About This Role
Join our vibrant preschool team as a compassionate and dedicated Preschool Teacher. This role offers a unique blend of professional autonomy and collaboration in a supportive environment.
As a Preschool Teacher, you will be responsible for a class of children aged 6 weeks to 5 years. Your key responsibility will be to design and deliver developmentally appropriate activities that cater to the diverse needs of each child, while maintaining a safe and nurturing classroom environment.
You will work closely with a team of educators, including a co-lead teacher, teacher assistants, and floaters, to plan and deliver a comprehensive curriculum. Effective communication with parents is also a critical aspect of this role, requiring a calm and positive attitude when addressing any concerns.
What You'll Do
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Maintain a clean, safe, and comfortable environment for preschoolers and their families.
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Build strong relationships with colleagues through daily collaboration, including assistant teachers and volunteers.
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Establish and maintain open communication with parents and caregivers through regular updates and parent-teacher conferences.
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Engage in ongoing professional development to stay up-to-date on best practices in early childhood education (12 hours annually).
- Design and implement a range of activities tailored to the needs of each child, incorporating play-based educational strategies.
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Monitor and track children's progress, identifying areas of strength and concern, and sharing findings with parents and caregivers.
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Ensure adherence to all center policies and state regulations.
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Exemplify professionalism and ethics in interactions with children, parents, and staff members.
Requirements
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Must possess at least a high school diploma or GED and be at least 18 years old.
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Experience working in a DHS licensed childcare setting is highly valued.
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Strong understanding of child development and best practices in early childhood education.
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Ability to respond promptly to the physical and emotional needs of children.
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Ability to lift up to 30 pounds and sit on the floor with children as needed.
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Must pass a full background check and a health screening.
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Must have Infant/child CPR and First Aid certification or be able to obtain certification.
Nice To Haves
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A degree or certification in Early Childhood Education, Child Development, or a related field is an asset.
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Infant or Early Childhood Mental Health Endorsement or a willingness to obtain it is highly desirable.
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Familiarity with child development principles and practices.
Benefits
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Health Insurance
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Dental Insurance
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Vision Insurance
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Paid Leave
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Sick Leave
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Retirement Plan
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Child Care Discount
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Professional Development
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Full-time position (approximately 35-40 hours per week).
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Typical hours: 7:15 AM – 3:15 PM or 8:15 AM – 4:15 PM.
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Competitive pay: $17–19 per hour, based on education and experience.
Additional Benefits:
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Paid holidays and breaks, including major holidays, Fall Break, and Spring Break, starting immediately upon hire. The Fall and Spring Break schedule is aligned with Knox County Schools—perfect for parents of school-aged children!
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Paid professional development opportunities to support your growth and advancement in early childhood education.
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Discounted tuition for your child if there is an open spot at the preschool.
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Paid time off after 6 months of employment.
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Eligibility for participation in the United Methodist Church pension plan after one year of employment.
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Eligibility for health insurance after just 60 days of employment.
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Paid planning time and coaching sessions with our Instructional Coach.
About Us
Located in downtown Knoxville, Church Street United Methodist Church Preschool has
been a distinguished childcare provider for more than 50 years. We are conveniently
situated within walking distance from the University of Tennessee and the World's Fair
Park.
CSUMC Preschool offers top quality early childhood education by providing
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low teacher-student ratios,
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a safe, secure, and loving environment, as well as
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developmentally appropriate curriculum (aligned with the TN-ELDS).
Our primary goal is to meet each child where they are in order to encourage social,
emotional, and cognitive growth while having fun learning through play!
