Preschool Co Teacher

About the Role

The U School is looking for a warm, engaged Co-Teacher to join one of our classroom teaching teams. You'll work alongside a Lead Teacher and Assistant Teacher to bring our U School Approach to life for the children in your care — a curriculum grounded in Project & Inquiry-Based Learning, Reggio-inspired practice, and our own Skillful Togetherness Curriculum for social-emotional growth. This is a hands-on, collaborative role: you'll help design the learning environment, contribute to daily curriculum, and build real relationships with the children and families in your classroom.

What You'll Do

• Contribute to a developmentally appropriate curriculum based on observation of individual children and small groups
• Help design a classroom environment that responds to children's interests, developmental stages, and social-emotional needs
• Support play-based, child-led activities
• Document children's learning through anecdotal notes, photos, and portfolios that families can see and engage with
• Build warm, respectful relationships with children at their level — physically and developmentally
• Communicate with families about their child's day, development, and milestones
• Collaborate closely with your teaching team and the U School's Pedagogy Coach on classroom design and curriculum

What We're Looking For

• Meet applicable state of Michigan and federal requirements for Lead Teacher
• Experience or coursework in early childhood education
• A genuine interest in child development and a collaborative, team-oriented approach to teaching
• Comfortable with the physical demands of the role: active supervision, outdoor time in all weather, and regularly lifting/carrying children
• Must pass a comprehensive background check and complete required health & safety training (we'll guide you through this as part of onboarding)
• Ongoing professional development is expected and supported — we invest in our teachers' growth

Why The U School

We're a small, values-driven early childhood program where curriculum is built around real observation of children in action. You'll be part of a teaching team that collaborates daily, supported by an administration and Pedagogy Coach whose job is helping you grow as an educator, in a school that takes both child development and staff development seriously.

Job Types: Full-time, Contract

Pay: $37,440.00 - $42,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• Dental insurance
• Employee discount
• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• Professional development assistance
• Vision insurance

Education:

• Bachelor's (Preferred)

Experience:

• Early childhood education: 2 years (Preferred)

License/Certification:

• Child Development Associate Certification (Preferred)

Work Location: In person