Child Development, Child Psychology, Continuous Improvement, Embedded Systems, English Language, Lesson Plans, Mentoring, Pedagogy, Surveillance, Training/Teaching, Training/Teaching Curriculum, Writing Skills
About Pear Tree School
Pear Tree School is an independent K–9 school in Kitsilano built on the Pear Tree Method — our thematic, interdisciplinary approach to the BC curriculum, refined over a decade in the classroom. We're small (around 110 students), serious about pedagogy, and deliberate about culture. We're growing, and we're hiring people who want to grow with us.
The role
The Associate Teacher position is a one-year teaching apprenticeship designed for two kinds of candidates:
- Aspiring teachers preparing to apply to a B.Ed. program (UBC, SFU, VIU, or other) who need substantive classroom experience — well beyond what a typical EA or volunteer role offers — to strengthen their application and clarify their direction.
- Recent B.Ed. graduates (within the last 1–2 years) who want a deeper, mentored foundation before stepping into a lead classroom role.
You will not be the lead teacher in a classroom. You'll be embedded with one — observing, supporting, gradually taking on more, and learning a way of teaching that will shape your whole career.
What you'll do
- Support our classroom teachers with instruction, small-group work, and one-on-one support
- Cover K/1 or grade 2/3 classes when classroom teachers are absent (lesson plans provided)
- Help set up, manage, and organize learning resources
- Support assessment, marking, and e-portfolio communication with families
- Reinforce classroom expectations and safeguard the physical and emotional wellbeing of students
- Lead an after-school session approximately once every three weeks (rotation with other staff)
- Teach one week of our Spring Camp
What you'll learn
- The Pear Tree Method — our proprietary thematic curriculum architecture
- How experienced primary teachers plan, deliver, and assess across an interdisciplinary unit
- Classroom management in a small-school environment
- Direct, regular feedback through instructional rounds — observation as growth, not surveillance
- A real working reference from an established independent school — meaningful for B.Ed. applications and future hiring
What we offer
- $40,000 annual salary, paid semi-monthly from September through June
- Benefits: extended health, dental, life insurance, long-term disability, AD&D
- Hands-on training in the Pear Tree Method — our proprietary curriculum framework
- Sustained mentorship from teachers with deep Pear Tree Method experience
- Instructional rounds-based observation and feedback, treated as professional growth, not surveillance
- A small, values-driven team in a beautiful Kitsilano location
Who we're looking for
- A bachelor's degree completed or in progress in any discipline (education-adjacent fields like child development, psychology, English, or sciences are common, but not required) — OR a B.Ed. completed within the last 1–2 years
- A genuine plan to become a classroom teacher — either applying to a B.Ed. program in the next 1–2 years, or having recently completed one
- Comfort and patience with K–9 age students
- Strong written communication — parents read every portfolio post
- Open to observation, feedback, and continuous improvement
- Eligible to work in Canada
- Criminal record check (vulnerable sector) required upon hire
How to apply
Submit your cover letter and resume through the Hiring Steps platform.
Pear Tree School is an equal opportunity employer. We welcome applications from candidates of all backgrounds.