Lead PreK Teacher

Princeton Friends School; Princeton (NJ); On-site; USD 40,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

Princeton Friends School is seeking a Lead PreK Teacher who values creativity and curiosity in early childhood education. You will design a play-based curriculum, support children's emotional and social growth, and work collaboratively with families and faculty. If you have a passion for nurturing young learners and believe in the importance of outdoor play, this role may be perfect for you.

Benefits

Health Insurance

Life & Long-Term Disability Insurance

Retirement: partial employer match

Tuition Remission: 90% for employees’ children

Childcare Benefits

Professional Development

Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)

Paid Time Off

Qualifications

• 3–5 years of experience with preschool-aged children.
• Holds CPR and First Aid certification (can be obtained upon hire).
• Willingness to engage in outdoor learning activities.

Responsibilities

• Design and lead a dynamic, play-based curriculum.
• Foster a supportive classroom for emotional and social growth.
• Collaborate with colleagues and communicate effectively with families.

Skills

Creativity

Patience

Joy in teaching

Respect for children

Collaboration

Empathy

Education

Degree in Early Childhood or Elementary Education

Master’s preferred

Tools

Google Classroom

Job description

25-26 PFS Lead Pre K Teacher Job Posting

Join Our Team as a Lead PreK Teacher at Princeton Friends School!

Are you a passionate early childhood educator who believes in the magic of play, the power of curiosity, and the beauty of learning outdoors—even in the rain? Are you excited to be part of a diverse, joyful school community that values creativity, connection, and social-emotional growth just as much as academic progress? If so, you might be the teacher we're looking for.

At Princeton Friends School, all of our faculty work collaboratively to actively bring to life our school’s mission:

Drawing on a rich tradition of Quaker values and practices, Princeton Friends School is committed to creating a diverse, vibrant learning community in which young people engage their natural curiosity, discover and express their individual voices and gifts, acquire intellectual, physical, artistic, and life skills, and develop a sense of responsibility for themselves and others. Princeton Friends both prepares students for the world that is and models possibilities for the society they will one day help to create.

As our founding Lead PreK Teacher, you’ll be at the heart of that mission—supporting children in their earliest years of exploration, wonder, and growth.

What You’ll Do:

Reporting to the Head of School, as the Lead PreK Teacher, you’ll have the opportunity to:

• Design and lead a dynamic, play-based curriculum rooted in Quaker values that nurtures young learners (ages 3.5-5) and makes space for differentiated instruction
• Foster a classroom where all children feel seen, heard, and supported—emotionally, socially, and academically
• Bring the outdoors into your daily teaching and the classroom into the natural world, in every season
• Collaborate closely with warm, talented colleagues and communicate regularly and effectively with families
• Model empathy, kindness, and equity in all your interactions, and meet students where they are
• Reflect on your practice, seek out professional growth, and actively contribute to our vibrant school community

What You Bring:

You are someone who:

• Holds a degree in Early Childhood or Elementary Education (Master’s preferred)
• Has 3–5 years of experience with preschool-aged children and a deep respect for their capabilities (experience in a Quaker school a plus!)
• Loves and respects children and believes that teachers and families should work together in support of them
• Brings creativity, patience, and a sense of joy to your teaching
• Is able to work independently, and equally values and seeks out opportunities to collaborate with colleagues
• Believes that outdoor play is essential and will embrace splashing in puddles and making mud pies alongside your students
• Is comfortable with, or excited to learn, tools like Google Classroom and other educational tech
• Has experience (or interest) in programs like Responsive Classroom, Writing Workshop, Orton-Gillingham, Fundations, Handwriting Without Tears, and Bridges Mathematics
• Has the organizational skills needed to manage both teaching and administrative responsibilities
• Holds a CPR and First Aid certification (can be obtained upon hire)
• Is flexible and understands that working in a small school often means wearing many hats and embracing community life
• Believes that adult learning is never complete, and approaches professional development opportunities with excitement
• Is eager to build relationships across differences and support an inclusive, anti-bias learning environment
• Speaks Spanish or Mandarin (a plus!)

Compensation: $40,000 - $50,000 commensurate with education, training, and relevant experience.
Benefits package for full-time 10-month faculty (40+ hours/week), including:

• Health Insurance
• Life & Long-Term Disability Insurance
• Retirement: partial employer match
• Tuition Remission: 90% remission for employees’ children enrolled at PFS
• Childcare Benefits
• Professional Development
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)
• Paid Time Off

Physical requirements:

Regularly required to sit, stand, walk, talk, hear, operate a computer, hand-held learning devices, and other office equipment, reach with hands and arms, and must occasionally lift and/or move up to 10 pounds.

To Apply

At Princeton Friends School, we are deeply committed to fostering a diverse, equitable, and inclusive community where all students, educators, and staff can learn, grow, and thrive. We believe that our school is strengthened by the variety of identities, backgrounds, and lived experiences represented within it, and we seek to build a team that reflects the diversity of the students and families we serve.

Our approach to inclusion is grounded in ongoing dialogue, reflection, and learning, with particular attention to issues of race, identity, and belonging. We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer and are dedicated to ensuring a workplace free of discrimination or harassment on the basis of race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability, genetic information, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other status protected by applicable law.

We are also committed to supporting individuals with disabilities throughout the hiring process and during employment, including providing reasonable accommodations as needed. You can request an accommodation alongside your application.

Apply by emailing a cover letter, CV/resume, and 3 professional references to [e-mail]. Please include (1) the title of the position in the subject line of your email and (2) where you found the position posting in your cover letter. Please email all documents in PDF format.

see: https://www.princetonfriendsschool.org/about-us/lead-prek-teacher.cfm