Lead Preschool Teacher

Octavio; Leander (TX); On-site; USD 32,000 - 42,000; Full time

Job summary

Little Lotus Preschool in Leander, TX seeks a warm, dependable Lead Preschool Teacher for a 3-year-old classroom. The role emphasizes play-based, nature-inspired learning with a focus on social-emotional development and language growth.

The ideal candidate enjoys working with young children, collaborates with staff, and upholds state licensing standards to maintain a safe, welcoming classroom environment.

Qualifications

• Experience working with preschool-aged children, particularly ages 3-4, strongly preferred
• Previous Lead Teacher experience preferred
• Early Childhood Education coursework, CDA, Associate's degree, Bachelor's degree, or related education is a plus
• Must meet all Texas Child Care Licensing requirements for caregivers
• Must be able to pass required background checks
• CPR/First Aid certification preferred or willingness to obtain

Responsibilities

• Building warm, responsive relationships with each child
• Creating a classroom culture where children feel safe, respected, included, and loved
• Implementing developmentally appropriate, play-based learning experiences
• Incorporating nature, sensory exploration, art, music, movement, books, science, and open-ended materials into the children's day
• Supporting social-emotional development through positive guidance, co-regulation, modeling, and age-appropriate boundaries
• Encouraging independence with toileting, handwashing, meals, dressing, cleanup, and classroom routines
• Supporting language development and early literacy and math skills naturally through play and conversation
• Providing active supervision indoors and outdoors
• Observing children's development and communicating meaningful information with families
• Completing classroom documentation and daily communication
• Working collaboratively with assistant teachers, floaters, administration, and other classrooms
• Maintaining a clean, organized, welcoming classroom
• Following Texas Child Care Minimum Standards and Little Lotus health, safety, supervision, and guidance policies

Job description

Lead Preschool Teacher - 3-Year-Old Classroom

Little Lotus Preschool | Leander, TX

Little Lotus Preschool is looking for a warm, dependable, and enthusiastic Lead Preschool Teacher to guide our classroom of 3-year-olds.

Little Lotus is a small, nature-inspired, play-based preschool where we believe children learn best through relationships, exploration, movement, creativity, and meaningful play. We are looking for a teacher who genuinely enjoys this wonderfully busy age and understands that three-year-olds are learning much more than letters and numbers—they are learning how to communicate, regulate their emotions, become independent, build friendships, solve problems, and understand their world.

What You’ll Do

As the Lead Teacher, you will take ownership of creating a safe, engaging, predictable, and joyful classroom environment. Responsibilities include:

• Building warm, responsive relationships with each child
• Creating a classroom culture where children feel safe, respected, included, and loved
• Implementing developmentally appropriate, play-based learning experiences
• Incorporating nature, sensory exploration, art, music, movement, books, science, and open-ended materials into the children's day
• Supporting social-emotional development through positive guidance, co-regulation, modeling, and age-appropriate boundaries
• Encouraging independence with toileting, handwashing, meals, dressing, cleanup, and classroom routines
• Supporting language development and early literacy and math skills naturally through play and conversation
• Providing active supervision indoors and outdoors
• Maintaining consistent classroom routines while remaining flexible to children's individual needs
• Observing children's development and communicating meaningful information with families
• Completing classroom documentation and daily communication
• Working collaboratively with assistant teachers, floaters, administration, and other classrooms
• Maintaining a clean, organized, welcoming classroom
• Following Texas Child Care Minimum Standards and Little Lotus health, safety, supervision, and guidance policies

The Teacher We're Looking For

Our ideal teacher is someone who:

• Truly enjoys working with young children
• Understands that behavior is communication and approaches challenging moments with curiosity, patience, and appropriate boundaries
• Can be loving and nurturing while confidently managing a group
• Values play and understands how much learning happens through it
• Is comfortable getting messy, sitting on the floor, exploring outside, singing songs, reading the same favorite book repeatedly, and seeing the world through a child's eyes
• Understands that outdoor time is an important part of the curriculum - not simply recess
• Is observant and proactive about children's safety
• Communicates professionally and respectfully with families and coworkers
• Is dependable, punctual, organized, and able to take ownership of their classroom
• Welcomes coaching, collaboration, and continued professional growth
• Brings creativity and ideas to the classroom rather than relying on worksheets or teacher-directed activities

Qualifications

• Experience working with preschool-aged children, particularly ages 3-4, strongly preferred
• Previous Lead Teacher experience preferred
• Early Childhood Education coursework, CDA, Associate's degree, Bachelor's degree, or related education is a plus
• Must meet all Texas Child Care Licensing requirements for caregivers
• Must be able to pass required background checks
• CPR/First Aid certification preferred or willingness to obtain
• Ability to safely participate in an active preschool environment, including indoor and outdoor play

About Little Lotus

At Little Lotus Preschool, learning begins with connection and curiosity.

Our program combines play-based learning with nature-inspired experiences and influences from Reggio Emilia and Montessori philosophies. Our classrooms are intentionally designed to encourage exploration, creativity, independence, problem-solving, and meaningful relationships.

We don't expect three-year-olds to behave like elementary school students. We meet children where they are developmentally while helping them build the skills they need for what comes next.

We also believe teachers deserve to work in an environment where they are supported, trusted, encouraged to grow, and able to bring their own creativity into the classroom.

If you're looking for a preschool where you can teach through relationships, play, nature, and everyday moments of wonder, we'd love to meet you.