Lead Early Childhood Educator

Afterschool & Weekends | Two Part-Time Positions | Tribeca, New York

The Early Childhood Educator We'd Love to Meet

You believe that childhood deserves more than supervision, and that the people who spend their days alongside children have an extraordinary opportunity to shape how they experience the world.

You understand that early childhood is built through relationships, meaningful experiences, thoughtful observation, and the everyday moments that often go unnoticed. The way a child is welcomed into a room, encouraged to try something independently, guided through a difficult emotion, invited into conversation, or given the freedom to explore.

You see yourself not simply as someone who cares for children, but as an educator, a guide, a creative thinker, and an important part of the community surrounding them.

You love the work. The storytelling, singing, art projects, nature walks, science experiments, building forts, baking, imaginative play, and unexpected conversations that make every day with children different.

And you understand that supporting children also means building meaningful relationships with the families raising them.

Casa Primary is seeking two experienced Lead Early Childhood Educators to guide our afterschool and weekend children's communities, creating thoughtful, engaging experiences for children while contributing to a larger vision for family life in New York City.

These positions are for educators who bring substantial professional experience, creativity, confidence, and a genuine commitment to early childhood education. We are looking for people who want to contribute to something greater than a traditional childcare position.

About Casa Primary

Casa Primary is a Montessori-inspired private family membership club in Tribeca, thoughtfully designed to bring children and parents together under one roof.

Our work is rooted in the belief that raising children was never meant to happen in isolation. We are building an intentional return to the village, creating a place where children can experience meaningful childhood, parents can find support and connection, and families can grow alongside one another.

Our children's communities welcome infants through school-age children, with thoughtfully prepared environments, educational programming, creative experiences, and opportunities for exploration and independence.

Our approach is rooted in Montessori principles, with an appreciation for Waldorf, Reggio Emilia, and other child-centered educational philosophies. We value independence, freedom within limits, grace and courtesy, hands-on learning, natural materials, meaningful work, and the importance of beautiful, orderly environments.

We are a small, growing team, and every educator plays an important role in shaping the experience of our members and the culture of Casa Primary.

About the Role

As a Lead Early Childhood Educator, you will take an active role in our afterschool and weekend programming, supporting children across our early childhood communities, with a particular emphasis on toddlers, preschoolers, and young school-age children.

Afternoons and weekends at Casa Primary are an important part of family life. Children may be arriving after school, spending time with siblings, participating in enrichment experiences, or enjoying an unhurried weekend with their families.

Your role is to create an environment where these experiences feel intentional, engaging, and developmentally meaningful.

You will independently lead activities, collaborate with fellow educators, maintain exceptional standards of care and safety, and contribute original ideas that enrich our programming and community.

We are looking for educators who can confidently manage groups of young children while remaining imaginative, playful, observant, and responsive to their individual needs.

These are two distinct, year-round positions with equal responsibilities, compensation, and opportunities to contribute to the Casa Primary community. Schedule is subject to adjust

What You'll Do Create meaningful, engaging educational experiences

• Plan and lead developmentally appropriate afternoon and weekend activities for toddlers, preschoolers, and young school-age children.
• Create engaging daily experiences through storytelling, music, singing, art, movement, practical life, sensorial exploration, and imaginative play.
• Introduce hands-on activities including baking, gardening, science experiments, nature studies, geography, cultural exploration, building projects, and creative arts.
• Facilitate meaningful group gatherings, circle times, stories, games, and collaborative experiences.
• Encourage independence, curiosity, concentration, problem-solving, and confidence through purposeful activities.
• Balance structured educational experiences with child-led exploration, outdoor play, and opportunities for rest.
• Adapt activities to different developmental stages, abilities, interests, and group dynamics.
• Bring creativity and initiative to seasonal programming, holidays, special gatherings, and community traditions.
• Recognize opportunities to turn ordinary moments into meaningful learning experiences.

Prepare beautiful, intentional environments

• Maintain thoughtfully arranged, inviting environments that encourage children to explore, create, and work independently.
• Prepare and rotate educational materials, books, creative activities, and learning invitations according to children's interests and developmental needs.
• Ensure classrooms and shared children's spaces remain exceptionally clean, organized, safe, and well stocked.
• Encourage children to participate in caring for their environment through age-appropriate responsibilities and practical life activities.
• Maintain the calm, respectful, and welcoming atmosphere that defines Casa Primary.
• Take pride in the details of the environment, understanding that the spaces children inhabit are an important part of their education.

