiasm for working with high school students, a commitment to innovative pedagogy and collaboration with colleagues, comfort and familiarity with the use of relevant technology to enhance learning, and a commitment to equity pedagogy, anti-racist teaching practices, and to their own continued professional growth.
For further information about Urban’s mission and programs, including the Curriculum Guide, please peruse the Urban website.
For a descriptive list of faculty job duties and other responsibilities, please visit here.
Visit our Career Center to apply for current open positions or to submit your materials to our Talent Community for consideration.
Open Positions
Urban's Unique Culture
Professional Development
One of Urban’s core values is this: We are committed to reflection, evaluation, evolution and innovation as means to improve teaching and learning. Faculty and staff have abundant opportunities to deepen and expand their practices both in regular collaborative work with colleagues and in conferences, workshops and programs, both in the Bay Area and around the world. Opportunities include but are not limited to: Access to a generous professional development budget.
- WEEKLY teacher collaborative teams
- All-faculty professional development days
- Funds for staff career and skills development
- Advanced degree program support
- Dan Murphy Fund for Education Innovation and Faculty Growth
- Summer curriculum grants
- Summer enrichment grants
Support in Transition to Urban
All teachers new to Urban participate in a yearlong New-to-Urban cohort designed to orient and support new faculty as they learn the practices and adapt to the systems of Urban’s teaching and learning culture.
Getting Involved in the Life of the School
Faculty and staff at Urban are asked to participate in a range of academic and non-academic programs and experiences in order to better connect with students and with each other. These opportunities may include grade level advising, athletic coaching, club advisory, committee memberships and chaperoning of trips, dances, and performances.
Nondiscrimination Policy
Urban School is an equal opportunity employer. The school has an institutional commitment to diversity and actively encourages applications from candidates of diverse cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds.Urban's employment policy prohibits unlawful discrimination based on race, color, creed, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, national origin, physical disability, mental disability, pregnancy, medical condition, genetic characteristics, citizenship, military or veteran status, age or any other basis protected by California state law, federal law or San Francisco ordinance. Urban's policy also prohibits discrimination based on a 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.
The Haight
While the Haight is a busy tourist destination year-round, plenty of local San Franciscans drop by for shopping, food, and fun and our open campus means everyone's got a favorite lunch or coffee spot to recommend. The campus itself sits on a quiet (actually a slow) street, with dedicated bike lanes, while numerous bus lines (and the N train) crisscross our centrally-located neighborhood, making Urban accessible from all corners of the city.
Looking for a quick recharge or some inspiration between classes? We’re across the street from Golden Gate Park’s Panhandle, which means you can stroll among some of the oldest trees in the city, parrots flying overhead, surrounded by Victorian homes lovingly maintained. It’s iconic for a reason!
Benefits
A comprehensive benefits package is provided, which includes medical, dental, life insurance, long-term disability insurance, employer subsidized commuter benefits, financial planning, a 403(b) retirement plan, and more.
Visit our Career Center to see the full scope of benefits we offer.