Preschool Lead Teacher

Small Wonders School is seeking an experienced Lead Teacher to join our team! We’ve been deeply rooted in the Portland community for over a decade, and because we prioritize promoting from within, lead teacher openings at our school are rare.

As a Preschool for All (PFA) program, we offer low classroom ratios of just 1:7, with three teachers supporting a group of 20 children each day. This gives our teachers the time and support to build meaningful relationships with children and create thoughtful, engaging learning experiences.

At Small Wonders, you’ll bring our Reggio Emilia-inspired philosophy to life through emergent curriculum, monthly investigations, process art, and intentional classroom environments. You don’t need to know our program on day one—we’ll thoughtfully onboard and mentor you as you grow into the role.

You’ll lead alongside two experienced assistant teachers to create a classroom where children feel capable, curious, and excited to learn.

Your day will include:

• Leading engaging morning meetings and circle times
• Guiding classroom routines and behavior with warmth and consistency
• Creating beautiful, open-ended invitations to play
• Planning and facilitating process art experiences
• Collaborating with your teaching team and administration
• Maintaining a clean, organized, and inspiring classroom environment

Qualifications:

• Teacher qualified under Oregon licensing requirements
• Minimum 1,500 qualifying hours of experience
• Strong classroom management skills
• Passion for play-based, child-led learning

Benefits:

• Competitive pay
• Health insurance
• 27–30 paid days off annually, plus accrued Oregon sick time
• Additional approved unpaid time off when needed
• Ongoing coaching and mentorship from experienced directors
• Supportive team culture with opportunities for professional growth

If you’re looking for a school where your ideas matter, children are respected as capable learners, and you can grow alongside a passionate team, we’d love to meet you.

Pay: $24.86 per hour

Expected hours: 40.0 per week

Benefits:

• Health insurance
• Paid time off

Work Location: In person