Lead Early Childhood Education Teacher

Lead Early Childhood Education Teacher — Close Reach Academy | Kirkland, WA | Full-Time | $24-$26/hr DOE This role is for someone who takes toddler and preschool education seriously as a craft. Not someone who enjoys being around young children — though that matters. Someone who has studied how toddlers and preschoolers learn, built environments intentionally, documented development with consistency, and understands that the quality of what happens in a classroom at age two and three has consequences that last. If that's the work you've been doing and the standard you hold yourself to, we'd like to meet you. Who We Are Close Reach Academy is a locally owned, nonprofit early childhood organization operating multiple campuses across the greater Seattle area. We are not a franchise. We don't hand our teachers a corporate curriculum and ask them to execute it. We hire educators with genuine expertise and give them the autonomy, the support, and the classroom budget to use it. Kirkland has no shortage of ECE options. KinderCare, Goddard, Everbrook, Kiddie Academy — they're all nearby. What they offer and what we offer are different. We are a small, mission-driven organization where your voice shapes classroom culture, your relationships with families are real and sustained, and your professional growth is something leadership actively invests in. If you have worked in a large corporate childcare environment and found yourself constrained by it, you already know what we're describing. The Role As Lead Teacher for our toddler or preschool classroom, you are the primary architect of that room's culture, environment, and learning experience. You design curriculum, mentor assistant teachers, observe and document child development with care, and build genuine partnerships with the families of the children in your care. This is not a position where you follow a script. It requires real pedagogical thinking, real relational skill, and real professional commitment. What you'll own: Curriculum design and daily classroom leadership for toddler or preschool age group Intentional environment design — the room should reflect your expertise, not default settings Developmental observation, documentation, and consistent family communication Mentorship and clear professional direction for assistant teachers Washington State licensing compliance and classroom safety Ongoing professional development — we expect you to keep growing, and we invest in that

What We're Looking For Preferred:

Bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education, Child Development, or related field Minimum three years of lead classroom experience, specifically with toddlers or preschool-age children STARS training current; First Aid/CPR certification current or obtainable before start

Considered:

Associate's degree with two or more years of demonstrated lead experience in the relevant age group Candidates must be able to speak specifically and confidently about their approach to toddler or preschool curriculum and environment — not in general terms, but with real examples What the resume won't tell us but the interview will: We will ask you to walk us through your classroom environment — how you set it up, why, and what you'd change. We'll ask how you approach documentation. We'll ask how you work with an assistant teacher who isn't meeting the standard. If those questions feel like the right kind of hard, you'll do well here. What We Offer $24-$26/hr depending on experience and education.

To put that in context:

the Kirkland market average for preschool teachers across all experience levels runs approximately $21-$22/hr. Our lead teacher rate starts above that ceiling. We pay this rate because we hire for genuine expertise and hold a genuine standard — and we think those two things should be connected.

Beyond compensation:

Monthly classroom supply budget — managed by you Quarterly professional development: speakers and seminars that sharpen your practice Your birthday off, paid A stable, collaborative team with hands-on local leadership Direct relationships with families who chose us deliberately The professional weight of work that actually matters One More Thing Kirkland has high volume in the ECE job market. We know that. We receive applications regularly. What we don't find regularly is a candidate who reads a post like this and thinks: that's exactly the standard I already hold myself to. If that's you — we'd like to hear from you. Apply through Indeed with your resume. In your application, please answer this briefly: Describe a toddler or preschool classroom environment you designed or significantly shaped. What were your intentional choices, and why? We read every response. A specific, thoughtful answer to that question will get our attention faster than any credential on your resume.

Job Type:

Full-time Pay:

$24.00 - $26.00 per hour

Benefits:

Dental insurance Employee discount Health insurance Paid time off Application Question(s): Describe a toddler or preschool classroom environment you designed or significantly shaped. What were your intentional choices, and why?

Education:

Bachelor's (Required)

Work Location:

In person