Lead Preschool Teacher | Play-Based, Child-Centered Program
Chabad Garden School | Fort Washington, PA
$25–$30/hour, based on experience and qualifications
For the teacher who wants the freedom to really teach.
Chabad Garden School is looking for an exceptional Lead Teacher to join our preschool team for the 2026–2027 school year.
We're not simply looking for someone to manage a classroom. We're looking for an experienced early childhood educator who genuinely understands young children, someone who notices what they're doing, wondering, building, talking about and struggling with, and knows how to turn those observations into meaningful learning.
At CGS, teachers are trusted to teach.
You won't be handed a scripted curriculum or told what craft everyone needs to make on Tuesday. You'll have real ownership of your classroom, the environment you create, the materials you offer, and the experiences you develop from the interests and needs of the children in front of you.
If that's the kind of teaching you've been looking for, we'd really like to meet you.
About the Classroom
This position is for a lead teacher in one of our twos classrooms.
Our approach is play-based and child-centered, with inspiration from Reggio Emilia and Montessori. We believe children are capable, curious, and active participants in their own learning.
We want a classroom that evolves with the children.
That might mean rearranging part of the room because you notice the way children are using it. It might mean letting an interest continue for three weeks instead of moving on because the calendar says it's time for something new. It might mean introducing clay, paint, loose parts, sensory materials, books, natural materials, or something completely unexpected because you see an opportunity to take the children's thinking further.
And child-led doesn't mean teacher-absent. We value teachers who know how to be present in children's play without taking it over, who can observe closely and recognize when to join, model, ask a question, introduce a new material, extend an idea, or simply give children the space to keep working something out themselves.
The environment is an important part of that work. Materials should be accessible and intentional, spaces should invite children to engage deeply, and the classroom should change as the children and their interests change.
We don't expect classrooms to be perfectly quiet or perfectly tidy. We expect them to be thoughtful, engaging, warm, and alive with learning.
Who We're Looking For
You may be a great fit if you:
- Have successfully led an early childhood classroom and are confident taking ownership of it
- Genuinely enjoy young children and find their ideas and thinking interesting
- Understand that meaningful learning happens through play
- Know how to observe children and use what you see to shape curriculum and the classroom environment
- Know how to extend children's play and thinking without directing it for them
- Are warm and nurturing while also providing clear, consistent boundaries
- See behavior as communication and are curious about the "why" behind it
- Can stay calm and thoughtful when a classroom gets messy, loud, emotional, or unpredictable
- Enjoy creating purposeful spaces and interesting invitations for children
- Trust children to do increasingly more for themselves
- Think about your own teaching and are always interested in getting better at it
Experience with Reggio Emilia, emergent curriculum, Montessori, project-based learning, or other child-centered approaches is a strong plus. But we're much more interested in how you actually think about children than whether you know the right educational terminology.
What It's Like to Teach Here
We believe excellent teachers do their best work when they're treated like professionals.
Lead teachers at CGS have meaningful autonomy within a shared educational philosophy. You'll have the freedom to build curriculum around the actual children in your classroom, along with the support and resources to do it well.
Our director is actively involved and works closely with teachers. That means you'll have someone to think through a difficult classroom dynamic with, bounce an idea off of, help you find resources, or support you in taking something you're already doing well even further.
We're a small, close-knit school where teachers, children, and families are truly known. We care about creating a workplace where good teachers feel respected, appreciated, and excited about the work they're doing.
One of our teachers recently put it this way:
“I love what I do and I’ve really found that love again working at a place that shows so much respect for its teachers.”
That means a lot to us, because it's exactly the kind of school we want to be.
Jewish Life at CGS
As a Jewish preschool, Jewish life and tradition are naturally woven into our days through Shabbat, holidays, mitzvot, tefilla, blessings, songs, stories, and Jewish values.
Prior experience in a Jewish school is not necessary. We're looking for someone who is comfortable participating warmly and respectfully in that environment, and we'll give you the support you need.
Position Overview
- Hours: 8:45 AM – 3:15 PM, with a full-time option available
- Schedule: School year (late August through mid-June) or year-round
- Salary: Based on qualifications and experience
- Location: Fort Washington, PA
- Anticipated Start: Late August 2026
Benefits
- Paid time off
- Health insurance reimbursement
- 401(k) with employer match
- Childcare support for staff families
- Flexible scheduling options
- Professional growth and support
Qualifications
- 2+ years of early childhood classroom experience strongly preferred
- Previous lead teaching experience strongly preferred
- Experience working with young children in a group setting
- Strong understanding of child development and play-based learning
- Ability to create and maintain a thoughtful, engaging classroom environment
- Strong communication and collaboration skills
- Degree in Early Childhood Education or related field preferred, but not required
- Ability to meet the physical demands of an early childhood classroom, including getting up and down from the floor frequently and lifting and caring for young children
How to Apply
If you're an experienced early childhood educator who has been looking for a school where you can really teach, we'd love to hear from you.
A quick note before you begin: These questions are meant to help us get to know you as an educator. Please answer in your own words and from your own experience. We are not looking for polished or “perfect” responses. AI-generated responses will not be considered. We would much rather hear a thoughtful, genuine answer in your own voice.
Application Questions
- Describe a classroom that feels really successful to you. What would I notice if I spent an hour there? What would the children be doing, and what would you be doing?
- Tell me about something the children in your classroom became really interested in. How did you notice it, and where did you take it from there?
- Tell me about a time children's behavior or play made you realize that something about the environment, routine, or your own approach wasn't working. What did you change, and what happened?
- What does independence look like in a twos classroom? Think about the everyday parts of the day, meals, art and sensory experiences, cleanup, choosing and using classroom materials. What might I see children doing for themselves?
- Imagine several children are deeply engaged in play. What are you doing? How do you decide when to observe, when to join, when to introduce something that might extend their thinking, and when to simply let the play continue?
Work Location: In person
Pay: $25.00 - $30.00 per hour
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- 401(k) matching
- Dental insurance
- Flexible schedule
- Health insurance
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- Professional development assistance
- Retirement plan
- Tuition reimbursement
- Vision insurance
Application Question(s):
- Imagine several children are deeply engaged in play. What are you doing? How do you decide when to observe, when to join, when to introduce something that might extend their thinking, and when to simply let the play continue?
- What does independence look like in a twos classroom? Think about the everyday parts of the day, meals, art and sensory experiences, cleanup, choosing and using classroom materials. What might I see children doing for themselves?
- Tell me about a time children's behavior or play made you realize that something about the environment, routine, or your own approach wasn't working. What did you change, and what happened?
- Tell me about something the children in your classroom became really interested in. How did you notice it, and where did you take it from there?
- Describe a classroom that feels really successful to you. What would I notice if I spent an hour there? What would the children be doing, and what would you be doing?
- A quick reminder regarding these questions: These questions are meant to help us get to know you as an educator. Please answer in your own words and from your own experience. We are not looking for polished or “perfect” responses. AI-generated responses will not be considered. We would much rather hear a thoughtful, genuine answer in your own voice.
Work Location: In person
