Preschool Lead Teacher The Liberty School Jersey City, NJ Job Details Full-time | Contract $40,000

• $50,000 a year 1 day ago Benefits Paid holidays Health insurance Tuition reimbursement Paid time off Parental leave Employee discount Professional development assistance Referral program Qualifications Teamwork Google Docs Google Drive Family collaboration in education Education Bachelor's degree Computers (educational technologies) Child Development Psychology Lesson planning Teaching experience with young children Associate's degree Early Childhood Education Parent-teacher conferences (communication methods)

Full Job Description Pay:

$40,000

• 50,000 / full year of 12 months (equivalent to $19-24/hour ) (Pay is higher for candidates with more qualifications / experience.

)

Benefits:

Health insurance

• Paid time off (PTO)
• Paid federal holidays
• Additional paid time off in school breaks unless there is professional development training. Discounted childcare
• CDA tuition paid by the school
• Referral bonus.

Schedule:

Monday

• Friday, 8:15 AM
• 4:15 PM , occasional overtime at equivalent hourly rate

Type:

Full-time, in person Student age: Toddler 18m

• 30m or Mixed-age preschool classroom 2.5
• 5 years

Start Date:

Negotiable, latest October 1, 2026

Apply:

Please send CVs to: (with "Lead Teacher" in the subject line)

Website:

https://www.thelibertyschooljc.com/ QUALIFICATIONS Education — meeting ONE of these requirements: Associate's Degree in Early Childhood Education or Child Development OR Child Development Associate (CDA) Credential; OR Six (6) college credits in Early Childhood Education or Child Development and Nine (9) college credits in Education, Psychology, Health Care, Nursing, or any other field related to child growth or development; OR Certified Child Care Professional (CCP) Certificate; OR Group Teacher endorsement from the New Jersey Registry for Childhood Professionals, Professional Impact New Jersey; OR New Jersey Infant/Toddler Credential administered through Professional Impact New Jersey.

Experience:

Minimum 2 years in a childcare center or preschool with toddler or preschool age groups (1.5-5 years old), including at least 1 year as a Lead Teacher. Prior Reggio Emilia experience is welcome but not required . We value educators who are curious, reflective and interested in child-led, inquiry-based learning.

Basic skills:

Communication skills to speak and write to parents professionally Basic IT skills (Google Drive/Docs, Microsoft Office) Required after hiring: Obtaining the Child Development Associate (CDA) certificate within 2 years if not already have — cost paid by the school

Compliance:

Candidate must pass CARI, CHRI, health checks as required by NJ State before being hired

ABOUT THE LIBERTY SCHOOL

The Liberty School is a Reggio Emilia preschool in Downtown Jersey City serving young children in a newly built, beautiful, and thoughtfully designed learning environment. We view children as capable, curious, and creative learners. Our teachers observe children closely, build curriculum around their questions and interests, and create meaningful opportunities for exploration through art, nature, sensory experiences, language, movement, collaboration, and play. Our classrooms incorporate natural light, open-ended materials, child-led exploration, learning documentation, and carefully prepared spaces designed to feel welcoming and engaging. The school serves children from approximately 18 months through five years old.

ABOUT THE POSITION

The Liberty School is seeking an experienced and capable Head Teacher to lead a toddler or preschool classroom. The Head Teacher is responsible for creating a warm, safe, organized, and intellectually engaging classroom while providing leadership to other classroom staff. The successful candidate will combine genuine care for young children with sound judgment, dependable classroom management, clear communication, and a commitment to high-quality early childhood education. What You Will Bring to the Classroom You will lead our mixed-age classroom of children aged 18 months to 2.5 years or from 2.5 to 5 years, working alongside assistant teachers. Teaching Observe children's interests and build curriculum and provocations from what you see Plan across art, sensory, literacy, math, science, music, and movement Document learning through photos, children's words, and displayed work Support social-emotional growth, self-help skills, and kindergarten readiness Leading Direct, mentor, and give feedback to assistant teachers Set the tone and the routines of the classroom Keep the environment prepared, beautiful, and fully stocked Communicating with families Daily communication at drop-off and pickup, plus written updates Lead parent-teacher conferences and share developmental observations Operations Attendance, allergy and dietary records, incident reports, health and safety routines Maintain compliance with NJ childcare licensing requirements Growth Participate in coaching, reflection, and professional development The Person We Hope to Meet You may be a strong fit for this position if you are: Warm and responsive with young children. Confidence leading a classroom and supporting other teachers. Curious about how children think and learn. Organized, dependable, and attentive to detail. Able to communicate thoughtfully with families and colleagues. Comfortable combining creativity with consistent classroom systems. Open to reflection, feedback, and continued professional growth.

Pay:

$40,000.00

• $50,000.

00 per year

Benefits:

Employee discount Paid time off Parental leave Professional development assistance Referral program Tuition reimbursement

Education:

Bachelor's (Required)

Work Location:

In person