Lead Early Childhood Teacher

Lead Early Childhood Teacher | 1–2 Year Olds

What if you could actually know every child in your classroom?

At Fireflies Academy, we intentionally keep our classrooms small so teachers can do what great teachers do best: build meaningful relationships, notice the details, teach intentionally, and give each child the attention they deserve.

Our toddler classroom has a 1:5 teacher-to-child ratio, and our program is built around high-quality teaching, intentional curriculum, strong relationships, and continuous growth.

We are looking for a Lead Teacher for our 1–2 year old classroom to join our small, passionate team in Athens, Ohio.

• Genuinely loves working with young children
• Brings character, integrity, work ethic, and a sense of purpose to their work
• Is dependable, responsible, patient, and teachable
• Can create a classroom culture of respect, warmth, curiosity, and learning
• Enjoys observing children and using those observations to guide teaching
• Can communicate professionally and warmly with families
• Is comfortable working as part of a close-knit team
• Wants to grow as an educator rather than simply work a childcare job

• Lead a small cohort of 1–2 year olds
• Implement and thoughtfully adapt our curriculum based on children’s developmental needs
• Plan and facilitate meaningful learning experiences
• Observe and document children’s growth
• Build strong relationships with children and families
• Communicate regularly with parents and guardians
• Maintain a safe, nurturing, and beautifully organized classroom
• Complete classroom and administrative responsibilities accurately and on time Collaborate with fellow teachers to maintain consistency across the program

We are intentionally different from a large childcare center.

We believe early childhood education should be both deeply relational and genuinely educational. Our teachers work with small groups, receive support from a close-knit team, and have the opportunity to really know the children in their care.

We are building something special in Athens — a small program creating large ripples.

$31,000–$40,000/year, based on experience and qualifications

Benefits include:

• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• Small classroom ratios
• Supportive team environment
• Opportunities for professional growth

Full-time

If you are looking for more than a typical childcare job — and want to be part of a team that believes deeply in the importance of early education — we would love to meet you.

You don’t have to be the perfect candidate on paper. We are looking for the right person: someone with character, work ethic, integrity, genuine purpose, and a heart for young children.