Early Years English Teacher

Sun Preschools; Fatih; On-site; TRY 223,000 - 402,000; Full time

Job summary

Sun Preschool in Bahçeşehir, Istanbul, is rebuilding its English program and seeks a founding-spirit Early Years English Teacher. You will guide four age groups in a warm, play-based environment where language learning feels like an adventure.

You will design engaging experiences through play, music, and storytelling; collaborate with Turkish-speaking staff; shape the program as we invest in facilities and staff; and connect with families via a monthly family magazine.

Qualifications

• 2+ years of English teaching experience with children aged 2–6.
• Must reside in Istanbul and be able to commute to Bahçeşehir daily.
• Bachelor’s degree in ELT, Early Childhood Education, or Pedagogical Formation is highly preferred.

Responsibilities

• Design and deliver engaging English learning experiences through play, music, and storytelling.
• Collaborate with Turkish-speaking staff to create a cohesive daily flow.
• Shape the English program through feedback and creativity as the school revamps its systems.
• Engage with families through the monthly school magazine.

Skills

English fluency

Early childhood teaching

Builder mindset

Play-based learning

Education

Bachelor's degree in Education or Early Childhood Development

TEFL/TESOL/CELTA certification

Job description

Target Group: Ages 2-6 (Nursery, KG1, KG2)

We are currently processing a high volume of applications. To save your time and ours, please note that we will only interview candidates who meet these strict criteria:

• PRESCHOOL SPECIALIST: You must have at least 2 years of experience teaching English to children aged 2-6. (Primary or Secondary experience is not applicable for this role).
• LOCAL: You must already reside in Istanbul.
• COMMUTE: You must be able to commute to Bahçeşehir daily. No staff shuttle is provided.
• QUALIFICATIONS: A Bachelor’s degree in ELT, Early Childhood Education, or a recognized Pedagogical Formation is highly preferred and will be given significant priority during our selection process.
• ATTENTION TO DETAIL: As we are building a high-standard environment, we value educators who are thorough and focused. You are expected to read this job description in its entirety. Applications that do not follow the specific instructions provided at the end will be automatically disqualified.

About the Opportunity

Sun Preschool is a school with a rich, 30-year history in Bahçeşehir. Recently, we have entered a brand-new chapter. Under new ownership and visionary leadership, we are currently in the midst of a complete revitalization. While we are an established name, we are currently "rolling up our sleeves" to restore this school to its former glory and beyond. We are heavily investing in our facilities, our curriculum, and -most-important- our people. We aren't perfect yet, but we are committed to becoming the best early-learning environment in the region.

We aren't looking for someone to just fill a seat; we are looking for a founding-spirit teacher to help us build this future.

The Role

As our Early Years English Teacher, you will be the voice of English in our school. You will work with four age groups, creating a warm, play-based environment where language learning feels like an adventure.

You will:

• Design & Deliver: Create engaging, interactive English experiences through play, music, and storytelling.
• Collaborate: Partner with our Turkish-speaking staff to build a cohesive daily flow.
• Shape the Culture: As we rebuild our systems, your feedback and creativity will directly influence how our English program evolves.
• Connect: Participate in parent engagement and contribute to our monthly family magazine.

What We Are Looking For

Because we are in a growth and transformation phase, we need someone who is adaptable, patient, and excited by progress.

• Native or near-native English proficiency.
• Experience teaching young children (ages 2-5).
• A "Builder" Mindset: You enjoy being part of a school that is improving every day.
• Creative, energetic, and patient teaching style.

Preferred:

• Degree in Education or Early Childhood Development.
• TEFL/TESOL/CELTA certification.
• Experience with play-based or inquiry-based learning.

Why Join Us Now?

Joining a "perfect" school is easy, but joining a school in its investment and growth phase is where you can make the biggest impact.

• Be a Part of the Transformation: See your ideas come to life as we upgrade our environment and materials.
• Creative Freedom:
• Investment in You: As we grow, we want our core team to grow with us into leadership roles.
• Small, Supportive Community: Work directly with owners who are passionate, present, and dedicated to excellence.
• Authenticity: We are honest about where we are and where we are going.

Ready to Build Something Special?

If you have a heart for early childhood education and the energy to help us write this next chapter, we want to meet you.