TK/Kindergarten Teacher UP Academy | January 2027 or March 2027 Start UP Academy is seeking a joyful, creative, and thoughtful TK/K Teacher to lead a small class of approximately 12 students . We are a Reggio-inspired, global, project-based TK-5 school built around a simple idea: when children are truly known, challenged, and trusted, they can do extraordinary things. UP Academy is small by design, global in vision, and deeply committed to personalized learning . We are looking for a teacher who loves young children, values curiosity and creativity, and is excited to help shape a learning environment where students can explore the world, discover their strengths, and develop a genuine love of learning.

Start Date:

January 2027 or March 2027 What Makes This Position Different This is an opportunity to teach in a setting where you can truly know every child. With a homeroom of approximately 12 students , teachers have the time and flexibility to differentiate instruction, build close relationships with students and families, observe children carefully, and respond to the needs and interests of each learner. Your day is intentionally structured to give you both meaningful time with students and meaningful time to prepare. Mornings are focused on your homeroom , including: Early literacy and English language arts Mathematics Social-emotional learning and community building Hands-on exploration and inquiry Supporting student passion projects and individual interests Helping children develop independence, confidence, and responsibility Afternoons are primarily teacher preparation time , giving you space to plan, document student learning, collaborate with colleagues, communicate with families, design projects, and thoughtfully prepare for the next day. We believe great teaching requires time to think — not simply time to recover. Our Approach to Learning UP Academy strives to be a place where teachers are encouraged to experiment, reflect, and continually improve how we help children learn.

We support innovation in:

Personalized and differentiated instruction Project-based and experiential learning Student-driven inquiry Social-emotional development Creativity and design Real-world learning Mixed-age collaboration Student leadership Learning beyond the classroom Rather than asking every child to move through the same material in exactly the same way, we ask: What does this child need in order to grow? Teachers have the flexibility to respond to that question. UP Academy's Philosophy UP Academy believes projects are among the most effective — and magical — ways for children to learn. For some students, that means engaging with the real world through our schoolwide term projects , where children investigate authentic questions, interact with their community, create meaningful work, and share what they have learned. For others, it means diving deeply into a personal interest during our daily Self-Discovery Block , developing expertise in something they genuinely care about. For still others, it means discovering their strengths as leaders — mentoring younger classmates, contributing to mixed-age learning communities, taking responsibility for their environment, or participating in student-led democratic governance. We believe true project-based learning is not about every child receiving the same experience. It is about every child receiving what they need to be successful, engaged, and appropriately challenged. The Teacher We're Looking For You might be a wonderful fit at UP Academy if you: Genuinely enjoy spending your day with young children See children as capable, curious people with meaningful ideas Build warm, respectful relationships with students Understand that play, inquiry, creativity, and academic learning can strengthen one another Are comfortable differentiating instruction for children at different developmental and academic levels Value social-emotional learning as much as academic growth Enjoy designing hands-on learning experiences Are interested in Reggio Emilia-inspired practices Believe student interests can become powerful starting points for learning Are reflective and open to experimenting with new approaches Enjoy collaborating with colleagues while also having autonomy in your classroom Communicate thoughtfully and positively with families Can provide both warmth and clear, consistent boundaries Want to work in a small school where your ideas can genuinely influence the direction of the program Experience with Reggio Emilia, project-based learning, inquiry-based learning, personalized education, or mixed-age classrooms is welcomed, but a particular educational label matters less to us than curiosity, strong teaching instincts, and a deep respect for children. About UP Academy UP Academy is a small TK-5 school committed to creating an educational experience that is deeply personal, intellectually ambitious, creative, and connected to the real world. Our size allows us to know our students exceptionally well. Our goal is not simply to prepare children for the next grade level. We want students to leave UP Academy knowing how to think, create, collaborate, communicate, solve problems, pursue their interests, contribute to a community, and understand themselves as learners. For teachers who have ever wished they had fewer students, more time to prepare, greater freedom to innovate, and more opportunities to build meaningful relationships with children , UP Academy offers a very different kind of teaching experience. Equal Opportunity Employer UP Academy is an equal opportunity employer and makes employment decisions based on merit, qualifications, and competence. UP Academy prohibits discrimination based on race (including traits historically associated with race, including, but not limited to, hair texture and protective hairstyles), color, creed, gender (including transgender, gender identity and gender expression), religion, marital status, registered domestic partner status, age, national origin or ancestry, physical or mental disability, medical condition, pregnancy, genetic information, sexual orientation, or any other consideration made unlawful by federal, state, or local laws. UP Academy also prohibits discrimination based on the perception that anyone has any of these characteristics, or because an individual is associated with a person who has, or is perceived as having, any of these characteristics.

Pay:

$60,000.00 - $100,000.00 per year

Work Location:

In person