Guide children with respect and confidence

• Build warm, trusting relationships with children and develop an understanding of their individual personalities, interests, strengths, and developmental needs.
• Demonstrate strong classroom and group management skills, particularly during transitions, mixed-age activities, and busy afternoon and weekend periods.
• Support children's social-emotional development, independence, communication, and emerging relationships with peers.
• Model grace and courtesy, respectful communication, kindness, patience, and appropriate boundaries.
• Guide challenging behaviors with consistency, confidence, and developmentally appropriate approaches.
• Help children navigate conflict, frustration, disappointment, and emotional regulation without shame or unnecessary punishment.
• Observe children's development and share meaningful observations with families and leadership.
• Create an inclusive environment where children of different ages, abilities, and temperaments can participate meaningfully.

Care with expertise and responsibility

• Maintain exceptional standards of child safety, active supervision, sanitation, hygiene, and emergency preparedness.
• Confidently supervise children across early childhood age groups while maintaining appropriate ratios and safety protocols.
• Support everyday care routines including toileting, diapering when necessary, handwashing, dressing, meals, snacks, and transitions.
• Demonstrate strong knowledge of choking prevention, food allergies, safe feeding practices, illness protocols, and emergency procedures.
• Maintain accurate attendance, incident reports, developmental observations, and other required documentation.
• Anticipate children's needs and respond proactively to potential safety concerns or changes in group dynamics.
• Support consistent implementation of Casa Primary's educational philosophy, operating procedures, and community standards.

Contribute to a collaborative educational community

• Work closely with Casa Primary's Head Teacher, leadership, and fellow educators to maintain consistency across programming.
• Take ownership of assigned programming, daily classroom preparation, and the quality of children's experiences.
• Collaborate with the other Lead Educator to coordinate activities, share observations, and develop thoughtful weekend programming.
• Support fellow educators through positive modeling, clear communication, and collaborative problem-solving.
• Participate in planning, preparation, and special projects that contribute to the continued development of our children's communities.
• Bring forward ideas, observations, and opportunities to improve the educational experience.
• Demonstrate initiative, professionalism, reliability, and a willingness to contribute within a small, growing team.

Build meaningful relationships with families

• Welcome children and parents warmly, helping families feel connected and comfortable within the community.
• Develop genuine, professional relationships with members and become a trusted presence in their children's lives.
• Communicate thoughtfully with parents about their child's experiences, interests, progress, and everyday needs.
• Respect different parenting approaches, family structures, cultural backgrounds, and developmental journeys.
• Understand that parents are an important part of the Casa Primary community, not simply participants in drop-off and pickup.
• Contribute to the warmth, hospitality, and sense of belonging that make Casa Primary a meaningful place for families.

Who We're Looking For

We are looking for educators whose experience goes beyond simply being comfortable around children.

Early childhood education should be an area of genuine expertise, curiosity, and personal commitment.

You may have worked as a Lead Preschool Teacher, Montessori Guide, Early Childhood Educator, Head Teacher, enrichment educator, or in another educational setting where you developed substantial experience leading groups of young children.

You understand child development, classroom management, and the responsibility that comes with caring for young children. But you also bring something distinctly your own.

Perhaps you love music and sing with children every day. Perhaps you're an artist who sees endless opportunities for creative exploration. You may be passionate about nature, storytelling, children's literature, science, cooking, movement, or the traditions that bring communities together.

We value educators who bring their interests, talents, and experiences into their work.

You should enjoy being on the floor building alongside children as much as you enjoy thoughtfully planning an activity. You should be comfortable leading a room, communicating with parents, collaborating with other educators, and adapting when the day takes an unexpected turn.

Most importantly, you should see children as capable, thoughtful individuals deserving of respect, and believe that the quality of their everyday experiences matters.

Required Qualifications

• Minimum 3 years of professional experience working with toddlers, preschoolers, or early elementary-aged children in a classroom, educational program, or structured group setting.
• Demonstrated experience independently leading groups of young children, including planning activities, managing transitions, and maintaining a safe and engaging environment.
• Strong understanding of early childhood development, including social-emotional, cognitive, language, physical, and sensory development.
• Excellent classroom management and developmentally appropriate child guidance skills.
• Experience designing and facilitating engaging educational and creative activities.
• Confidence supporting mixed-age groups and adapting programming to different developmental needs.
• Strong knowledge of child safety, active supervision, hygiene, sanitation, choking prevention, and emergency procedures.
• Experience with toileting, diapering, feeding routines, and everyday care needs appropriate to the age groups served.
• Exceptional reliability, initiative, organization, communication, and attention to detail.
• Ability to work collaboratively with other educators while taking responsibility for assigned programming and daily classroom leadership.
• Pediatric CPR and First Aid certification, or willingness to obtain certification before beginning the role.
• Relevant early childhood education credentials and qualifications appropriate to the position and applicable New York requirements.
• Availability to work both Saturdays and Sundays, along with the assigned weekday afternoon schedule.

