Preschool Teacher

What You'll Do

The Preschool Teacher is responsible for independently leading the day-to-day operations of the preschool classroom, including curriculum planning and implementation, classroom management, student supervision, family engagement, classroom organization, and coordination with the Director. The Preschool Teacher is expected to actively support the overall mission, values, and growth of the school.

This position requires consistency, initiative, reliability, professionalism, strong judgment, and the ability to independently carry out the Director’s expectations regarding curriculum, supervision, student engagement, programming, classroom organization, and daily school operations.

Key Responsibilities:

• Plan and implement developmentally appropriate curriculum aligned with the CT Early Learning and Development Standards (CT ELDS) with directors help and approval
• Provide active supervision and ensure the safety and well-being of all children.
• Lead engaging activities that support children's social-emotional, physical, cognitive, language, literacy, math, science, and creative development.
• Maintain a clean, organized, and welcoming classroom and shared spaces.
• Support positive behavior through age-appropriate guidance and redirection.
• Communicate professionally with families and staff while maintaining confidentiality.
• Complete required classroom documentation and records.
• Follow school policies, licensing requirements, and Director expectations.
• Participate actively in meals, transitions, outdoor play, guest lessons, and daily classroom routines.
• Demonstrate reliability, professionalism, initiative, and accountability.

Requirements

Knowledge, Skills, and Experience Required:

• Prior experience working with children.
• Prior experience working with preschool-aged children, toddlers, and/or infants.
• Current First Aid and CPR certification, along with Medication Administration and EpiPen training, or willingness to complete required training upon hire.
• Must successfully complete a full background check and required health screening.
• Ability to provide a safe, nurturing, and developmentally appropriate environment for young children.
• Strong communication, professionalism, reliability, and teamwork skills.
• Ability to actively supervise children, follow school policies and procedures, and carry out classroom responsibilities independently.
• Willingness to follow curriculum expectations, licensing requirements, and direction from the Program Director.

Nice to Have

Physical Requirements

• Ability to actively participate in the daily activities of young children, including walking, standing, sitting on the floor, and engaging in indoor and outdoor play.
• Ability to frequently bend, kneel, squat, crawl, and lift or assist children as needed.
• Ability to communicate clearly and effectively with children, families, and staff, and to hear voices and sounds at various levels.
• Ability to safely supervise children and respond quickly to their needs, including during transitions, meals, bathroom routines, and outdoor activities.
• Ability to see clearly at close and extended distances, distinguish colors, and use peripheral vision and depth perception for effective supervision and safety.
• Ability to maintain the physical stamina necessary to remain actively engaged with children throughout the workday.

Benefits

• Be part of a mission driven, supportive team of early childhood educators.
• Work in the beautiful Village of Essex
• Opportunity for discounted childcare and preschool education for your child.
• This is a year round position with three distinct vacations per year when school is closed: Two Weeks in Dec/Jan; One Week in April; Two Weeks end of August. This is unpaid time off for the first year. Each successive year employed, teacher earns one paid week of vacation.
• Earn 5 PTO Days after 6 months of successful employment; 10 PTO Days after 18 months of employment.
• opportunity for more hours