Head Teacher - Temporary to June 2025 - 22.5 to 37.5 Hours/Wk

Educational Alliance brings together and partners with diverse communities in Lower Manhattan, offering individuals and families high-quality, multi-generational programs and services that enhance their well-being and socioeconomic opportunities. We are a place where everyone is welcome and where progress is powered one relationship at a time. We are proud of our legacy as a Jewish organization and we provide high-quality, transformational services and programs to all New Yorkers through our network of community centers on Manhattan’s Lower East Side and East Village. As we have for 130 years, we offer best-in-class programming–now across 15 sites—focusing on a mix of education, health and wellness, arts and culture, and civic engagement.

The 14th Street Y is a vibrant Jewish Community Center located in downtown Manhattan grounded in the belief that contemporary Jewish sensibilities and culture can be a source of inspiration, connection, and learning. Each year, tens of thousands of New Yorkers of all ages, races, and ethnicities come to 14Y as members, visitors, or partners to experience our high-quality and varied programs centered around arts and culture, early childhood education, summer camps, fitness and aquatics, and older adult services. 14Y is committed to the development of the whole person, to strengthening family connections, and to providing a welcoming and inclusive environment to downtown New York's entire community.

Job Purpose

Working within inspired and dynamic teams, our teachers are helping to build a vision for progressive education in the East Village. Inspired by the preschools of Reggio Emilia, we believe that all children learn through inquiry, exploration, and play in the context of strong relationships and a sense of belonging.

Our teachers create responsive, safe, joyful, and nurturing learning environments for children that foster inquiry, exploration, learning & reflection; collaborate with co-teachers to plan an emergent curriculum based on observations of children’s interests and development; document children’s learning through photographs, written learning narratives, anecdotes, panels, and mini-stories; facilitate communication and collaboration between the family and the preschool.

Scope Of Influence

• Lead teaching team in documentation, reflection, and planning process to devise emergent curriculum informed by children’s interests, questions, theories, and prior knowledge.
• Work with a diverse community.
• Build relationships with families and communicate about children’s learning and development in person and through documentation.
• communicate with families and teaching team positively, build a strong team
• Partner with the teaching staff and administration in the overall philosophy and direction of the preschool.
• Show up to work each day ready to work with a positive mindset.
  
  

Responsibilities

Planning, Preparation Curriculum Development

• Co-constructing curriculum based on children’s interests, questions, and development
• Documenting, reflecting, and planning from observations
• Write Daily PODs
• Participating in weekly planning meetings with the teaching team
• Meeting the needs of all children
  
  

Classroom Environment

• Planning and creating a classroom environment with inquiry, exploration, learning, and respect in mind
• Nurturing children’s home languages through curated books, materials, and the physical environment
• Creating a warm and inclusive environment where children and families feel welcome
• Organizing physical space and selection of materials in a way that is inviting and accessible to children
• Creating visual evidence of the narratives and curriculum occurring in your classroom
  
  

Relationships with Teaching Team

• Develop schedules and processes to ensure that work is complete in a timely fashion by teaching team.
• Lead regular documentation, reflection, and planning meetings with teaching team.
• Provide feedback, coaching, and support to Assistant Teachers as necessary.
  
  

Interactions with Children

• Speaking and listening to children with respect and mindfulness
• Supervising the whole group, while giving individual attention
• Managing classroom procedures including transitions, routines, and small groups
• Engage students in exploration and ongoing project work
• Scaffolding children through conflict and problem solving
  
  

Relationships with Families

• Building respectful and reciprocal relationships with families
• Communicating consistently with families
  
  

Professional Responsibilities

• Documenting children’s learning, development, and progress through observations, written narratives, reflections, and conversations with families.
• Maintain a documentation portfolio for each child and complete assessment checkpoints throughout the year.
• Maintaining collaborative and professional relationships with colleagues
• Mentoring Assistant teachers
• Participating in professional development meetings
• Showing professionalism including integrity, ethical conduct, and decision making
• The candidate will be reflective, ask questions, be willing to take risks and make mistakes
• Working in full partnership with the director, admin team, cross school collaborations
  
  

Qualifications

• MA in Early Childhood/ Elementary Education | New York State N-6 or PreK-6 certification or study plan
• Excellent written communication skills, including the ability to craft narrative observations and assessments, written reflections, and communicate with families and colleagues regularly via email and phone
• Ability to use Outlook, Microsoft Office Suite, Zoom, and other online learning platforms as required
• Minimum 3 years of professional teaching experience in an early childhood setting preferred
• Strong oral communication with children, families, and colleagues
  
  

Desired Skills And Experience

• Building Trust
• Communication
• Energy
• Adaptability
• Stress Tolerance
• Coaching
  
  

Limitations and Disclaimer

The above job description is meant to describe the general nature and level of work being performed; it is not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required for the position

EEO Info

Educational Alliance is committed to workplace diversity and inclusion. We are equal opportunity employers and do not discriminate in hiring or employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, age, national origin, marital status, disability status, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law. Educational Alliance takes affirmative action in support of its policy to employ and advance in employment individuals who are minorities, women, protected veterans, and individuals with disabilities.

Educational Alliance is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

For further information about Educational Alliance, please visit https://edalliance.org .

22.5-37.5 Hours Per Week