Stockton, California
Columbus, Ohio
Savannah, Georgia
Jefferson, Oregon
Posted: 04-Mar-26
Location: Washington, D.C.
Type: Full Time
Salary: $48,000 - $70,000+
Salary Details:
Preferred Education:
OUR MISSION: At St. Columba’s Nursery School, we celebrate the joy and discovery of early childhood. In our inclusive community, children learn to make and be a friend, grow confident by taking “safe risks,” and explore the world with a spirit of curiosity and love.
We promote the development of important social-emotional skills to help children to be successful in school and beyond. Children learn how to express their feelings, how to make a friend and be a friend, how to cooperate with others and resolve conflicts, and how to be part of a community of learners. We strive to provide children a safe, nurturing, and inclusive community that meets them at their current level of ability.
We engage children in experiences that foster their creativity, problem solving, and learning through hands-on experiences and active play. Our dedicated and skilled teaching staff incorporate children’s likes, interests, and needs when planning engaging curricular content for the children they serve.
Research shows that young children learn best through play. As such, we provide them with rich opportunities to be imaginative and creative through play. We also believe in the importance of outdoor learning. Our expansive playground and outdoor classrooms provide children with a constructive outlet for their energy and imaginative play. Outdoor experiences promote children’s confidence as they take safe risks, their ability to cooperate with peers, and their gross-motor development as they run, jump, bike, scoot, build, and climb on the play equipment.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Create a positive, developmentally appropriate classroom environment that strikes a balance between child and teacher-initiated learning activities
- Develop lesson plans in accordance with the "Creative Curriculum" that are guided by children’s evolving interests and needs
- Support children’s holistic development in a play-based setting
- Prepare and facilitate engaging, hands-on lessons and learning activities for children inside and outside on the playground
- Observe and engage with children using language, song, movement, art, projects, and play both inside and on the playground
- Assess student learning and use data to develop individualized learning goals
- Cultivate positive and collaborative relationships with children, families, and school staff
- Apply positive guidance when responding to children's conflicts or mistaken behaviors
- Complete 21 professional development units annually
Lead Teachers are responsible for both formal and informal family communication, writing reports, and creating lessons. The Lead Teacher is expected to regularly collaborate and communicate with their teaching partner.
OTHER PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES:
These duties include, but are not limited to the following:
- Attending school events like Back-to-School Night, professional development days, occasional school family events, and scheduled staff meetings;
- Becoming familiar with and observing the School’s policies and procedures as set forth in the Employee Handbook;
- Supporting colleagues by taking initiative to pitch in when help is needed and appreciating others for their efforts; and
- Completing the required annual health examination and criminal background check and participating in required sexual harassment, first aid, and blood-borne pathogen training.
- In collaboration with their teaching partner, create a classroom with a joyful atmosphere of shared learning, exploration and inclusion;
- Preparing the classroom each day before the children arrive, cleaning the classroom after dismissal, and supporting their teaching partner in changing classroom centers to reflect the evolving interests and needs of the children;
- Helping to plan and implement projects, activities and lessons that are engaging to children and which further their knowledge of the world around them;
- Warmly and respectfully communicating with children and families;
- Maintaining the safety of the children by taking attendance, maintaining ratios, supervising by sight and sound, and reporting any health or safety issues on campus to the office; and
- Keeping absolute confidentiality regarding children, fellow staff members, personnel issues or any matter pertaining to the operation of the school.
HEALTH & SAFETY REQUIREMENTS:
- Annual physical examination and Tuberculosis test (or chest x-ray every 5 years)
- Complete and maintain current First Aid and CPR for children certification
- Complete Mandated Reporter Training and other required Health and Safety trainings
- Completion of the Child Protection Registry check and fingerprinting upon hire and every three years thereafter
- Pass drug and alcohol testing upon hire
PHYSICAL ABILITIES:
- Sit on the floor or in small chairs and knee, bend or stoop to children's level;
- Stand on feet for long stretches;
- Perform all activities with children, including but not limited to standing, jumping, dancing, and walking for extended periods;
- Possess the ability to run to a child when needed to attend to attend to safety needs;
- Possess hearing and visual capabilities necessary to monitor the environment and children’s well-being;
- Lift and carry children and equipment weighing up to 50 pounds;
- Move equipment, furniture, and toys in and out of play areas;
- Rise from the floor or chair and move quickly to avert accidents and respond to children’s needs; and
- Traverse the campus terrain easily and be outside in all kinds of weather conditions.
CORE COMPETENCIES
- Alignment to Mission: Demonstrates an understanding and support of the mission, vision, values, and beliefs of St. Columba’s Nursery School. Models those values and helps to create a school culture that embodies them.
- Knowledge of Special Education and Young Children: Possesses a deep knowledge of early childhood special education and a belief in the benefits of learning for all in an inclusive setting.
- Interpersonal Skills: Demonstrates the ability and a willingness to collaborate with others. Uses active listening and seeks feedback from Head of School and colleagues. Productively responds to and resolves interpersonal conflicts. Provides support and guidance to teachers and staff and counsels parents in need of assistance.
- Collaborative Attitude: Works actively to create a climate of shared vision, mission and shared responsibility for the classroom and students. When community tasks need attention, pitches in willingly. Speaks up when problems arise using direct and effective communication to find resolution.
- Reliability: Arrives for work on time and ready to welcome the children. Schedules appointments and planned absences to keep school disruptions to a minimum. Reaches out as soon as possible if an emergency or illness prevents working. Completes agreed upon tasks to ensure that the school functions smoothly.
- Curiosity, Reflection and Professional Growth: Demonstrates curiosity about children and teachers as learners and their behavior through careful observation and documentation. Reflects regularly on children to assess their growth and development, or whether intervention may be necessary. Consults with colleagues about children’s progress and shares observations/documentation. Seeks new knowledge about child development from colleagues, experts, workshops, classes, and other sources. Freely shares his/her knowledge and experience with others.
SCHEDULE:
- Traditional School Year Calendar (end of August to early June)
- 8:00-3:00 pm (35 hours per week)
- Option to work full or partial "Stay & Play" (8:00-5:30 pm tour of duty)
WEBSITE:
- https://stcolumbasnurseryschool.org/
Minimum Qualifications
- Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education (ECE), Elementary Education, Special Education or related field (at least 15 college credits in ECE)
- 2-4 years of lead teaching experience in early childhood
- Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing
- Clear interest and passion in working with young children, families and teachers
- Possess the physical abilities listed under the description
