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Join a professional community that is celebrated for its transformational pedagogy and that fosters curiosity. Here, our faculty thrives within a dynamic culture driven by an unwavering dedication to the greatest growth possible, a spirit of innovation and progress, and a core of care and support for each member of this community.
For over a century, Cate School has been blending together the tradition of the East Coast with the innovation of the West Coast in the service of a dynamic, diverse, and close-knit community. A four-year college preparatory school with a low student-to-faculty ratio, small class sizes, and inviting residential spaces, Cate’s inquiry-based program is designed to challenge, inspire, and support boarding and day students whose interests, abilities, characters, and aspirations make them individually and collectively exceptional.
Perched on a hill overlooking the Southern California coast, Cate School’s setting is one of unparalleled beauty and natural inspiration. “The Mesa,” as we call it – with its juxtaposition of close spaces and vast vistas, its blending of human architecture and natural splendor, history, and potential – is itself a critical touchstone for this community.
Please see our available opportunities below:
Position: Mathematics Instructor (short term, August 14, 2025 – November 20, 2025)
Reports to: Tobin White, Math Department Chair
Date Written: January 2025
Status: Exempt (Salaried)
Pay Scale: $20,000
Contact: Troy Shapiro, Dean for Faculty, troy_shapiro@cate.org, 805-684-4127 ext. 260
School Overview
Cate School is committed to attracting and retaining a highly talented and diverse community. We seek applications from candidates who are eager to live among and teach young people from all over the world. A small co-educational boarding school on the Central Coast of California, Cate School offers a career opportunity for educators whose priorities and purposes mirror the four pillars of our mission statement–commitment, scholarship, companionship, and service.
Cate School is committed to a policy of Equal Opportunity Employment and nondiscrimination in the treatment of employees or applicants for employment without consideration of race, color, ethnicity, religion, age, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, disability, veteran status, genetic information, gender or gender identity. Research suggests that qualified women, Black, Indigenous, and Persons of Color (BIPOC) may self-select out of opportunities if they don’t meet 100% of the job requirements. We encourage individuals who believe they have the skills necessary to thrive to apply for this role.
Cate’s hiring process seeks to minimize bias by focusing on candidates’ core competencies for each role. Candidates are encouraged to target application materials (cover letters, interview responses) on experiences that illuminate their proficiency in and/or aptitude for acquiring these core competencies.
Leave Coverage
This role provides coverage for a member of the Math Department who is away on leave through the first of three trimesters.
The Role
Job Description for Mathematics Instructor (short term)
Cate School is currently seeking highly qualified Math teaching candidates. Math instruction at Cate is shared by a team of seven full-time teachers with classes ranging from Algebra 1 through Multivariable Calculus and Linear Algebra. The majority of courses are taught using a PBL (Problem Based Learning) curriculum, with some classes following a more traditional style (notably Algebra 2 and Pre Calculus). All Cate courses center around an inquiry-based pedagogy.
Each teacher typically teaches four sections with two or three preps. Most classes meet three times for 65 minutes each week. In addition to classroom instruction, teachers participate in course-team meetings, department meetings, and faculty meetings, as well as all-school events such as Move-In Weekend and Fall Family Weekends. Teachers motivate the greatest growth possible for all students by planning and running engaging classes, by assigning meaningful homework, and by offering office hours both during the academic day and during the evening (which can be remote).
At Cate, we place a high value on deep and multifaceted relationships with students. Generally, Cate faculty members are involved in programming outside of the classroom, such as coaching or serving as a dorm parent and advisor. These responsibilities are either associated with housing for residential faculty, or come with a stipend for those not housed by Cate. As a temporary position, the teacher that fills this role, though not eligible for campus housing, is welcome to participate in community events and/or express interest in a coaching role, but may choose to focus exclusively on classroom instruction.
All Cate Employees live up to the following Essential Expectations:
1.Overtly support and act according to the school’s mission and values.
2. Foster a safe, predictable, and supportive environment for employees and students.
3. Interact with colleagues in a respectful and collegial manner that fosters a healthy culture for living, learning, and working together.
4. Demonstrate commitment and courage in service of building our school culture where diversity is affirmed and supported.
5. Demonstrate appropriate planning and preparation to meet the complex and evolving needs of your role.
6.Uphold professional standards of predictable presence, reliable responses, and relational trust.
7. Appropriately steward strategic and special projects associated with role or team.
8. Honor the confidentiality of School, student, and family information.
9. Comply with policies and procedures as articulated in the School’s Employee Handbook.
10. Authentically engage in self-reflection in service to professional growth and adapting to the evolving needs of the school.
In the role of Mathematics Instructor, these essential expectations manifest as:
The Candidate
Successful candidates will demonstrate their ability to meet these expectations through the following core competencies:
In terms of education and experience, applicants for this position will have:
Interested candidates should send a CV and two letters of reference to hiring@cate.org.
