Lead Teacher

About the Job

This position is responsible for a classroom of children, which includes establishing a learning environment that is inclusive and developmentally age-appropriate, developing emergent curriculum, supervising and monitoring child development, providing high-quality care, maintaining classroom materials, first aid, and daily health checks. The Lead Teacher also supports and advances the school's commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

The Teacher works in collaboration with other educators to plan and implement a high-quality, responsive, enriching, and supportive learning environment that is respectful of each child's background, development, and needs. This includes collaborating with other lead teachers and providing direction for assistant teachers and student employees.

The weekly curriculum and learning experiences are rich with relational experiences designed to support the development of a range of social, emotional, self-help, language, literacy, cognitive, and motor skills and will align with the MN Early Childhood Indicators of Progress-ECIPS (Infant, Toddler, and Preschool).

This position is based on campus. All UMN employees are expected to follow applicable public health and safety procedures. The University offers employees over 75% FTE total rewards with meaningful benefits, including medical and dental, life insurance, retirement savings, flexible spending accounts, tuition benefits, and an award-winning Wellbeing Program. The starting hourly rate for this AFSCME-represented position is $24.57.

This is an AFSCME 4909 Bargaining Unit position. In-person work environment.

Bargaining unit consideration begins on September 16, 2026 and ends on September 22, 2026.

Hourly Rate: $24.57-$25.57/hr overtime eligible.

Monday-Friday: 8 hours a day. Hours each day will vary depending on the need of the department.

Please note, this position is not eligible for H-1B or Green Card sponsorship. This position does not offer a STEM OPT training program.

• Establish and maintain an inclusive, professional, and safe learning space for children of all backgrounds, identities, abilities, and developmental stages in compliance with MN DHS licensing and NAEYC accreditation standards, as well as relevant federal laws (e.g., USDA, ADA/IDEA, EOAA).
• In conjunction with the other educators, plan and execute a consistent daily visible schedule of routines and activities.
• Conduct daily checks of the environment; assign, monitor, and follow up on the health and safety of the children and ensure that children are within sight and sound as per NAEYC and MN DHS Licensing (indoors and outdoors).
• Maintain and secure the confidentiality of information and records regarding staff, children, and families as mandated by the U of MN (e.g., FERPA, MN DHS-Licensing, MN Dept. of Ed., NAEYC accreditation and USDA, HIPAA, and ADA).
• Participate in ongoing reflection (monthly and yearly) on evaluation of the program and personal professional development, aligning with performance and job responsibilities.
• Support the onboarding and training for new employees and University students.

• Plan and implement emergent curriculum for children in a developmentally appropriate and inclusive environment.
• Use small groups, reflective practice, and observations for planning and implementing learning experiences.
• Plan and implement curriculum, centering the educational work with children on their emerging interests and on their learning in relationship with others in accordance with the CDLS Professional Practices.
• Develop the child's role as an integral member of their learning community through developing the child's self-image and competence.
• Prepare materials…