Associate Preschool Teacher

Reports to: Director of The Children’s Center

Position Type: Non-Exempt, Full-time, Hourly

Location: Tessellations School, Cupertino, California

Schedule: Monday–Friday, 9:45 AM–6:00 PM (7.75 hours per day)

Start Date: Immediately

Pay range: $26-$34 per hour, based on education, qualifications, and relevant work experience.

The Children's Center at Tessellations is committed to both recognizing emerging gifted potential and actively developing the intellectual abilities of every child. We recognize that cognitive abilities emerge differently across children and that early demonstrations of advanced thinking do not necessarily predict future intellectual development. Through intentional observation, assessment, and responsive instruction, teachers identify children's developing strengths and provide appropriately challenging learning experiences. Our approach combines play, inquiry, and purposeful teaching to strengthen language, reasoning, problem-solving, creativity, and critical thinking while supporting children's social, emotional, and physical development. Through Learning Journeys, projects, thoughtful provocations, and documentation, teachers build on children's interests while intentionally extending their learning.

Preschool Teachers report directly to the TCC Director, who provides instructional leadership, daily direction, supervision, evaluation, and approval of time-off requests. Teachers are expected to bring strong knowledge of child development and early childhood education, a commitment to reflective practice, and a collaborative, growth-oriented approach to their work.

Key Responsibilities

Instruction, Curriculum, and Assessment

• Plan, implement, document, and reflect upon learning experiences that support development across domains, including early literacy, mathematics, science, and social-emotional learning.
• Observe children closely and use anecdotal records, documentation, work samples, and assessment information to recognize emerging cognitive strengths and plan next steps.
• Recognize evidence of advanced language, reasoning, memory, pattern recognition, and problem-solving without treating early observations as fixed labels or formal gifted identification.
• Intentionally strengthen every child's language, reasoning, critical thinking, creativity, and problem-solving through appropriate intellectual challenge.
• Differentiate the depth, complexity, and pace of learning experiences according to demonstrated readiness, interests, and developmental needs.
• Extend children's thinking, language, and problem-solving through meaningful conversations, open-ended questions, scaffolding, and specific, constructive feedback.
• Contribute to and document Learning Journeys.
• Maintain an engaging, organized, and inclusive classroom environment.
• Write clear, accurate, and objective observational notes of children’s learning and development.
• Contribute to classroom and program newsletters and other forms of documentation.
• Participate in continuous improvement with the teaching team and TCC Director.

Child Development, Guidance, and Inclusion

• Build nurturing, responsive relationships that support children’s sense of belonging, confidence, curiosity, and agency.
• Demonstrate warm, responsive, and respectful interactions with children, recognizing and responding appropriately to their emotional, social, and developmental needs.
• Support emotional regulation, executive functioning, communication, social development, and academic skills through developmentally appropriate positive guidance.
• Actively facilitate conflict resolution, collaborative problem-solving, and safe, respectful participation in the classroom community.
• Recognize and respond to varied developmental profiles, including asynchronous development, advanced interests, intensity, sensitivity, and neurodiversity.
• Differentiate experiences and scaffolds to support each child.
• Maintain effective classroom management through proactive guidance, consistent routines, organized transitions, and active engagement that minimizes unnecessary waiting and maximizes learning opportunities.
• Collaborate with families, administrators, and specialists when a child may benefit from additional support.

Supervision, Health, Safety, and Licensing

• Maintain active visual supervision of children at all times and ensure required teacher-child ratios are maintained.
• Personal cell phone use, including checking or responding to texts, notifications, calls, or social media, is prohibited while supervising children. Phone use is permitted only for authorized school-related purposes or emergencies.
• Conduct accurate head counts and supervise transitions, indoor and outdoor play, meals, rest periods, toileting, and all other parts of the day.
• Follow all applicable licensing requirements, school policies, health and safety procedures, emergency protocols, and mandated reporting obligations.
• Must be willing and able to provide hands-on care for young children, including diapering, toileting and wiping, changing soiled clothing, tending to injuries involving blood, and cleaning up accidents, vomit, bodily fluids, food, paint, and other classroom messes. These are essential responsibilities of the position.
• Document accidents, injuries, illnesses, behavioral incidents, and unusual occurrences promptly and accurately.
• Follow procedures related to allergies, medication, sanitation, infection prevention, and exposure to bodily fluids.
• Protect the confidentiality and privacy of children, families, colleagues, and internal school business.
• Clean and sanitize classroom materials, surfaces, and care areas and respond appropriately to spills, accidents, vomit, blood, and other bodily fluids.
• Complete assigned opening, closing, classroom preparation, and cleaning responsibilities to ensure a safe, organized, and ready-to-use learning environment.

