The Saklan School

The Saklan School is a pre-kindergarten through eighth-grade independent day school located in Moraga, California, roughly 30 miles east of San Francisco. Founded in 1954, the school enrolls approximately 150 students across one class per grade level. That structure—single-class per grade—means faculty know every student and family personally, and departures are noticed. It is small-school teaching without isolation.

What sets Saklan apart is curricular breadth woven through every level. Spanish language, music, science, physical education, and art classes run at every grade. Teachers integrate public speaking, leadership training, and experiential learning into core instruction rather than treating them as add-ons. Emotional resilience building is explicit. This approach requires collaboration across disciplines and allows teachers to mentor the same cohort for multiple years—something most larger independent schools cannot offer.

Day school positions differ from boarding roles in concrete ways. You teach classes and may lead a specialist section, but you leave campus at day's end. Committee work and school events remain part of the role, yet without residential obligations. That boundary suits educators who want immersion during school hours and separation afterward. For teachers balancing family life or additional professional pursuits, the day school model offers flexibility that residential independent schools do not.

Saklan hires for classroom teaching, specialist roles in languages and arts, and periodic administrative positions. Candidates should contact the school directly about current health benefits, retirement contributions, and professional development support.