Position: Studio Art Instructor (short term, August 14, 2025 – December 19, 2025)
Reports to: Joy Doyle, Visual Arts Department Chair
Date Written: January 2025
Status: Exempt (Salaried)
Pay Scale: $21700-$36,330 base salary determined by years of experience
Housing: This role does not involve campus housing
Contact: joy_doyle@cate.org, and hiring@cate.org
School Overview
Cate School is committed to attracting and retaining a highly talented and diverse community. We seek applications from candidates who are eager to live among and teach young people from all over the world. A small co-educational boarding school on the Central Coast of California, Cate School offers a career opportunity for educators whose priorities and purposes mirror the four pillars of our mission statement–commitment, scholarship, companionship, and service.
Cate School is committed to a policy of Equal Opportunity Employment and nondiscrimination in the treatment of employees or applicants for employment without consideration of race, color, ethnicity, religion, age, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, disability, veteran status, genetic information, gender or gender identity. Research suggests that qualified women, Black, Indigenous, and Persons of Color (BIPOC) may self-select out of opportunities if they don’t meet 100% of the job requirements. We encourage individuals who believe they have the skills necessary to thrive to apply for this role.
Cate’s hiring process seeks to minimize bias by focusing on candidates core competencies for each role. Candidates are encouraged to target application materials (cover letters, interview responses) on experiences that illuminate their proficiency in and/or aptitude for acquiring these core competencies.
Leave Coverage
This role provides coverage for a member of the Visual Arts Department who is away on leave through the end of the calendar year 2025.
The Role
Job Description for Studio Art Instructor (short term)
Cate School is currently seeking highly qualified Studio Art teaching candidates. Cate offers Studio Art classes for 9th through 12th graders, with offerings at the Foundational Level through Advanced college-level course work. Cate courses at all levels center around inquiry-based pedagogy.
The teacher that fills this role should expect to teach 3 to 4 sections of Studio Art courses. Studio Art courses offer projects in drawing, painting, and 3D thinking. This teacher may also teach Advanced Art, a senior level course in which students are working in a wide range of mediums. Arts teachers are available to students for additional support between classes during the academic day.
At Cate, we place a high value on deep and multifaceted relationships with students. Generally, Cate faculty members are involved in programming outside of the classroom, such as coaching or serving as a dorm parent and advisor. These responsibilities are either associated with housing for residential faculty, or come with a stipend for those not housed by Cate. As a temporary position, the teacher who fills this role may choose to focus exclusively on classroom instruction. Though not eligible for campus housing, this teacher is welcome to participate in community events and/or express interest in additional aspects of our programming, such as coaching, which would be associated with additional compensation.
All Cate Employees live up to the following Essential Expectations:
In the role of Studio Instructor, these essential expectations manifest as:
The Candidate
Successful candidates will demonstrate their ability to meet these expectations through the following core competencies:
In terms of education and experience, applicants for this position will have:
Interested candidates should send a CV and two letters of reference to Joy Doyle at joy_doyle@cate.org and hiring@cate.org. Applicants may also include a link to their website, portfolio, or example work.
Position: Spanish Instructor (long term)
Reports to: Mónica Garcia-Gamero, Modern Language Chair
Date Written: December 2024
Status: Exempt (Salaried)
Pay Scale: $61,000-$105,000 base salary determined by years of experience
Contact: Troy Shapiro, Dean for Faculty, troy_shapiro@cate.org, 805-684-4127 ext. 260
School Overview
Cate School is committed to attracting and retaining a highly talented and diverse community. We seek applications from candidates who are eager to live among and teach young people from all over the world. A small co-educational boarding school on the Central Coast of California, Cate School offers a career opportunity for educators whose priorities and purposes mirror the four pillars of our mission statement–commitment, scholarship, companionship, and service.
Cate School is committed to a policy of Equal Opportunity Employment and nondiscrimination in the treatment of employees or applicants for employment without consideration of race, color, ethnicity, religion, age, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, disability, veteran status, genetic information, gender or gender identity. Research suggests that qualified women, Black, Indigenous, and Persons of Color (BIPOC) may self-select out of opportunities if they don’t meet 100% of the job requirements. We encourage individuals who believe they have the skills necessary to thrive to apply for this role.
Cate’s hiring process seeks to minimize bias by focusing on the candidate’s core competencies for each role. Candidates are encouraged to target application materials (cover letters, interview responses) on experiences that illuminate their experience demonstrating and/or aptitude for acquiring these core competencies.
Multiple Positions:
Cate is seeking two Spanish Instructors for the 25-26 school year. One of these roles is intended to be long-term, the other is for a fixed time of a single year as a sabbatical replacement.
This posting is for the long-term position. The sabbatical replacement posting can be found at: www.cate.org/employment.
The Role
Job Description for Spanish Instructor
Cate School is currently seeking highly qualified Spanish language teaching candidates. Spanish instruction at Cate is shared by a team of four full-time teachers with classes spanning six levels from first-year Spanish (Spanish 1) to first-year college equivalent (Advanced Spanish) and one additional level (Post-Advanced Spanish). Each teacher typically teaches four sections with two or three preps. Most classes meet three times for 65 minutes each week. In addition to classroom instruction, teachers participate in course-team meetings, department meetings, and faculty meetings, as well as all-school events such as move-in weekend, family weekends, and commencement. Teachers motivate the greatest growth possible for all students by planning and running engaging classes, by assigning meaningful homework, and by offering office hours both during the academic day and during the evening (which can be remote).
