Program for Young Children: Lead Teacher

St. Anne’s School of Annapolis; Annapolis (MD); On-site; USD 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading school in Annapolis is seeking a dedicated Lead Teacher for the Program for Young Children. The ideal candidate will foster a nurturing environment, implement a Reggio-inspired curriculum, and collaborate with colleagues to support children's growth. This role requires a strong understanding of early childhood education and a commitment to inclusive practices. The position starts in August 2025.

Qualifications

• Minimum two years of related teaching experience in an early childhood setting.
• Deep understanding of child development and familiarity with the Reggio Emilia Approach.

Responsibilities

• Instruct, guide, and supervise children in a nurturing environment.
• Collaborate with teaching partners and maintain a safe classroom.
• Conduct Parent/Teacher Conferences and maintain documentation.

Skills

Communication

Organizational Skills

Interpersonal Skills

Initiative

Education

Four year degree in early childhood

Graduate degree preferred

Job description

Program for Young Children Lead Teacher

St. Anne’s School is a two-year-old through Eighth Grade, co-educational, private Episcopal school located in scenic Annapolis, Maryland. Annapolis is a lively, historic seaport city within close proximity to Washington, D.C. and Baltimore. Our school is distinguished as a leader in progressive, inquiry-based academic education rooted in an intentional social-emotional learning program. Our program typically draws energetic and flexible lifelong learners who are reflective about their teaching practices and find great value in collaborating and growing as teachers, mentors, and leaders. We are celebrated for our dynamic sense of community, our ability to be responsive and nimble as education itself transforms in this century, and our commitment to cutting-edge practices in teaching and learning.

The strength of the school’s challenging academic program is based on our intentional social-emotional learning program, which is recognized as central to our work and key understanding of child development and brain development. We employ the tenets of Responsive Classroom and Developmental Designs holistically. Our core curriculum is based on central-subject studies, project based learning, a Reggio-inspired approach to learning, a structured literacy approach based in the Science of Reading, robust world language instruction, and a rigorous, conceptual mathematics program. We are committed to vibrant arts, lab based science and engineering, thoughtful use of technology, and the relevance of mindful physical, nature-based, and outdoor education. We enjoy a strong commitment to service learning. As an Episcopal school, we promote and explore inclusive perspectives and embrace a commitment to anti-bias curriculum and diversity education in our teaching and learning practices.

The Program for Young Children (PYC) consists of two year olds, Preschool (three year olds) and Prekindergarten (four year olds). There are two classes per level and two highly qualified teachers work collaboratively with 12-16 students in each class.

PYC Lead Teachers instruct, guide, and supervise children in a warm, nurturing environment that is inspired by the Reggio Emilia approach and emergent curriculum. With the support of the PYC Program Head, this teacher will establish a safe and caring classroom community in which each child’s strengths, opinions, actions, and thoughts are valued. St. Anne’s School seeks life-long learners who possess the positive professionalism, community-mindedness, openness, engagement, and warmth that characterizes our entire staff. This program is also licensed by the state of Maryland as a child-care center and the appropriate adult-child ratios are maintained at all times.

St. Anne’s School of Annapolis is seeking an exceptional early childhood Lead Teacher with a sound understanding of best practices in teaching and child development to begin in August 2025. The ideal candidate will have an early childhood and/or elementary education degree (graduate work preferred), at least two years of teaching experience, and experience with project-based or emergent curriculum. Commitment to the academic and social/emotional growth of students is essential. Working collaboratively with a teaching partner is critical for this position.

Teacher Position Description

The Lead Teacher designs and maintains the learning environment, supervises, instructs, guides and documents children’s learning. Lead Teachers collaborate daily with the other members of the division to provide an age-appropriate, culturally responsive, and Reggio-inspired learning that integrates the Responsive Classroom approach in developmentally appropriate ways.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Works under the general supervision of the Program for Young Children Head

• Conducts welcome visits with families in August

• Sets up interest areas daily, reinforcing a particular study and refreshing available activities, material and/or projects on a weekly/bi-weekly basis

• Sets up and maintains a safe and inclusive environment in which each child’s strengths, opinions and actions, and thoughts are valued

• Prepares appropriate documentation including bulletin boards, class books, newsletters, etc.

• Communicates with parents regarding curriculum and daily happening in person or on My Compass, email and phone calls

• Collaborates with grade level and PYC division colleagues, as well as school counselor and Center for Learning staff as necessary

• Assess and document student growth and learning via written reports twice a year

• Supervises all children, always maintaining proper staff-to-child ratios

• Maintains the cleanliness, organization and safety of the classroom

• Conduct Parent/Teacher Conferences twice a year, and more often if necessary

• Participate in scheduled professional development days as indicated in the school calendar

• Changes diapers and/or assists with toileting as necessary

• Participates in arrival and dismissal duties daily

• Attends PYC special events such as Back to School Night, Family Fun Day, Grandfriends’ Day, The Friendly Beasts, etc.

• Attends the Mid-Atlantic Episcopal Schools Association (MAESA) conference annually

• Acquires and maintains CPR certification

• Fulfills required professional development hours as required for state licensure

Minimum Requirements:

• Four year degree in early childhood or a four year degree with the state approved 90 hour preschool certification; graduate degree preferred

• Minimum two years of related teaching experience in an early childhood setting

• Deep understanding of child development and has familiarity or knowledge of the Reggio Emilia Approach, Project Approach and/or emergent curriculum

• High level of energy and initiative

• Strong communication, organizational and interpersonal skills

• Familiarity with Responsive Classroom a plus

Physical Requirements:

The demands described here represent those that an employee must meet to perform the essential functions of this job successfully. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions. This position will be expected to work 7:45 a.m.-3:45 pm Monday through Friday.

This position requires indoor and outdoor student supervision each day. The students go outside to play in most conditions, including light rain, snow and hot and cold temperatures. Candidates also need to be physically able to transition between sitting on the floor and child-sized chairs. Teachers in the two year olds’ classrooms may be required to lift children on and off the changing table.