2026-27 Early Childhood Educator, Ages 3-5

Details posted: 01-Jul-26 | Location: Princeton, New Jersey | Full-time, 10-month position (40 hours/week)

About the Role

Join our team as an Early Childhood Educator at Princeton Friends School! We are seeking a caring, curious, and community-minded collaborative educator who delights in the wonder of young children. You will advance equity and anti-racist practice through teaching and classroom culture, honoring and affirming children’s identities, cultures, and voices daily. This role embraces progressive education that is deeply child-centered and academically excellent—grounded in wonder, curiosity, agency, meaningful learning, and powerful play. Outdoor teaching in all weather conditions is a key part of the role.

At Princeton Friends School, faculty collaboratively bring to life our mission: Drawing on a rich tradition of Quaker values and practices, Princeton Friends School is committed to creating a diverse, vibrant learning community in which young people engage their natural curiosity, discover and express their individual voices and gifts, acquire intellectual, physical, artistic, and life skills, and develop a sense of responsibility for themselves and others.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate daily to implement a joyful, play-based curriculum for children ages 3–5
• Nurture a welcoming and inclusive classroom where all children feel safe, loved, and celebrated for who they are
• Set up, support, and clean up learning activities both indoors and outdoors—including in rain, snow, or sun
• Guide students through routines and transitions with patience, empathy, and consistency
• Support whole-group, small-group, and individual learning experiences across academic and social-emotional domains
• Model kindness, flexibility, and curiosity in interactions with students, families, and colleagues
• Partner with colleagues and families to support each child’s growth and development
• Participate in school life, including staff meetings, professional development, school-wide events, and lower school admissions events

Requirements

• Experience working with young children in a classroom setting
• Degree in Early Childhood Education or a related field (advanced degree preferred)
• Love and respect for children and belief in the importance of play and relationship-based teaching
• Strong commitment to anti-racism in and out of the classroom
• Reliability, collaborative nature, and eagerness to contribute to a close-knit teaching team
• Excitement to extend the classroom outdoors every day, in all seasons—digging, exploring, building, and getting muddy; experience with outdoor education and nature-based learning
• Experience in and/or strong knowledge of Quaker schools or a commitment to learning and applying Quaker values and practices
• Training and experience in Responsive Classroom (or openness to being trained)
• Thirst for training and growth opportunities related to child development, social-emotional learning, and early literacy and math programs
• Skills in basic technology tools to support learning and communication
• CPR and First Aid certification (or willingness to be certified)
• Enthusiasm to be part of a small team where collaboration and adaptability are essential
• Fluency or competency in Spanish or Mandarin (a plus)

Why Teach Here

• Childhood taken seriously: Play, inquiry, reflection, and deep thinking are prioritized without sacrificing academic excellence or high expectations.
• Intentional progressive education: Design interdisciplinary, developmentally responsive, and intellectually rich learning with space for curiosity, struggle, revision, and pride in high-quality work.
• Mixed-age learning: Multi-year relationships, differentiation, and peer learning are valued, with teachers trusted as thoughtful designers of learning.
• Collaborative support: Teachers plan, reflect, and problem-solve together across grade levels and disciplines within a small, caring, and committed faculty.
• Equity and belonging: Anti-racist practice, identity-affirming curriculum, and community care are woven into daily classroom life, professional learning, and school culture.
• Nature as curriculum: Our campus and surrounding woods are classrooms. Teach outdoors in all seasons, using the natural world to spark wonder, resilience, and meaningful academic work.
• Your voice matters: Teachers are trusted professionals with agency, space to grow, and opportunities to shape curriculum, school traditions, and community life.
• Know your students—and be known: Small class sizes and a relationship-centered culture allow you to teach with depth, care, and joy while seeing the long arc of children’s growth.

Pay

$32,000–$46,000, commensurate with education and experience.

Benefits

• Health Insurance
• Life & Long-Term Disability Insurance
• Retirement: partial employer match
• Childcare Benefits:
  • Tuition Remission: 90% remission for employees’ children enrolled at Princeton Friends School
  • Free After School Program care during working hours
  • Access to discounted or complimentary summer camp opportunities for employees’ children (ages 4–14)
• Professional Development
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)
• Paid Time Off

Physical Requirements

• Move actively around a preschool classroom and outdoor campus
• Frequently sit on the floor or low chairs, stand, bend, and lift up to 10 pounds
• Support student safety on the playground and in the woods
• Engage in outdoor play and exploration in a range of weather conditions