In order to foster deep and multifaceted relationships with students, all Cate faculty members are involved in programming outside of the classroom, such as coaching or serving as a dorm parent and advisor. These responsibilities are either associated with housing for residential faculty, or come with a stipend for those not housed by Cate.
In order to foster deep and multifaceted relationships with students, all Cate faculty members are involved in programming outside of the classroom, such as coaching or serving as a dorm parent and advisor. These responsibilities are either associated with housing for residential faculty, or come with a stipend for those not housed by Cate. The Spanish Instructor role does not come with housing, and so additional roles outside of teaching would come with commensurate stipends.
All Cate Employees live up to the following Essential Expectations:
In the role of Spanish Instructor, these essential expectations manifest as:
The Candidate
Successful candidates will demonstrate their ability to meet these expectations through the following core competencies:
In terms of education and experience, applicants for this position will have:
Interested candidates should send a CV and two letters of reference to hiring@cate.org.
Position: Theater Instructor – 1 year interim role
Reports to: John Knecht, Performing Arts Chair
Date Written: May 2025
Status: Exempt (Salaried)
Pay Scale: $65,000-$109,000 base salary determined by years of experience
Housing: This role comes with campus housing and associated responsibilities
Contact: hiring@cate.org
School Overview
Cate School is committed to attracting and retaining a highly talented and diverse community. We seek applications from candidates who are eager to live among and teach young people from all over the world. A small co-educational boarding school on the Central Coast of California, Cate School offers a career opportunity for educators whose priorities and purposes mirror the four pillars of our mission statement–commitment, scholarship, companionship, and service.
Cate School is committed to a policy of Equal Opportunity Employment and nondiscrimination in the treatment of employees or applicants for employment without consideration of race, color, ethnicity, religion, age, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, disability, veteran status, genetic information, gender or gender identity. Research suggests that qualified women, Black, Indigenous, and Persons of Color (BIPOC) may self-select out of opportunities if they don’t meet 100% of the job requirements. We encourage individuals who believe they have the skills necessary to thrive to apply for this role.
Cate’s hiring process seeks to minimize bias by focusing on candidates’ core competencies for each role. Candidates are encouraged to target application materials (cover letters, interview responses) on experiences that illuminate their experience demonstrating and/or aptitude for acquiring these core competencies.
The Role
Job Description for Theater Instructor
Cate School is currently seeking highly qualified theater instructor candidates. The position will include close collaboration with performing arts colleagues while teaching and leading theater performance classes level 1, 2 and 3, which may be co-enrolled. The position also includes a section of ninth grade Foundation Arts which meets 2-3 times per week. Co-curricular theatrical productions include the Fall Play which meets during sports block daily and the Spring Musical which meets daily during the spring sports block and three evening nights from 6:15-7:45pm from January through April. The Theater Instructor also supports performing arts at Cate broadly, including helping organize and direct occasional smaller performances as part of both the curricular and cocurricular life of the school.
In addition to classroom instruction, teachers participate in department meetings, and faculty meetings, as well as all-school events such as move-in weekend, family weekends, and commencement. Teachers motivate the greatest growth possible for all students by planning and running engaging classes, by assigning meaningful homework, and by offering office hours both during the academic day and during the evening.
In order to foster deep and multifaceted relationships with students, all Cate faculty members are involved in programming outside of the classroom, such as coaching or serving as a dorm parent and advisor. This residential role will include dorm parent responsibilities (or similar), participation in seated meals and convocations, and distributed and occasional responsibilities for supervising weekend events with students. Coaching responsibilities for this role are covered by the Fall and Spring Theater productions. As a 1-year interim role, this role does not include advisory.
All Cate Employees live up to the following Essential Expectations:
In the role of Theater Instructor, these essential expectations manifest as:
Collaborate
Teach
Continue to Learn
Demonstrate Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI)
The Candidate
Successful candidates will demonstrate their ability to meet these expectations through the following core competencies:
In terms of education and experience, applicants for this position will have:
Interested candidates should send a cover letter, CV, and two letters of reference to John Knecht, john_knecht@cate.org, and hiring@cate.org.
A Cate education uniquely leverages strong academic and residential curricula to transform students’ lives by preparing them as independent thinkers, informing their societal roles as global citizens of influence, and encouraging them to build authentic and meaningful relationships. Cate students engage enthusiastically in myriad non-academic pursuits and traditions which, complemented by academic rigor, constitute the foundation of a truly whole education.
Cate School is committed to a policy of Equal Opportunity Employment and nondiscrimination in the treatment of employees or applicants for employment without consideration of race, color, ethnicity, religion, age, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, disability, veteran status, genetic information, gender or gender identity.
Cate School offers competitive compensation. In setting compensation ranges, Cate School reviews numerous factors including industry data from NAIS, CAIS, NBOA, and other market data. Final Salary is based on experience relevant to the role and internal equity.