Kindergarten Teacher

GRAND CANYON UNIVERSITY; Boise (ID); On-site; USD 55,287 - 67,573; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Professional development opportunities

Health benefits

Retirement plan options

Job summary

GRAND CANYON UNIVERSITY is seeking a dedicated Kindergarten Teacher to foster early childhood learning in Boise, Idaho. The role involves preparing lesson plans, evaluating student progress, and managing classroom behavior to ensure that students acquire foundational academic and life skills.

The ideal candidate will possess a Bachelor's degree in Education and complete student teaching requirements. Responsibilities also include communicating effectively with parents and adapting teaching techniques to meet diverse student needs.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Education or related field is essential.
• Completion of student teaching experience is required.
• Obtaining state licensure or certification is necessary.

Responsibilities

• Prepare lesson plans and instruct students.
• Evaluate student progress and communicate with parents.
• Manage classroom behavior and teach social skills.

Skills

Passion for working with young children

Classroom management

Instructional planning

Education

Bachelor's degree in Education

Job description

What Is a Kindergarten Teacher?

A kindergarten teacher is an educator who specializes in early childhood education. Kindergarten teachers introduce children ages four through six to a structured classroom learning environment.

At the kindergarten level, teachers focus on teaching the foundational academic skills that students need for first grade and beyond, including the basics of reading, writing and mathematics. Kindergarten teachers also help young children learn important life skills, such as emotional intelligence and other social skills.

Almost 66%

Percentage of children reported to be on track for kindergarten readiness (See disclaimer 1 )

What Does a Kindergarten Teacher Do?

Kindergarten teachers provide instruction in academic fundamentals and life skills to prepare children to succeed in first grade and beyond.

As early childhood educators, kindergarten teachers are essential for helping children make the most of their formative years. The human brain is most active early in life, forming millions of neural connections necessary for cognitive processing . (See disclaimer 2 ) By providing the early childhood education that these young learners need, kindergarten teachers help prepare them for their future. Kindergarten teachers typically teach a wide range of subjects, and they often pair instructional lessons with hands‑on activities.

A kindergarten teacher's three main tasks are:

Instruct

Kindergarten teachers prepare lesson plans and instruct students as a class, in small groups and individually in academic fundamentals, such as reading, writing and mathematics.

Evaluate

Early childhood educators evaluate students' progress by grading assignments, and they communicate with parents and guardians about learners' achievements and problem areas.

Manage

Kindergarten teachers manage student behavior by teaching appropriate behaviors and helping children learn about important social skills, such as sharing and turn‑taking.

What Experience and Education Does a Kindergarten Teacher Need?

A high school diploma is essential for future teachers. Students should take all the courses necessary for high school graduation and college preparation. In some high schools, relevant electives may be available, such as child development, psychology, childcare and safety and first aid. High school students can also look for relevant extracurricular activities working with young children, including job shadowing and internships. (See disclaimer 4 )

College Degree

Kindergarten teachers typically need a bachelor's degree in education. Some education programs may offer concentrations in a content area, such as STEM or mathematics. Aspiring kindergarten teachers who earned a bachelor's degree in a non‑education field may pursue an alternative path to certification with a master's degree that leads to initial teacher licensure. (See disclaimer 3 )

Student Teaching

To obtain licensure, future kindergarten teachers are typically required to complete one or more student teaching experiences, which are part of the curriculum for initial teacher licensure education degree programs. (See disclaimer 3 ) Student teaching experiences place future teachers in classrooms to gain work experience under the supervision of a licensed teacher.

Professional Certifications

All public school teachers are required to obtain licensure or certification from the state in which they teach. (See disclaimer 3) Requirements vary by state, but generally include a bachelor's degree and student teaching experience, as well as the successful completion of both a background check and certification exams. Continuing education courses may be required to maintain active licensure. (See disclaimer 3)

Kindergarten teachers can benefit from a comprehensive curriculum that covers everything from professional ethics to childhood development to pedagogy. Young learners have varied needs, requiring both specialized instruction at the early childhood level and social support for proper development.

The Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education and Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education and Special Education programs may lead to licensure for teaching kindergarten depending on the state in which you plan to teach. Be sure to check your state's requirements for licensure.

Some of the content areas an education degree may cover include:

• Classroom management
• Instructional planning
• Instructional methodologies
• Structured English Immersion

Degree Programs for Kindergarten Teachers

• Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education and Early Childhood Special Education (Initial Program – Leads to Initial Teacher Licensure)
• Master of Education in Early Childhood Education (Leads to Initial Teacher Licensure)
• Master of Education in Early Childhood Education and Early Childhood Special Education (Leads to Initial Licensure)
• Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education (Initial Program – Leads to Initial Teacher Licensure)
• Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education and Special Education (Initial Program – Leads to Initial Teacher Licensure)

What Skills Does a Kindergarten Teacher Need?

It's helpful for a future kindergarten teacher to be passionate about and enjoy working with young children. Young children need close guidance as they learn how to behave and work with peers in a classroom environment, as well as acquire foundational academic skills, such as shape identification and early reading skills.

Kindergarten teachers typically work in schools, although about 1% of them work in childcare settings. (See disclaimer 5 )

The main work settings for kindergarten teachers are:

Some kindergarten teachers work in private schools, which may not have the same licensure requirements as public schools. (See disclaimer 3 )

$61,430

Median annual salary for kindergarten teachers, except special education, as of May 2024 (See disclaimer 6 )

103,800

Number of job openings expected for kindergarten teachers and elementary school teachers, each year, from 2024 through 2034 (See disclaimer 7 )

There are numerous advancement opportunities available for kindergarten teachers. After gaining experience, a teacher may serve as a lead kindergarten teacher or become a mentor to new teachers. Some teachers acquire additional degrees and certifications to become school counselors, school librarians, instructional coordinators or school administrators, such as assistant principals and principals. (See disclaimer 3 )

If you are seeking licensure/certification, please refer to the “Accreditation and Compliance/State Disclosures” link for the specific program of interest's website for your location and/or employment state's licensure requirements, per 34 CFR 668.14(b)32 and 668.43(c).

• Thompson, R. (2024, Oct. 18). Early Brain Development and Public Health. National Library of Medicine. Retrieved April 2026.
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2025, Aug. 28). How to Become a Kindergarten or Elementary School Teacher. Occupational Outlook Handbook. Retrieved April 2026.
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2025, Aug. 28). Kindergarten and Elementary School Teachers: Work Environment. Occupational Outlook Handbook. Retrieved April 2026.
• The earnings referenced were reported by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Kindergarten and Elementary School Teachers , as of May 2024, retrieved April 2026. Due to COVID‑19, data from 2020 to 2023 may be atypical compared to prior years. BLS calculates the median using salaries of workers nationwide with varying levels of education and experience. It does not reflect the earnings of GCU graduates as kindergarten and elementary school teachers, nor does it reflect the earnings of workers in one city or region of the country or a typical entry‑level salary. Median income is the statistical midpoint for the range of salaries in a specific occupation. It is very unlikely that a median salary will reflect an entry‑level salary. It represents what you would earn if you were paid more money than half the workers in an occupation, and less than half the workers in an occupation. It may give you a basis to estimate what you might earn at some point if you enter this career. Grand Canyon University can make no guarantees on individual graduates’ salaries. Your employability will be determined by numerous factors over which GCU has no control, such as the employer the graduate chooses to apply to, the graduate's experience level, individual characteristics, skills, etc. against a pool of candidates.
• COVID‑19 has adversely affected the global economy and data from 2020 to 2023 may be atypical compared to prior years. Accordingly, data shown is effective August 2025, which can be found here: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Kindergarten and Elementary School Teachers , retrieved April 2026.