Early Childhood Education Lead Teacher For 1st & 2nd Year Preschool Students Full-Time | Athens, Ohio | Ages 1-2 Help young children build their first big skills. The toddler years are full of enormous growth. Children are learning to communicate, separate from their parents, solve problems, manage emotions, become more independent, and make sense of the world around them. At Fireflies Academy , our teachers have the time and space to truly engage in that work. Rather than placing a large number of children in one room, we intentionally operate with very small groups and a 1:5 teacher-to-child ratio in our 1-2 year old classroom. We are seeking a dependable, thoughtful Lead Teacher who will take ownership of the classroom and enjoy the responsibility that comes with knowing a small group of children extremely well. This position may be a great fit if you... Look forward to coming to work because you genuinely enjoy young children Take pride in doing things correctly, even when no one is watching Are patient and steady when toddlers are having difficult moments Notice small changes in children's behavior, interests, and development Enjoy figuring out why a child is doing something and responding thoughtfully Can balance structure with flexibility throughout the day Communicate respectfully and professionally with parents Are willing to receive feedback and continually improve your teaching Want early childhood education to be a meaningful profession, not simply a job We care much more about character, reliability, judgment, and a genuine desire to work with children than about having a perfect résumé. Your role As the Lead Teacher, you will be responsible for the daily experience of your classroom. You will get to know each child individually and use what you learn about them to shape your teaching.

Your responsibilities will include:

Providing consistent care and supervision for a small group of 1-2 year olds Creating developmentally appropriate activities and learning experiences Following Fireflies' curriculum while adjusting experiences to meet individual children's needs Watching for developmental progress, emerging interests, and areas where a child may need additional support Recording observations and maintaining student portfolios Establishing predictable routines that help toddlers feel secure and confident Encouraging language, independence, problem-solving, movement, social development, and early academic skills Maintaining a welcoming, orderly, and engaging classroom environment Communicating children's experiences and progress with families Completing required classroom documentation and administrative tasks Working closely with other teachers to create consistency throughout the program Helping maintain the high standards of safety, professionalism, and care expected at Fireflies Academy What makes Fireflies different Fireflies is a small, independently operated early childhood program in Athens. We aren't trying to be the biggest center in town. Our model allows teachers to spend their days doing more of the work that attracted them to early childhood education in the first place: teaching, observing, encouraging, talking with children, solving problems, and building relationships. Our classrooms are intentionally small. Our team is close. We take our work seriously, but we also want the people who work here to enjoy coming to work. We are continually refining our program and expect our teachers to grow with it. Compensation $31,000-$40,000 annually , depending on experience and qualifications.

Our benefits package includes:

Health insurance Paid time off Retirement plan Tuition reimbursement Small teacher-to-child ratios Professional development and opportunities for growth A collaborative team environment

Position:

Full-time Location:

Athens, Ohio Setting:

In person A note about qualifications We welcome applicants with different educational and professional backgrounds. Early childhood experience or formal ECE education is valuable, but we are also interested in exceptional candidates who may not have followed a traditional path into teaching. If you are responsible, hardworking, emotionally mature, eager to learn, and genuinely enjoy working with young children, we encourage you to apply. We are looking for someone who will become an important part of our team—not simply someone who can fill a classroom schedule. If that sounds like the kind of place where you would thrive, we'd love to hear from you.

Pay:

$31,000.00 - $40,000.00 per year

Benefits:

Health insurance Paid time off Retirement plan Tuition reimbursement

Work Location:

In person