Lead Preschool Teacher
Arts Together
Raleigh, NC
Inspire creativity. Build confidence. Make a lasting impact.
OVERVIEW
Arts Together is seeking a passionate, collaborative Lead Preschool Teacher to join our arts-integrated preschool team. If you believe children learn best through creativity, exploration, movement, music, visual art, drama, and meaningful relationships, we’d love to meet you.
For more than 40 years, Arts Together has been helping children develop confidence, curiosity, and a lifelong love of learning through the arts. Our preschool is a warm, welcoming community where teachers are encouraged to bring their creativity and ideas to the classroom every day.
POSITION SUMMARY
Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM – 1:00 PM. This position is approximately 20 hours per week during the academic year from August 24, 2026 to May 28, 2027.
The Lead Preschool Teacher is responsible for the care and support of an assigned group of children ( up to 12) as part of a teaching team alongside Teaching Artists. The Lead Teacher is also responsible for morning routines, including room setup that reflects current themes and student interests, guided free play, circle time, knowledge of transition routines, and strong support for the Teaching Artist. Arts Together offers weekly classes in art, dance, drama, music, and nature play led by Teaching Artists, and the Lead Teacher will actively participate through dancing, painting, singing, and more. In addition to supporting these classes, Lead Teachers create and implement lesson plans during weekly Learning Lab sessions. Learning Lab is an opportunity to bring in your own interests as well as students’ interests and connect these themes to kindergarten readiness skills, social and emotional learning, science, math, and literacy. Arts Together provides biweekly team collaboration time to support all teachers and students in a highly collaborative environment where a love of the arts and children is essential.
PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES
- Lead a group of children through morning routines, maintaining visual and auditory supervision indoors and outdoors at all times.
- Create and maintain an organized, nurturing environment that supports children’s social, emotional, physical, and cognitive development.
- Foster a respectful, supportive classroom community that helps children develop self-regulation, work well together, and feel a strong sense of belonging.
- Lead a daily morning circle that helps prepare students for their day and builds classroom community.
- Assist three Teaching Artists throughout the day in arts-integrated classes including art, dance, music, drama, and nature play.
- Lead Learning Lab sessions with a focus on literacy, math, and science through engaging, developmentally appropriate experiences.
- Guide children through daily transitions across our unique learning spaces with consistency and care.
- Maintain the classroom environment, including restocking supplies and keeping materials organized and ready for the day.
- Communicate with families in a respectful and proactive manner, both in person and through digital platforms.
- Participate in staff training, project days, and team collaboration, and arrive prepared for work and daily transitions.
QUALIFICATIONS
- 2+ years of professional experience working with young children
- Associate’s degree required; bachelor's degree in early childhood education or a related field preferred
- Creative, energetic, and engaging
- Compassionate, positive, and nurturing
- Strong understanding of classroom practices and child-centered teaching
- Strong communication skills with children, families, and colleagues
- Understanding of the social, emotional, and creative needs of young children
- Professional in both verbal and nonverbal communication
- Collaborative and team-oriented
- Comfortable communicating by email, phone, and in person
- Flexible, dependable, and comfortable with technology
- Available Monday through Friday
- Commitment to ongoing professional growth
- Conscious Discipline training is a plus
- Employment is contingent on a criminal background check
MISSION CONNECTION
Arts Together is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to providing accessible, year-round arts education programs that foster creativity, collaboration, and confidence within a diverse and inclusive community. In addition to relevant skills and experience, we seek a team member who embraces our mission: “to cultivate individual creative strengths through the arts in a diverse, inclusive, collaborative, and nurturing community.”
STARTING PAY
$17-$19/hour
BENEFITS
- Paid teacher planning/workdays
- Class discounts for employee and family
- Professional development support
- Optional summer hours
REQUIRED
- A minimum of 3 references
- Cover Letter
JOB TYPE
SCHEDULE
EDUCATION
EXPERIENCE
- Classroom: 1 year (Required)
WORK LOCATION
MISSION CONNECTION
Arts Together is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, whose purpose is to provide accessible, year-round arts education programs that foster creativity, collaboration, and confidence in a diverse and inclusive community. Arts Together does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender identity or expression, sex, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, age, marital status, disability, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law in administration of its educational policies, admissions, financial assistance programs, hiring or other school administered programs.
If you're excited about helping young children learn through creativity, movement, music, art and play, we'd love to hear from you!
To be considered for employment, apply through indeed.com
Pay: $17.00 - $19.00 per hour
Benefits:
- Employee discount
- Professional development assistance
Work Location: In person
