Preschool Lead Teacher

Preschool Lead Teacher

Player 1 Academy – Rochester, NY

Player 1 Academy is seeking an energetic, dependable, and highly motivated Preschool Lead Teacher to join our growing team.

We are not a traditional daycare. Player 1 Academy is a STEM-centered childcare and early learning center that combines strong early childhood education with innovative learning experiences involving science, technology, engineering, math, literacy, creative arts, robotics, and age-appropriate exposure to emerging technologies.

We are looking for a Lead Teacher who genuinely loves working with young children and understands that the preschool years are critical for developing the academic, social, emotional, and communication skills children need for kindergarten and beyond.

The ideal candidate will bring structure, creativity, patience, strong classroom-management skills, and a passion for helping young children learn.

Position Responsibilities

The Preschool Lead Teacher will be responsible for creating and maintaining a safe, nurturing, structured, and highly engaging classroom environment.

Responsibilities include:

• Plan and implement developmentally appropriate daily lessons and learning activities for preschool-aged children.
• Provide meaningful instruction in early literacy, phonics, vocabulary, writing readiness, mathematics, science, STEM, art, and social-emotional learning.
• Read with children daily and create a classroom culture that encourages a love of books, storytelling, language, and communication.
• Incorporate hands-on STEM activities, educational technology, robotics, creative exploration, and interactive learning into the classroom.
• Prepare children academically and socially for kindergarten.
• Establish consistent classroom routines, expectations, and transitions.
• Use positive behavior-management and redirection techniques.
• Maintain active supervision of children at all times.
• Observe children and document developmental progress, strengths, and areas requiring additional support.
• Recognize individual learning styles and adjust classroom activities when appropriate.
• Support children with different developmental, behavioral, and learning needs while maintaining a productive classroom environment.
• Maintain an organized, attractive, clean, and educationally stimulating classroom.
• Prepare classroom learning centers, activities, materials, and displays.
• Communicate professionally and positively with parents and guardians regarding their child's development and classroom experiences.
• Complete required attendance records, classroom documentation, incident reports, lesson plans, and other program records accurately and on time.
• Follow all Player 1 Academy policies and applicable New York State Office of Children and Family Services requirements.
• Follow health, safety, sanitation, emergency, and child-supervision procedures.
• Work collaboratively with the Childcare Director, assistant teachers, classroom staff, and other members of the Player 1 Academy team.
• Provide leadership and direction to classroom assistants and support staff.
• Participate in staff meetings, professional development, training, and center activities.
• Help create the type of classroom that makes children excited to come to school each day.

Experience & Qualifications

We are seeking candidates who have experience working with preschool-aged children in a childcare center, preschool, Head Start program, early childhood program, or similar educational environment.

Preferred qualifications include:

• Previous experience as a Preschool Teacher, Lead Teacher, Early Childhood Teacher, or similar position.
• Education or coursework in Early Childhood Education, Child Development, Elementary Education, Education, or a related field is strongly preferred.
• CDA, associate degree, bachelor's degree, or other recognized early childhood credential is preferred.
• Candidates must meet or be able to meet applicable New York State OCFS qualification requirements for the position.
• Experience developing and implementing preschool lesson plans.
• Knowledge of early childhood development and developmentally appropriate practices.
• Strong classroom-management skills.
• Experience teaching early literacy and beginning mathematics.
• Experience working with children with different learning, behavioral, or developmental needs is highly valued.
• Comfortable learning and using educational technology.
• STEM, robotics, technology, science, or project-based learning experience is a plus.
• Ability to communicate professionally with parents, coworkers, and leadership.
• Strong organizational and documentation skills.
• Dependable attendance and punctuality.
• Ability to successfully complete all required background checks, clearances, medical requirements, and training associated with employment in a licensed childcare program.

What We Are Looking For

We want a teacher who walks into the classroom thinking:

"What are my children going to learn today?"

The right candidate should be:

• Loving and patient with children
• Energetic and enthusiastic
• Creative
• Dependable
• Organized
• Professional
• Comfortable leading a classroom
• Strong at managing challenging behaviors
• Willing to learn new technology
• Excited about STEM and hands-on education
• Able to work effectively as part of a team
• Committed to maintaining a safe and positive learning environment

What Makes Player 1 Academy Different

At Player 1 Academy, children aren't simply spending the day with us—they are learning, exploring, creating, and preparing for their future.

Our educational approach incorporates experiences such as:

STEM Education Early Literacy Mathematics Science Robotics Bee-Bots Miko 3 Robots Creative Arts Technology Interactive Learning Social-Emotional Development Storytelling Cultural Learning Hands-On Exploration

Our goal is to give children an early educational experience that parents can see, children can enjoy, and teachers can be proud to deliver.

If you are an early childhood educator who believes preschool should be educational, exciting, structured, creative, and fun, we would love to hear from you.

Apply today to become part of the Player 1 Academy team and help us build an extraordinary early-learning experience for Rochester's children.

Pay: $18.50 - $20.50 per hour

Expected hours: 40.0 per week

Education:

• Associate (Preferred)

Experience:

• Childcare Center: 2 years (Required)

Shift availability:

• Day Shift (Required)

Work Location: In person