Chinese American International School
Middle School Director
Chinese American International School, San Francisco, California, United States
Founded in 1981 as the first Mandarin immersion school in the United States, the Chinese American International School (CAIS) educates 571 students ages two through eighth grade. Over the last four decades CAIS has been recognized globally as a leader in bilingual education and an innovator for its commitment to immersive, cultural education through the study of language. CAIS is a safe place to tinker and try, with deep support for educators who lead with curiosity and vision and a culture that values creativity, risk‑taking, and collaboration.
Within the middle school, students in grades 6–8 study an intellectually challenging, competency‑based curriculum that includes math, science, design technology, English language arts, social studies, Chinese language arts, music, studio art, and physical education.
With the upcoming retirement of the current middle school director, who has been at CAIS since 2014, the school now looks forward to welcoming its next middle school director to lead an outstanding academic program and foster community connection across the school’s new, unified campus.
The director will oversee the ongoing implementation of competency‑based learning in the middle school program, promote Mandarin immersion excellence, and define what it means to be a CAIS graduate in a global, multilingual world. The incoming director will also join CAIS two years after the school relocated to a single spectacular campus. Reporting to the head of school, the middle school director will directly supervise middle school faculty, learning specialists, and the athletic director. The position is scheduled to begin July 1, 2026.
Key Dates
Priority Deadline: December 28, 2025
Virtual Semifinal Round: Week of January 19
On‑site Final Round: Week of February 2
Decision Announced: February 16, 2026
Reports To: Head of School
Job Details
Classification: Full‑time, Exempt
Annual Salary Range: $178,500 – $218,400
Specific Duties Divisional Leadership
Serve as the intellectual leader of the middle school and oversee all programmatic and academic operations for the division.
Nurture and maintain positive and collaborative faculty morale, encouraging professional development and growth opportunities.
Supervise and evaluate middle school faculty through classroom observation, training, and coaching.
Partner with the high school placement counselor to support students and families through the high school application and admissions process.
Establish and monitor shared expectations for student behavior and classroom management.
Collaborate with teachers and administrators to promote continuity and curricular alignment of the academic program, including the fidelity and continued implementation of competency‑based learning.
Develop and expand special programs in the arts and support the growth of athletics opportunities through partnership with the athletic director.
Support the development and implementation of curriculum in partnership with the directors of English and Mandarin curriculum, including the World Languages Pathway for non‑native Mandarin speakers.
Partner with the admissions and enrollment department and other administrative leaders to anticipate and plan for scheduling and logistical needs as the middle school program expands.
School Culture & Community
Partner with division directors to cultivate cross‑divisional community‑building initiatives that support community use of shared spaces and a shared sense of vision and identity.
Foster inclusivity and belonging among the community of middle school faculty and the student body grounded in collaboration, kindness, and mutual respect.
Serve as a partner to parents, articulating the school’s vision and programmatic changes warmly and proactively.
Report directly to the head of school and perform other duties as assigned.
Qualifications Professional Qualifications
5+ years of experience in an educational institution, preferably as a classroom teacher and/or administrator.
Demonstrated understanding of current education pedagogy including competency‑based learning or other non‑traditional methods for assessing learning.
Familiarity with high school outplacement counseling and admissions processes.
Demonstrated success supporting teachers through a collaborative, trust‑based leadership model that values faculty autonomy and professional expertise.
Experience guiding parents and guardians on sensitive student‑related matters.
Successful track record leading academic initiatives and programs.
Proficiency in Mandarin is welcome, but not required.
Leadership and Personal Qualities
A trusted partner to faculty, respecting their expertise, advocating for their needs, and fostering an environment of professional safety and collaboration.
Commitment to cross‑divisional collaboration, including supporting global programs and coordination with Chinese language and cultural studies.
A warm and empathetic approach to interacting with all school constituents.
A personal and professional commitment to fostering diversity and equity.
Exceptional written and oral communication skills.
Excellent organizational and presentation skills.
A genuine excitement for promoting and advancing Mandarin culture, language, education, and immersion.
