Full job description

Exempt, full-time position beginning school year 2026-2027

This position does not require fluency in Mandarin

WELCOME!

Chinese American International School (CAIS) seeks a dynamic and visionary Performing Arts Teacher to join our community as we launch a vibrant, mission-aligned performing arts program in our new world-class theater and arts facilities. This is a rare opportunity to help shape something new, developing programming, traditions, and experiences that will inspire students and strengthen community connections across our Preschool–Grade 8 campus. The ideal candidate will bring a joyful, entrepreneurial, proactive spirit and will lead the vision and build-out over time of our inaugural official theater program.

CAIS educators are part of a collaborative, mission-driven community that seeks to Embrace Chinese, Become Our Best Selves, and Contribute to a Better World. The Performing Arts Teacher will play a pivotal role in helping students discover their voices, express their creativity, and build confidence through the theater arts and performance.

OUR IDEAL CANDIDATE

The ideal candidate is passionate about theater and the performing arts, thrives on collaboration, and finds joy in both visionary program design and daily classroom teaching. They are proactive, flexible, and future-oriented, and excited by the challenge of building a new program over time and fostering a culture of creativity and inclusion.

Mandarin proficiency is a strong asset, though not required. Regardless of languages spoken, the successful candidate must deeply value CAIS’s bilingual and bicultural mission and will intentionally seek opportunities to highlight Mandarin language, Chinese cultural themes, and cross-cultural perspectives through performance, story, and collaboration.

They will design and teach engaging performing arts classes for middle school students (Grades 6–8) while working across divisions to collaborate with teachers and inspire younger students through creative expression. The Performing Arts Teacher will also direct at least two mainstage productions annually and help shape the performing arts calendar, integrating Chinese language and culture where possible. Due to the unique nature of leading mainstage productions, the working hours for this role will be from 10:00 am-6:00 pm, on-campus.

The successful candidate will see our new theater as a space not only for performance but for belonging: a hub for creativity, cultural connection, and community pride.

ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENTS

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in Theater, Music, Performing Arts, or a relevant educational field (Master’s degree preferred).
• Minimum of 3 years of experience teaching or directing performing arts.
• Demonstrated experience leading or directing youth performances.
• Working knowledge of theater production technology (lighting, sound systems, stage management, and/or basic AV operation) and comfort running or supervising tech rehearsals.
• Passion for working with adolescents and understanding of their developmental needs.
• Visionary, self-starting, and flexible mindset—comfortable piloting new initiatives and setting a vision for long-term success of an emerging theater/performing arts program.
• Strong collaboration skills and ability to work effectively across divisions.
• Commitment to diversity, inclusion, and mission alignment.
• Enthusiasm for joining a community that values bilingualism, creativity, and contribution to a better world.
• While not required, bilingualism (Mandarin–English) or direct experience with Chinese culture is considered a strong asset.

TO APPLY

CAIS’s commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion is central to our mission. People of color and LGBTQIA candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.

Interested candidates should email a cover letter, resume, and list of references to jobs@cais.org, attention: Kimberly Kaz. In the subject line please indicate “Performing Arts Teacher.” In your cover letter, please reference how you learned of this opening. Please no calls.

About Chinese American International School

As the nation’s first Mandarin immersion day school, Chinese American International School (CAIS) is an independent Preschool through 8th grade school in San Francisco. Our mission—Embrace Chinese, Become Our Best Selves, and Contribute to a Better World—guides every aspect of our work. CAIS prepares students to navigate and contribute to an interconnected world through language, culture, and character development. Our new campus and state-of-the-art performing arts facilities provide an exceptional foundation for creative teaching, learning, and community engagement.

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