Preschool 3s Lead Teacher
Location: Harbor Country Day School – St. James, Long Island, NYPosition Type: Full-time, 10-monthStart Date: August 31, 2026
About Harbor Country Day School
Harbor Country Day School is an independent, coeducational day school for students in preschool through grade 8, located on the North Shore of Long Island in St. James, New York. Grounded in the motto “Sine Labore Nihil” (Without Work Nothing), we inspire students to achieve personal excellence in academics, character, and creativity in a nurturing and supportive environment. Our mission guides us in our dedication to “cherish childhood, cultivate wonder, and inspire confident learners and leaders”.
Position Overview
Harbor Country Day School seeks a warm, creative, and experienced educator to lead our full-time Preschool 3s classroom. Guided by Harbor's mission to cherish childhood, cultivate wonder, and inspire confident learners and leaders, this teacher will create a joyful, nurturing, and developmentally appropriate environment where young children feel safe, valued, and excited to learn through purposeful play, exploration, and discovery.
The ideal candidate has a deep understanding of early childhood development, fosters each child's academic, social, and emotional growth, and builds strong, positive relationships with students, families, and colleagues. This position works closely with a Preschool Teaching Assistant as part of a collaborative team and reports to the Early Childhood Division Head.
Key Responsibilities
- Instruction and Curriculum
- Plan and implement engaging, developmentally appropriate, play -based learning experiences for three-year-old students.
- Create a classroom environment that promotes curiosity, creativity, independence, and a love of learning.
- Develop lesson plans that support children’s cognitive, language, social-emotional, and physical development.
- Differentiate instruction to meet the individual needs and developmental readiness of each child.
- Integrate literacy and numeracy, science, art, music, movement, and outdoor exploration into daily instruction.
- Collaborate closely with fellow Preschool 3 teachers to plan engaging learning experiences, maintain consistency across classrooms, share best practices, and support each child's social, emotional, and academic growth.
- Classroom Leadership
- Establish consistent routines and clear expectations that foster a positive and supportive classroom community.
- Lead and mentor the Preschool Teacher Assistant, promoting effective collaboration and communication.
- Family Communication and Collaboration
- Build strong partnerships with families through regular communication, conferences, newsletters, and classroom updates.
- Collaborate with colleagues, specialists, and administrators to support each child’s success.
- Participate in faculty meetings, professional development, and school-wide initiatives.
- Attend Preschool events, Open Houses, and other Harbor community activities.
Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in a related field required; Master’s degree preferred.
- NYS Early Childhood or Childhood Education certification preferred.
- Experience teaching preschool or early childhood students preferred.
- Strong understanding of child development and developmentally appropriate practice.
- Excellent communication, classroom management, and organizational skills.
- Collaborative, flexible, and enthusiastic approach to teaching and learning.
- Commitment to creating an inclusive, nurturing, and engaging learning environment
What We Offer
- A supportive and collegial faculty community.
- Opportunities for professional development and leadership.
- A warm, welcoming school culture rooted in tradition and innovation.
- Competitive independent school compensation, comprehensive benefits, and ongoing opportunities for professional growth and development.
Requirements
- Following the initial interview, selected candidates will be invited to present a demonstration lesson as part of the interview process.
To Apply
Interested candidates should submit the following to [email protected]
- A cover letter expressing interest and alignment with Harbor’s mission
- A current resume
- Contact information for three current professional references
Application Deadline: Rolling basis until position is filled.
Learn more about Harbor Country Day School at www.hcdsny.org
Harbor Country Day School is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, creed, citizenship, color, religion, age, gender, national origin, marital status, veteran's status, status as a qualified individual with a disability, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law.
Pay: $45,000.00 - $55,000.00 per year
Work Location: In person
