Preschool Support Teacher

The Co-op School; New York (NY); On-site; USD 34,000 - 40,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k)

401(k) matching

Dental insurance

Health insurance

Paid time off

Parental leave

Job summary

The Co-op School is seeking a Support Teacher to join the classroom team and help create meaningful learning activities for students. You will support each child’s social, emotional, intellectual, language, and physical development in a safe, supervised environment.

Support Teachers may assist Lead or Assistant Teachers with curriculum planning, lesson preparation, and maintaining a healthy classroom. Travel between three divisions may be required; start date August 2026; union full-time

Qualifications

• Passionate about working with children.
• 2-3 years experience working with children, preferably in a school setting.
• High School Diploma/GED Required; ideal candidate has or will have a degree in early childhood or elementary education.
• Enthusiasm for the opportunities and challenges inherent in working with children.
• A positive attitude and flexible approach.

Responsibilities

• Meet the needs of all children, including students with special needs.
• Integrate curriculum components into classroom time.
• Individualize one-to-one and group activities reflecting diverse needs.
• Occasionally lead lessons to cover absences.
• Supervise children at all times.
• Assist with personal needs such as toileting, hand washing, and naps when primary teacher is unavailable.
• Respond to crisis or emergencies; provide first aid/CPR as needed.
• Attend weekly planning meetings after school to plan and document.
• Attend monthly staff meetings, open house, curriculum night, PD, and parent conferences.

Skills

Passionate about children

2-3 years experience

Enthusiasm

Positive attitude

Education

High School Diploma/GED

Early childhood/elementary education degree (preferred)

Job description

Benefits

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• Parental leave

The Co-op School was founded in 2003 by a group of parents who saw the need for a high-quality and affordable preschool option in the Clinton Hill and Fort Greene neighborhoods. Since then, the Co-op School has matured from a small, parent-run playgroup to a fully staffed and licensed non-profit school.

After residing in two prior homes in Clinton Hill, The Co-op School moved into 87 Irving Place in the fall of 2009. In 2011, The Co-op School launched the first kindergarten class of its elementary program at 40 Brevoort Place.

In 2019, we opened our doors at 644 Gates Avenue in the Bedford Stuyvesant neighborhood—in a 3,500-square-foot building with a double-height gym, a rooftop library, and two playgrounds—housing our preschool, lower school, and middle school students under one roof.

OUR MISSION

The mission of The Co-op School is to inspire passion and teach children to become protagonists in their own educational journey by fostering their innate sense of curiosity and creativity. The Co-op School facilitates joyful learning through a unique and rigorous constructivist approach that listens to and honors the individual interests and strengths of each child. The Co-op School doesn’t just belong to the students and educators but extends to the family community as a whole. It belongs to those who participate in it and is a more resilient and creative place because of it.

JOB SUMMARY

The Support Teacher is a member of the classroom team who helps prepare and initiate meaningful learning activities for students. Responsibilities include promoting the social, emotional, intellectual, language and physical development of each child in a safe and supervising educational environment. The Support Teacher may assist the Lead Teacher and/or Assistant Teacher with developing classroom curriculum, preparing lessons, creating a safe and healthy classroom environment, and contributing to class conversations.

Support Teachers are assigned to a classroom as needed and the assignment changes according to the need. Occasionally a support teacher may be asked to lead group instruction with substitute plans created by Lead Teacher. Individuals must be willing to travel between classrooms across three divisions to provide assistance as requested.

Instructional Planning, Preparation, & Communication

• Meeting the needs of all children, including students with special needs
• Integrating curriculum components into classroom time
• Assisting in individualizing one-to-one and group activities to reflect the unique needs and strengths of all children in the classroom
• Occasionally leading the lessons to cover the absence of a teacher
• Supervising children at all times
• If a primary teacher is unavailable, the support teacher will assist students with personal needs such as toileting, hand washing, and resting for nap.
• Responding to crisis or emergency situations that may arise; provides first aid or CPR; prevents the spread of blood borne pathogens and accesses emergency services if necessary
• Meeting weekly (1 hour after school) with teaching team to plan, update documentation and maintain a clean learning environment
• Attending monthly staff meetings, open house, curriculum night, professional development, and parent-teacher conferences (twice a year)

QUALIFICATIONS

• Passionate about working with children
• 2-3 years experience working with children, preferably working in a school setting
• High School Diploma/GED Required-Ideal candidate has or will have a degree in early childhood or elementary education
• Enthusiasm for the opportunities and challenges inherent in working with children
• A positive attitude and flexible approach

Annual Salary

The salary range for this position is $34,000 - $40,321; The position on the scale will be based on years of teaching experience and education.

Level

Union Full-Time Position

Start Date

August 2026

Position reporting

This Position reports directly to the Preschool Division Head

The Co-op School is an equal opportunity employer. We prohibit discrimination against any employee or applicant for employment on the basis of race, creed, color, citizenship, national origin or ancestry, religion or religious practices, sex, age, marital status, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, prior arrest or conviction record, genetic predisposition or any other basis prohibited by federal, state, or local laws. Our policy extends to all employment practices including but not limited to, hiring, transfer, promotion, training, compensation, benefits, lay-offs, and termination.