La Scuola demands high integrity and skill from its faculty and staff. Our singular curriculum requires a high level of language and pedagogical proficiency as well as a commitment to continuing to learn throughout one’s career. We pledge to invest in our people by providing top-notch professional development and leadership opportunities, which enrich their professional growth and our students’ experience. And we pledge to offer a competitive salary and benefits package that will minimize staff turnover and make La Scuola a desirable place to work. 

Nurture and Grow Initiatives: 

• Benchmark La Scuola’s compensation structure among public and peer schools in the Bay Area to attract and retain top talent with desirable packages
• Invest in Professional Development with Reggio Children, International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO) and other generative programs
• Support our faculty in becoming leaders in training their peers by offering workshops and training sessions at La Scuola
• Establish La Scuola’s leadership in Reggio Emilia pedagogy in the US by becoming an accreditation partner for Reggio Children

2019-2020 Academic Year 

• Continued to invest in faculty compensation, raising average pay to ~95% of SFUSD, equating to approximately the median of other independent schools
• New professional development activities for IB instruction, Reggio (led by the President of Reggio Children), integrating social-emotional learning into the classroom and virtual teaching and technology training
• Implemented Reflektive software for staff self assessment and evaluation
• Achieved 100% retention of leadership team; achieved 96% faculty retention departures largely for out of state/country moves and personal reasons
• Student experience hires: Director of Student Activities (field days, school dances, overnight field trips, leadership) and a Director of Auxiliary Programs (extended care, enrichment classes, summer camps). Spanish educators
• Scuola leadership served as an accreditation team for CAIS, having just been accredited last year ourselves- a major demonstration of confidence
• Staff rapidly adapted to remote learning with COVID-19 Shelter in Place, demonstrating adaptability and tenacity to ensure delivery of content for all 
• Hosted 2 teacher-led conferences for educators, including one during COVID Shelter in Place, that attracted over 800 participants. 

2018-2019 Academic Year 

• Invested in professional development for teachers who completed programs at Reggio Children, Singapore Math, Columbia Writers Program and International Baccalaureate (IB) workshops. Learning incorporated into the curriculum
• Benchmarked faculty compensation against peer independent schools in San Francisco to continue to increase pay to be commensurate or better with SFUSD and other independent schools