Lead Preschool Teacher
Total Job Openings: 1
Job Immediate Start: Yes
Job Location: 1200 E Houston Street, Garrett, IN 46738
Work Hours: 7:00 AM - 4:00 PM, Monday through Friday
JAM Early Education is a Reggio-inspired day school that embraces an emergent curriculum designed around child development principles. Our classrooms create a rich environment where children learn by exploring the world around them, empowering them to build their own knowledge and become independent thinkers. We tailor our planning to meet the individual interests, needs, and learning goals of every child we serve - from infants as young as six weeks to preschoolers preparing for kindergarten. Through careful observation, we gain insight into each child’s unique development. Our approach centers on providing principle-based learning experiences that spark curiosity and foster a lifelong love of learning.
We are seeking a compassionate and experienced Lead Preschool Teacher to join our team and support the growth and development of our early learners. In this leadership role, you will create a dynamic, age-appropriate classroom environment that encourages curiosity, creativity, and social-emotional growth. You’ll model best teaching practices, foster team collaboration, and build strong, supportive relationships with children and their families. The ideal candidate has a solid understanding of preschool development, excellent communication skills, and a true passion for early childhood education.
Our standard operating hours are 7:00 AM to 4:00 PM, with JAMEE Aftercare available from 4:00 PM to 5:30 PM to support working families by providing quality early education beyond the school day. We recognize and value the commitment of our teachers who are advancing their education, so we accommodate school schedules and offer additional support for eligible student candidates through the TEACH scholarship program.
All JAMEE teachers engage in a minimum of 2.5 hours of professional development each month, including Bloom training, individualized coaching, book studies, and more. We provide comprehensive on-site training, beginning with a two-week classroom training and shadowing period alongside the lead teacher, combining observation and hands-on experience. New teachers meet regularly with our Pedagogista to reflect on principles and receive ongoing support for their professional growth. We believe learning is a lifelong journey - not just for our students, but for our teachers as well. We meet everyone where they are in their development. Our organization is committed to fostering a collaborative and supportive environment throughout the entire facility - when we say “JAM family,” we truly mean it!
Why our teachers love working at JAM:
”I love the relationships I have built with students, parents, and coworkers! I also love getting to see students do something for the first time or show excitement over new work.”
“JAMEE has impacted my life in many ways. Because of JAMEE and the supportive staff I know teaching is my life calling and passion.”
“The relationships with coworkers and families has exceeded my expectations at JAMEE along with the friendliness and helpfulness of everyone at JAM. When I first started, I thought it would be like a daycare and I was just an assistant, I was wrong in all the best ways possible!”
"There is no 'one size fits all'; learning is individualized for both children and teachers."
Learn more about why our teachers love working at the JAM Center: https://youtu.be/5yH6tMs7-9Y
Apply today and join our dedicated team of passionate educators who are making a meaningful impact on children’s lives and our community!
$15.00 - $22.00 hourly
- 401K + Employer match
- Free JAM Membership - includes free fitness and aquatics classes, access to pool, spa, and fitness center, and discounted rates on rentals and programs
- Health Insurance for Full-Time Employees
- Paid Time Off and Paid Holidays for employees working over 20 hours per week
- Tuition support for those seeking a CDA, Associate, or bachelor's degree in early education
- Warm, collaborative, professional, and inspiring work culture
- Competitive Wages
- Rewarding Career
- Professional Growth Opportunities
- No Weekends
- Create a learning environment that fosters curiosity, exploration, discovery, imagination, and child development
- Build, maintain, and nurture relationships with children and families
- Observe children for their individual needs to plan developmentally appropriate educational opportunities
- Plan and implement activities that meet the intellectual, emotional, and social needs of your students in
alignment with principles and child development
- Listen for children's questions and provide opportunities for them to construct their own knowledge
- Ensure that the facility and all equipment is clean, well-maintained, and safe
- Manage and mentor classroom staff
- Document children's learning through documentation, Indiana Early Learning Standards Foundation assessment,
and maintaining portfolios
- Work in accordance to Indiana State licensing rules, Voluntarily Certification Program guidelines, and Paths to
Quality guidelines
- Attend and participate in ongoing professional development opportunities
- Maintain a classroom that is aligned with the Bloom! principles
- Participate in all required trainings, initiatives, and meetings
- Create lesson plans that provide experiences based on the children’s needs and provide a variety of learning
centers for the children to choose from
- Keep all personal certifications up to date
- Maintain the classroom environment in a developmentally responsive, creative, and orderly fashion
- Communicate with families on a regular basis through daily notes or verbal communication
- Document learning through portfolios and documentation panels
- Accurately maintain all required documentation including, but not limited to timesheets, incident reports,
behavioral reports, and attendance records
- Perform all other duties assigned
- Must be 18 or older
- High School Diploma or equivalent required
- Experience working with children in an Early Education program required
- Associate, Bachelors, or CDA highly preferred
- Reliable with high attention to detail
- Curious spirit with desire for lifelong learning opportunities
- CPR and First Aid Certification preferred
This position requires a commitment to the JAM Center’s mission and its core values of honesty, respect, responsibility, and caring, as well as a commitment to building developmental relationships with all members, participants, and staff.
Customer Service Statement:
Our number one goal is to provide outstanding customer service. Every JAM Center employee is expected to be: an active listener, knowledgeable, friendly, professional, helpful, ethical, and willing to go the extra mile to exceed the customer’s expectations. We demonstrate the values of caring, honesty, respect, integrity, and responsibility as role models in the JAM Center and the community at large.