Family Partnership

• Develop professional, respectful, and culturally responsive relationships with families.
• Respond promptly and thoughtfully to family questions and share concerns through established school procedures.
• Promptly notify the TCC Director or Lead Teacher of matters requiring communication with families, including concerns about a child's development, behavior, health, or well-being.
• Support family events, classroom participation, and children’s transitions into, within, and out of the program.

Collaboration and Professional Responsibilities

• Work collaboratively as part of a classroom and program team.
• Communicate directly, respectfully, and professionally with colleagues.
• Contribute to a healthy, collegial workplace.
• Participate fully in staff meetings, all-staff days, professional development days, and required training.
• Receive constructive feedback and use it to strengthen instruction and professional practice.
• Support classroom coverage and other program needs as assigned.
• Maintain all required permits, clearances, certifications, and training throughout employment.

Required Qualifications

• 12 ECE/CD semester units covering child development, child/family/community, and curriculum.
• Six months of qualifying experience: at least 50 days of three or more hours per day within a six-month period.
• Ability to satisfy all background clearance, health screening, tuberculosis clearance, and other requirements applicable to employment in a licensed California child care center.

Preferred Qualifications

• Current California Child Development Associate Teacher Permit or higher.
• Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education, Child Development, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.
• Experience with collaborative or team teaching.
• Two years of experience teaching young children in an early childhood education setting.
• Current pediatric CPR and first aid certification, or the ability to obtain certification within the timeframe required by the school.
• Artistic and musical skills are a plus.

Essential Skills and Physical Requirements

• Demonstrate adaptability in response to children’s needs, classroom conditions, and program priorities.
• Communicate clearly and professionally in spoken and written English.
• Use sound judgment, maintain composure, and respond appropriately in routine and emergency situations.
• Frequently stand and walk; sit, kneel, crawl, bend, reach, and work at a child’s level.
• Perform fine- and gross-motor tasks, use a computer and telephone, write by hand, and organize classroom materials and records.
• Lift, carry, push, or pull objects weighing up to 50 pounds, with or without reasonable accommodation.
• Perform classroom care and maintenance tasks, including scrubbing, sweeping, mopping, cooking, and organizing.
• Observe and respond to children and environmental conditions, with or without reasonable accommodation.

Schedule and Working Conditions

• Regular work hours are 10:00 a.m. to 6:15 p.m., Monday through Friday, including a 30-minute unpaid, duty-free meal period, for a total of 7.75 paid hours per day. Schedule adjustments may occasionally be required for school events.
• This position requires approximately 230 workdays annually: 180 academic school days, 40 summer camp days (8 weeks × 5 days), and 10 additional teacher workdays.
• Teachers work all scheduled staff days and professional development days in addition to days when children are present.
• Attendance is required at occasional evening or weekend school events, including community potluck picnics, Back-to-School Night, parent education programs, and other school activities. Additional hours worked are paid in accordance with applicable law and school policy.
• Work outdoors regularly, including in varied weather conditions, while caring for children, animals, and plants.
• The position will involve excessive noise exposure, cleaning products, bodily fluids, and communicable illness.
• All hours worked must be accurately recorded and will be compensated in accordance with applicable law and school policy.

Introductory Period

The first 90 days of employment constitute an introductory period during which the employee's performance, reliability, professionalism, and ability to meet the responsibilities of the position will be evaluated. Successful completion of this period does not guarantee continued employment or change the at-will nature of the employment relationship.

Compensation and Benefits

Pay range: $26–$34 per hour. Compensation is determined based on education, qualifications, and relevant work experience.

Benefits include medical, dental, vision, life insurance, short-term disability, 401(k), and a flexible spending account.

Paid Time Off

• Vacation: Three weeks (116.25 hours) of paid vacation annually, accrued incrementally over 24 semimonthly pay periods, not provided upfront. Accrued vacation may be used during school breaks or for approved time off during the school year, subject to available balances and school policy.
• Sick Leave: 40 hours of paid sick leave annually, provided in accordance with California law and school policy.
• Paid Holidays: Nine designated paid holidays annually: Labor Day, Indigenous Peoples' Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, New Year's Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth (observed), and Independence Day (observed).
• School Breaks: Other school closures and nonworking days are unpaid unless covered by available accrued vacation or other applicable paid leave.

Pay: $26.00 - $34.00 per hour

Expected hours: 38.75 per week

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• Dental insurance
• Flexible spending account
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Application Question(s):

• Have you provided a cover letter? Due to the large number of applicants, we are requiring a cover letter be submitted alongside your resume.

Work Location: In person