Preschool Teacher (Infants)

Position Reopened: This role has been reposted. We are actively accepting new applications.

Infant Teacher

We are hiring a part-time (25-30 hours a week) infant teacher at the Mission Preschool for the 2026-2027 school year (beginning August 2026).

The Mission Preschool in Downtown Chattanooga strives to create a nurturing, playful, and enriching environment for children ages 3 months through 5 years old. Our program is a Parent’s Day Out program with Monday/Wednesday or Tuesday/Thursday offerings.

We utilize an emergent curriculum rich in process art and nature exploration. We value collaboration, ongoing learning, and a willingness to strive for your personal best as a teacher.

Daily Responsibilities

• Communicate effectively with children, parents, and staff
• Maintain the organization and cleanliness of the classroom
• Contribute to a child’s learning, growth, and development by offering age- appropriate care and activities while demonstrating a sense of patience and kindness
• Maintain a positive mindset toward child learning and social-emotional development, encouraging and believing children have the capability to excel
• Facilitate quick problem-solving in a potential stressful setting and assess when additional support is needed
• Demonstrate ability to learn and convey a variety of subject matters within the confines of the classroom schedule
• Adhere to school processes and procedures outlined in our Employee Handbook and Parent Handbook

Preschool Teacher Qualifications, Skills, and Experience

• Demonstrated knowledge of development markers, play-based learning skills, and gross motor skills
• Desire and ability to nurture children with diverse backgrounds and levels of ability to facilitate proper emotional and social growth
• Familiarity with infant development and needs (social, psychological, physical)
• Ability to organize tasks and manage time to meet children's needs through the day
• Working familiarity with or ability to learn assistive technologies
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively
• High school diploma is required; preference will be given to those who have obtained or working toward an Associate or Bachelor’s degree in child development or related field
• Minimum 2 years of experience working with children in a structured setting; previous experience in a preschool setting is a plus

Work Schedule & Benefits

• Part-time staff work Monday-Thursday, totaling a weekly range of 25-30 hours
• Pay range is $16-18.50/hour, based on experience, degrees, and tenure at the Mission Preschool.
• Teachers are onsite from 8:30am to 3:00pm with a paid 30 min. lunch break
• Teachers are occasionally asked to attend meetings and trainings outside school hours which are paid at their hourly rate
• We are a year-round school offering employment for all terms. Staff will be paid for holidays, school breaks, and unplanned closures due to inclement weather. We do not offer paid leave for planned absences or sick time.
• Staff who enroll children into our program will receive a staff discount of 50% off of enrollment if there is availability.

Job Type: Part-time

Pay: $16.00 - $18.50 per hour

Expected hours: 25.0 – 28.0 per week

Benefits:

• Employee discount
• Professional development assistance

Application Question(s):

• Are you available consistently Mon.-Thurs. 8:30am-3pm?
• Are you able to commit to this position through the 2026-2027 school year, at a minimum?

Education:

• High school or equivalent (Preferred)

Experience:

• teaching or childcare: 2 years (Required)

Ability to Commute:

• Chattanooga, TN 37403 (Required)

Work Location: In person