HIRING NOW!

Head Preschool Teacher / Lead Preschool Teacher 

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Pay $50,000 – 60,000 / full year of 12 months (equivalent to $24-29/hour)

(Pay is higher for candidates with more qualifications / experience)

Benefits Health insurance · Paid time off (PTO) · Paid federal holidays · Additional paid time off in school breaks unless there is professional development training · Discounted childcare · CDA tuition paid by the school · Referral bonus

Schedule Monday – Friday, 8:15 AM – 4:15 PM, occasional overtime at equivalent hourly rate
 

Type Full-time, in person

Start Date Negotiable, latest October 1, 2026
 

Apply Please send CVs to:  hiring@thelibertyschooljc.com (with "Head Teacher" in the subject line)

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QUALIFICATIONS

Education — meeting ONE of these requirements:
Bachelor's Degree in Education, Psychology, Health Care, Nursing, or any other field related to Child Growth and Development; 
OR  Teaching Certification from the Department of Education in Elementary Education, Nursery School, Preschool through Third Grade (P-3), or Teacher of the Handicapped;
OR  Master's Degree in Education or in fields related to Education, Child Growth and Development;
OR  Montessori education equivalent to a Bachelor's Degree;
OR  Bachelor's Degree in other fields, plus 6+ college credits and 3+ years of experience related to Early Childhood Education, or Education, or Child Growth and Development;
OR  Master's Degree in other fields, plus 9+ college credits related to Early Childhood Education, or Education, or Child Growth and Development.
 

Experience:
Minimum 2 years in a childcare center or preschool with toddler or preschool age groups (1.5–5 years old), including at least 1 year as a Lead Teacher or Head Teacher.
Prior Reggio Emilia experience is welcome but not required. We value educators who are curious, reflective and interested in child-led, inquiry-based learning.

Basic skills:
Communication skills to speak and write to parents professionally
Basic IT skills (Google Drive/Docs, Microsoft Office)
Strongly preferred, not required at hiring:
College credits in early childhood education or child development — either part of a degree or additional credits beyond the degree
Child Development Associate (CDA) certificate

Required after hiring:
Obtaining the Child Development Associate (CDA) certificate within 2 years — cost paid by the school

Compliance:
Candidate must pass CARI, CHRI, health checks as required by NJ State before being hired

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ABOUT THE POSITION

The Liberty School is seeking an experienced and capable Head Teacher to lead a toddler or preschool classroom.

The Head Teacher is responsible for creating a warm, safe, organized, and intellectually engaging classroom while providing leadership to other classroom staff. The successful candidate will combine genuine care for young children with sound judgment, dependable classroom management, clear communication, and a commitment to high-quality early childhood education.

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What You Will Bring to the Classroom

You will lead our mixed-age classroom of children aged 18 months to 2.5 years or from 2.5 to 5 years, working alongside assistant teachers.

Teaching

• Observe children's interests and build curriculum and provocations from what you see

• Plan across art, sensory, literacy, math, science, music, and movement

• Document learning through photos, children's words, and displayed work

• Support social-emotional growth, self-help skills, and kindergarten readiness

Leading

• Direct, mentor, and give feedback to assistant teachers

• Set the tone and the routines of the classroom

• Keep the environment prepared, beautiful, and fully stocked

Communicating with families

• Daily communication at drop-off and pickup, plus written updates

• Lead parent-teacher conferences and share developmental observations

Operations

• Attendance, allergy and dietary records, incident reports, health and safety routines

• Maintain compliance with NJ childcare licensing requirements

Growth

• Participate in coaching, reflection, and professional development

 

The Person We Hope to Meet
You may be a strong fit for this position if you are:

• Warm and responsive with young children.

• Confidence leading a classroom and supporting other teachers.​

• Curious about how children think and learn.

• Organized, dependable, and attentive to detail.

• Able to communicate thoughtfully with families and colleagues.

• Comfortable combining creativity with consistent classroom systems.

• Open to reflection, feedback, and continued professional growth.