Lead Teacher

Inside Higher Ed; Pasadena (CA); On-site; USD 27,552 - 29,618; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid time-off

Medical and dental insurance

Retirement plan with employer contribution

Tuition reimbursement

Job summary

A leading educational institution in Pasadena seeks a Lead Teacher to foster an inclusive program for young children. Responsibilities include teaching, curriculum planning, and mentoring staff while maintaining strong parent relations. Ideal candidates should have a Bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education and a minimum of 12 months of experience working with children. The role offers competitive hourly pay and valuable benefits.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 12 months working with young children in an early childhood education setting.
• Able to earn a graduate degree within two years.

Responsibilities

• Teach and coordinate home & school communications.
• Mentor associate teachers and practicum students.
• Ensure effective operation and coordination of programs.
• Plan and implement developmentally appropriate curricula.

Skills

Teaching expertise

Communication skills

Mentoring

Respectful collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education or related field

Job description

Lead Teacher – Pacific Oaks Children’s School

Lead Teachers at Pacific Oaks Children’s School play a vital role in fostering a developmentally appropriate and inclusive program for young children. They guide and collaborate with their teaching team to implement an emergent curriculum that supports the growth of the whole child, embracing diverse learning styles and promoting anti‑bias education.

Key Responsibilities

• Teach, coordinate home & school communications, build strong parent relationships, and support school‑wide initiatives.
• Mentor associate teachers and practicum students, demonstrating best practices and cultivating a learning environment centered on collaboration, respect, and continuous improvement.
• Ensure effective operation and coordination of programs, working closely with fellow Lead Teachers, Master Teachers, and the broader teaching team to meet developmental needs and uphold educational values.
• Report directly to the Executive Director of the Children’s School.

Essential Functions

• Plan, implement, and adapt developmentally appropriate curricula responsive to children’s needs, interests, and learning styles.
• Create and maintain a safe, purposeful learning environment indoors and outdoors, prioritizing health and safety.
• Observe and document children’s development, providing annual summaries and maintaining regular communication with families through notes, newsletters, and progress updates.
• Build respectful, collaborative relationships with parents, honoring cultural differences and diverse family structures; facilitate individual parent conferences at least twice per year and group meetings three times annually.
• Supervise, mentor, and support staff in daily responsibilities, curriculum planning, and classroom management; lead staff meetings, provide feedback, conduct evaluations, and encourage professional growth.
• Mentor practicum students, providing guidance in curriculum planning, classroom management, and child development; facilitate weekly meetings and collaborate with faculty.
• Coordinate daily staffing, monitor classroom and environmental needs, and perform administrative duties as assigned to ensure smooth operations.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Essential Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Model ethical behavior for children, families, and colleagues with care, respect, and honesty.
• Maintain professionalism and confidentiality in all aspects of the job.
• Demonstrate teaching expertise based on active learning, play, progressive, constructivist, and/or emergent principles.
• Communicate effectively in writing and verbally, conveying information clearly and sensitively.

Preferred Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Communicate openly, directly, and constructively with staff and families.
• Use appropriate channels for problem‑solving and communication, addressing challenges professionally.
• Engage physically and emotionally with children throughout the day, managing classroom demands.
• Lead by example, mentoring, supervising, and supporting other teachers while fostering a positive work environment.

Position Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education, Child Development, or a related field; eligible to earn a graduate degree within two years.
• Experience: Minimum of 12 months working with young children in an early childhood education setting.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience: Two years of experience working with young children in an early childhood education setting.

Typical Working Conditions

• Work in indoor and outdoor settings with temperatures ranging from the 60s to 90s outdoors, requiring flexibility and adaptability.

Essential Physical & Mental Tasks

Physical Demands:

• Standing, lifting up to 50 lbs., walking frequently, carrying materials and children, hearing, speaking, writing, squatting/kneeling, reaching, climbing, pushing, typing.
• Exposed to noise, heat/cold, fumes/gases, human tissue/fluids, chemicals, dirt.

Mental Demands:

• Reading curriculum materials, frequent interruptions, periods of concentrated attention, detailed work on reports and assessments, frequent contact with people, frequent deadlines, multiple concurrent tasks.

Travel

Up to 3% of total time; some voluntary travel for school events and professional development in the Pasadena area.

Compensation & Benefits

Base compensation in the range of $20.00–$21.50 per hour. Additional compensation factors may impact total compensation. Benefits include paid time-off, medical and dental insurance, life and disability insurance, retirement plan with employer contribution, flexible spending accounts, tuition reimbursement, and other rewards. For more details, visit the company website.

Pacific Oaks is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Pacific Oaks participates in E‑Verify and verifies identity and employment eligibility of all persons hired. The above statements describe the general nature of the work and are not exhaustive. Pacific Oaks offers equal employment opportunities to all persons without regard to race, color, ethnicity, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, marital status, physical or mental disability, parental status, or military status in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local EEO laws.