An eagerness to participate in the life of the school, which may include attending occasional schoolwide special events in the evenings and/or weekends.
TO APPLY For more information please visit the following link, which contains the job opportunity statement and complete application instructions.
#J-18808-Ljbffr
Within the middle school, students in grades 6–8 study an intellectually challenging, competency‑based curriculum that includes math, science, design technology, English language arts, social studies, Chinese language arts, music, studio art, and physical education.
With the upcoming retirement of the current middle school director, who has been at CAIS since 2014, the school now looks forward to welcoming its next middle school director to lead an outstanding academic program and foster community connection across the school’s new, unified campus.
The director will oversee the ongoing implementation of competency‑based learning in the middle school program, promote Mandarin immersion excellence, and define what it means to be a CAIS graduate in a global, multilingual world. The incoming director will also join CAIS two years after the school relocated to a single spectacular campus. Reporting to the head of school, the middle school director will directly supervise middle school faculty, learning specialists, and the athletic director. The position is scheduled to begin July 1, 2026.
Key Dates
Priority Deadline: December 28, 2025
Virtual Semifinal Round: Week of January 19
On‑site Final Round: Week of February 2
Decision Announced: February 16, 2026
Reports To: Head of School
Job Details
Classification: Full‑time, Exempt
Annual Salary Range: $178,500 – $218,400
Specific Duties Divisional Leadership
Serve as the intellectual leader of the middle school and oversee all programmatic and academic operations for the division.
Nurture and maintain positive and collaborative faculty morale, encouraging professional development and growth opportunities.
Supervise and evaluate middle school faculty through classroom observation, training, and coaching.
Partner with the high school placement counselor to support students and families through the high school application and admissions process.
Establish and monitor shared expectations for student behavior and classroom management.
Collaborate with teachers and administrators to promote continuity and curricular alignment of the academic program, including the fidelity and continued implementation of competency‑based learning.
Develop and expand special programs in the arts and support the growth of athletics opportunities through partnership with the athletic director.
Support the development and implementation of curriculum in partnership with the directors of English and Mandarin curriculum, including the World Languages Pathway for non‑native Mandarin speakers.
Partner with the admissions and enrollment department and other administrative leaders to anticipate and plan for scheduling and logistical needs as the middle school program expands.
School Culture & Community
Partner with division directors to cultivate cross‑divisional community‑building initiatives that support community use of shared spaces and a shared sense of vision and identity.
Foster inclusivity and belonging among the community of middle school faculty and the student body grounded in collaboration, kindness, and mutual respect.
Serve as a partner to parents, articulating the school’s vision and programmatic changes warmly and proactively.
Report directly to the head of school and perform other duties as assigned.
Qualifications Professional Qualifications
5+ years of experience in an educational institution, preferably as a classroom teacher and/or administrator.
Demonstrated understanding of current education pedagogy including competency‑based learning or other non‑traditional methods for assessing learning.
Familiarity with high school outplacement counseling and admissions processes.
Demonstrated success supporting teachers through a collaborative, trust‑based leadership model that values faculty autonomy and professional expertise.
Experience guiding parents and guardians on sensitive student‑related matters.
Successful track record leading academic initiatives and programs.
Proficiency in Mandarin is welcome, but not required.
Leadership and Personal Qualities
A trusted partner to faculty, respecting their expertise, advocating for their needs, and fostering an environment of professional safety and collaboration.
Commitment to cross‑divisional collaboration, including supporting global programs and coordination with Chinese language and cultural studies.
A warm and empathetic approach to interacting with all school constituents.
A personal and professional commitment to fostering diversity and equity.
Exceptional written and oral communication skills.
Excellent organizational and presentation skills.
A genuine excitement for promoting and advancing Mandarin culture, language, education, and immersion.
An eagerness to participate in the life of the school, which may include attending occasional schoolwide special events in the evenings and/or weekends.
TO APPLY For more information please visit the following link, which contains the job opportunity statement and complete application instructions.
#J-18808-Ljbffr