Preschool Support Teacher

The Co-op School was founded in 2003 by a group of parents who saw the need for a high-quality and affordable preschool option in the Clinton Hill and Fort Greene neighborhoods. Since then, the Co-op School has matured from a small, parent-run playgroup to a fully staffed and licensed non-profit school. After residing in two prior homes in Clinton Hill, The Co-op School moved into 87 Irving Place in the fall of 2009. In 2011, The Co-op School launched the first kindergarten class of its elementary program at 40 Brevoort Place. In 2019, we opened our doors at 644 Gates Avenue in the Bedford Stuyvesant neighborhood—in a 3,500-square-foot building with a double-height gym, a rooftop library, and two playgrounds—housing our preschool, lower school, and middle school students under one roof.

About the role

The Support Teacher is a member of the classroom team who helps prepare and initiate meaningful learning activities for students. Responsibilities include promoting the social, emotional, intellectual, language and physical development of each child in a safe and supervising educational environment. The Support Teacher may assist the Lead Teacher and/or Assistant Teacher with developing classroom curriculum, preparing lessons, creating a safe and healthy classroom environment, and contributing to class conversations. Support Teachers are assigned to a classroom as needed and the assignment changes according to the need. Occasionally a support teacher may be asked to lead group instruction with substitute plans created by Lead Teacher. Individuals must be willing to travel between classrooms across three divisions to provide assistance as requested.

Responsibilities

• Meeting the needs of all children, including students with special needs
• Integrating curriculum components into classroom time
• Assisting in individualizing one-to-one and group activities to reflect the unique needs and strengths of all children in the classroom
• Occasionally leading the lessons to cover the absence of a teacher
• Supervising children at all times
• If a primary teacher is unavailable, assisting students with personal needs such as toileting, hand washing, and resting for nap
• Responding to crisis or emergency situations that may arise; provides first aid or CPR; prevents the spread of blood borne pathogens and accesses emergency services if necessary
• Meeting weekly (1 hour after school) with teaching team to plan, update documentation and maintain a clean learning environment
• Attending monthly staff meetings, open house, curriculum night, professional development, and parent-teacher conferences (twice a year)

Requirements

• Passionate about working with children
• 2-3 years experience working with children, preferably working in a school setting
• High School Diploma/GED required; ideal candidate has or will have a degree in early childhood or elementary education
• Enthusiasm for the opportunities and challenges inherent in working with children
• A positive attitude and flexible approach

Benefits

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• Parental leave

Pay

The salary range for this position is $34,000 - $40,321; the position on the scale will be based on years of teaching experience and education.

Schedule

Full-Time Position
Start Date: August 2026