Lead Preschool/Pre-K Teacher

We are currently hiring for a lead teacher in our Pre-K (4 and 5 year old) classroom. Our Pre-k classroom currently has one teacher, who works in single ratio (1:10). We have capacity for 20 students, maintaining a 1:10 ratio.

We are a progressive project-based, Reggio-inspired child development center, located in the Brookside neighborhood of Kansas City. Founded in the beginning of 2018, we have grown to eight classrooms and currently care for up to 96 children, between the ages of 6 weeks and 6 years old.

Our ideal candidate:

• Respects children and their natural curiosity
• Follows child-led approach in literacy
• Loves outdoor play and getting messy
• Is patient and nurturing, and follows the lead of children
• Is flexible and coachable
• Is knowledgeable about kindergarten readiness, and has the willingness to adopt a non-traditional approach to early childhood education (Reggio Emilia Philosophy, play-based learning)
• Is a team player, able to work collaboratively with other teachers
• Has at least two years of childcare experience and at least some college courses in education or child development

Preferred Qualifications (or willingness to be trained in):

• Knowledge on Child Led Curriculum
• Knowledge on Inquiry Based Learning
• Knowledge in The Project Approach
• Knowledge in the Reggio Emilia Philosophy

Full Time Employee Benefits:

• Starting pay of $ /hour
• 10 PTO days, plus 2 additional days of PTO for each full year worked
• 13 paid holidays, including an 8 day Winter Break
• Paid snow days
• Partially subsidized health, dental, and vision insurance through United Healthcare
• Reimbursement for trainings taken
• Access to a staff wellness room with snacks, drinks, and space for relaxation

What does it mean to be a Reggio-inspired center? For us that means:

• We believe in respecting and nurturing the curiosity and creativity of children.
• We value, document, and celebrate children's questions, interests, and ideas
• We see play as the most effective vehicle for learning in the early years and strive to help children become creative thinkers.
• We value our classroom environments as an essential element of children's learning, so all of our classrooms are infused with natural wooden furniture, open-ended materials, lamps, and cozy elements to make them feel home-like and to inspire exploration.
• We also see nature as a rich tool for learning and prioritize outdoor play as part of our daily schedule and encourage outdoor play in all types of weather
• We offer children a rich variety of open-ended art projects, sensory experiences, building explorations, pretend play props, and more.
• We allow creative freedom within The Project Approach Curriculum based on student interests and real-life experiences.

We believe that our teachers are the heart of our center, so we strive to build a supportive community where our teachers can grow and thrive. We provide ample plan time weekly for teachers to plan lessons, document learning, and update their classrooms. We also have 6 days of professional development each year to give teachers an opportunity to learn and work in their classrooms without children present, in addition to providing ongoing coaching and training on the job throughout the year.

We are conducting interviews now and would love to hear from you if you think we might be a great fit for you

Feel free to visit our Facebook page to see examples of learning in action. You can also visit our website for more information about our center and philosophy.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $ $18.50 per hour

Benefits:

• Dental insurance
• Employee discount
• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• Professional development assistance
• Referral program
• Vision insurance

Application Question(s):

• Why are you interested in a teaching position at our center?
• Are you authorized to work in the U.S. for ANY employer? We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment Visa at this time.
• Our center is open 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and our lead teachers work an 9 hours shift during those hours with a 1 hour break. At this time we are looking for someone for the 8:30-5:30 shift, full time (Monday through Friday). Are you available to work that shift?

Education:

• High school or equivalent (Required)

Experience:

• Childcare: 2 years (Preferred)

Work Location: In person