Lower School Associate teacher

LREI (Little Red School House & Elisabeth Irwin High School) seeks educators committed to exploring and practicing progressive pedagogy. Candidates with diverse experiences are encouraged to apply. The school is seeking full-time Associate Teachers for Fours through Fourth Grade classrooms, for the 2025-2026 school year.

Overview of the position:

The Associate Teacher assists the Head Teacher in all areas of classroom work. Responsibilities include classroom setup, classroom management, leading activities, supporting students while they work, preparing materials for projects, contributing to family conferences and written student reports, Early Bird, recess, and lunch duties. After observing Head Teachers for a period of time, Associates are expected to progress towards leading lessons and planning curriculum. Other aspects of the position entail daily communication with the Head Teacher about students, weekly faculty meetings, professional development days, and twice-a-month Associate Teacher meetings.

Successful LREI Associates are lifelong learners who:

• are inspired by and committed to our mission, as outlined on our website

• demonstrate a commitment to social justice and equity, cultural competence, and the ability to work collaboratively with diverse people, in accordance with our diversity, equity, and inclusion plan

• commitment to developing student-centered pedagogy, inspire and are inspired by students, and strive to differentiate instruction 

• become active members of the LREI community

• are reflective about their practice and avail themselves of professional development

• possess excellent communication skills with students, parents, and administration, both formally and informally

• have familiarity with technology to support teaching

• are creative problem solvers and innovators who possess a growth-mindset

• find joy and importance in the work of teaching and learning

LREI Associate candidates must:

• Possess a bachelor’s degree

• Be aspiring teachers who want to learn through apprenticeship

• Work collaboratively with mentor teachers, associate peer group, and all other colleagues at LREI

• Have successful experience working with children in a group setting (alternative pathways may be considered)

• Be considering or working towards a master’s degree in education or related fields

Overview of School 

Founded in 1921 by Elisabeth Irwin (a contemporary and colleague of John Dewey, Caroline Pratt, and Lucy Sprague Mitchell), The Little Red School House has been at the vanguard of pedagogical innovation since its founding. LREI’s goal is to educate students to become independent thinkers and lifelong learners and to pursue academic excellence and individual achievement, in a context of respect for others and service to the community. We believe that learning should be active and experiential, with the school providing abundant opportunities for students to excel. We accept students with a range of abilities and talents who can take full advantage of a rich and demanding academic program in which each student is both challenged and supported. We seek to create within the school a community built on understanding and respecting others. Thus, our student body traditionally reflects the racial and cultural diversity of our city, and our curriculum is built on interdisciplinary studies to promote understanding of many cultures. While individual achievement is encouraged and rewarded, our program underscores the value of shared goals, friendship, and cooperation in mastering difficult tasks. The progressive ideals that in 1921 gave life and inspiration to the school — academic excellence and creativity, active learning and innovative teaching, respect for the individual and responsibility to the community - continue to guide the school today. LREI is located in vibrant Greenwich Village and classes venture forth often to use the neighborhood and the city to provide rich learning experiences.

Salary Range:

$49,546.98 to $58,169.84, commensurate with experience.

All candidates, internal and external, should visit our employment page at lrei.org to apply.

Salary : $49,547 - $58,170