Head Teacher (Pre-School)

Working within inspired and dynamic teams, our teachers are helping to build a vision for progressive education in the East Village. Inspired by the preschools of Reggio Emilia, we believe that all children learn through inquiry, exploration, and play in the context of strong relationships and a sense of belonging.

Our teachers create responsive, safe, joyful, and nurturing learning environments for children that foster inquiry, exploration, learning & reflection; collaborate with co-teachers to plan an emergent curriculum based on observations of children's interests and development; document children's learning through photographs, written learning narratives, anecdotes, panels, and mini-stories; facilitate communication and collaboration between the family and the preschool.

Planning, Preparation+ Curriculum Development

• Co-constructing curriculum based on children's interests, questions, and development

• Documenting, reflecting, and planning from observations

• Write Daily PODs

• Participating in weekly planning meetings with the teaching team

• Meeting the needs of all children

Classroom Environment

• Planning and creating a classroom environment with inquiry, exploration, learning, and respect in mind

• Nurturing children's home languages through curated books, materials, and the physical environment

• Creating a warm and inclusive environment where children and families feel welcome

• Organizing physical space and selection of materials in a way that is inviting and accessible to children

• Creating visual evidence of the narratives and curriculum occurring in your classroom

Relationships with Teaching Team

• Develop schedules and processes to ensure that work is complete in a timely fashion by teaching team.

• Lead regular documentation, reflection, and planning meetings with teaching team.

• Provide feedback, coaching, and support to Assistant Teachers as necessary.

Interactions with Children

• Speaking and listening to children with respect and mindfulness

• Supervising the whole group, while giving individual attention

• Managing classroom procedures including transitions, routines, and small groups

• Engage students in exploration and ongoing project work

• Scaffolding children through conflict and problem solving

Relationships with Families

• Building respectful and reciprocal relationships with families

• Communicating consistently with families

Professional Responsibilities

• Documenting children's learning, development, and progress through observations, written narratives, reflections, and conversations with families.

• Maintain a documentation portfolio for each child and complete assessment checkpoints throughout the year.

• Maintaining collaborative and professional relationships with colleagues

• Mentoring Assistant teachers

• Participating in professional development meetings

• Showing professionalism including integrity, ethical conduct, and decision making

• The candidate will be reflective, ask questions, be willing to take risks and make mistakes

• Working in full partnership with the director, admin team, cross school collaborations

• erred

Minimum Qualifications:

• MA in Early Childhood/ Elementary Education New York State N-6 or PreK-6 certification or study plan

• Excellent written communication skills, including the ability to craft narrative observations and assessments, written reflections, and communicate with families and colleagues regularly via email and phone

• Ability to use Outlook, Microsoft Office Suite, Zoom, and other online learning platforms as required

• Strong oral communication with children, families, and colleagues

• Minimum 3 years of professional teaching experience in an early childhood setting preferred

Salary:

$23.08 to $31.69 hourly

Agency Information:

A nonprofit beacon of hope for over 130 years, as a historically Jewish organization Educational Alliance believes in the power of communities to lift up people of all ages and turn strangers into neighbors. We offer high-quality, affordable education programs, health services, and diverse cultural enrichment right where New Yorkers live and raise their families. We make the city a brighter, friendlier and more supportive place. Our community centers offer multi-generational programs that push boundaries and break barriers, sharing critical tools to foster relationships and advance the well-being of people in New York City.

Our pioneering educational programs--like 2Generation Head Start, and courses ranging from art to fitness, career readiness to citizenship--are carefully curated and developed with our city's residents in mind. We offer dozens of options and we never stop innovating to help people of all ages grow, connect, and engage.

Guided by Jewish values, Educational Alliance celebrates the differences and individuality every person brings when they walk through our doors because we know that there is more that connects us than keeps us divided. Today, our reach extends beyond the city as our innovative programs serve as models for other organizations to adopt and implement in their communities. We invite you to join us as we partner with our neighbors, strengthen our city, and pave the way for more generations of New Yorkers to live enriched and fulfilling lives - because you belong here.