Especially Valued

• Montessori Early Childhood or Infant/Toddler certification, or substantial experience in a Montessori environment.
• A degree in Early Childhood Education, Child Development, Elementary Education, or a related field.
• Experience with Waldorf, Reggio Emilia, or other respectful, child-centered educational philosophies.
• Previous experience as a Lead Teacher, Head Teacher, or mentor to other educators.
• Experience creating enrichment programming in music, visual arts, movement, theater, cooking, science, nature, or children's literature.
• A natural ability to sing, tell stories, lead group games, create imaginative activities, and make learning joyful.
• Experience supporting children with different developmental needs or collaborating with pediatric occupational, physical, speech, or developmental specialists.
• Familiarity with respectful caregiving, positive discipline, emotional regulation, and child-led learning.
• An interest in creating meaningful family experiences, seasonal traditions, community gatherings, and special events.
• Experience working in a family membership club, children's cultural institution, Montessori school, or other community-centered educational environment.
• A genuine interest in contributing ideas, improving programming, and helping shape a growing educational community.

The Kind of Person Who Thrives Here

You take your work seriously without taking the joy out of childhood.

You are dependable, capable, and attentive to the details, but you also know how to be spontaneous, imaginative, and playful.

You can lead a classroom confidently, comfort a child who is having a difficult afternoon, welcome a parent warmly, and turn a simple collection of leaves into an afternoon of discovery.

You are comfortable working within a small team where collaboration, initiative, and shared responsibility matter. You recognize that building something meaningful requires consistency, adaptability, and a willingness to contribute beyond a narrowly defined list of tasks.

You want to continue learning, growing professionally, and being surrounded by people who care about the quality and purpose of their work.

Above all, you believe that children are human beings to whom respect is due, and that education begins long before formal lessons.

We want children at Casa Primary to experience afternoons and weekends filled with curiosity, meaningful relationships, independence, creativity, and joy.

And we want the educators who make those experiences possible to feel valued for their expertise, encouraged to bring their whole selves to their work, and proud of the community they are helping build.

Schedule & Compensation

Position: Lead Early Childhood Educator — Afterschool & Weekends

Openings: Two

Location: Casa Primary, Tribeca, New York

Employment: Part-time, year-round, in person

Hours: Approximately 24.5 hours per week, with consistent schedules and two consecutive weekdays off.

Position One

• Monday–Wednesday: 2:00–6:00 PM
• Saturday: 9:30 AM–4:00 PM
• Sunday: 10:00 AM–4:00 PM
• Thursday and Friday off

Position Two

• Wednesday–Friday: 2:00–6:00 PM
• Saturday: 9:30 AM–4:00 PM
• Sunday: 10:00 AM–4:00 PM
• Monday and Tuesday off

Both positions include shared Wednesday programming and full weekend coverage.

Compensation: $32–$38 per hour, commensurate with qualifications and experience.

Annualized equivalent: Approximately $40,768–$48,412 per year, based on 24.5 paid hours per week over 52 weeks.

Benefits & Professional Growth

• Consistent, predictable year-round schedules
• Professional development assistance
• Opportunities to contribute to educational programming, enrichment, special projects, and community experiences
• A collaborative, mission-driven educational environment
• Opportunities for continued professional growth within Casa Primary
• Additional benefits subject to eligibility and company policy

How to Apply

We are actively interviewing and intend to fill both positions immediately.

We are interested in meeting experienced educators who connect with our philosophy, bring genuine enthusiasm to their work, and are excited by the opportunity to contribute to the continued growth of Casa Primary.

To be considered, applicants must email the following directly to hello (at) casaprimary.com:

• Cover letter — Introduce yourself, share your professional background, what draws you to Casa Primary, and the particular interests, talents, or experiences you would bring to our children's community.
• Current résumé — Include relevant professional experience, education, credentials, and certifications.
• Professional references — Please provide at least two professional references, preferably from previous supervisors or educational leadership.
• Additional materials (encouraged) — Examples of original lesson plans, educational programming, creative projects, portfolios, or other work that reflects your approach to early childhood education.

Please indicate whether you are interested in Position One (Monday–Wednesday & Weekends) or Position Two (Wednesday–Friday & Weekends).

Applications submitted through a job platform alone will not be considered. All required application materials must be emailed directly to hello (at) casaprimary.com.

Qualified candidates will be contacted for interviews on a rolling basis. Both positions are available for an immediate start.

Work Location: In person — Tribeca, New York City

Pay: $40,768.00 - $48,412.00 per year

Education:

• Bachelor's (Preferred)

Language:

• English (Required)

Location:

• New York, NY 10013 (Preferred)

Work Location: In person