Lead Pre-K Teacher, Alpha - $120,000​/year USD

Exceptional preschool teachers don't rely on rigid lesson plans. They thrive in schools that value their professional judgment.

If you're an educator who views play as meaningful work, prioritizes relationships over rote academics, and sees every moment as a chance to foster growth, Alpha is where you belong.

This full-time, on-site position in Manhattan places you at the helm of a Pre-K classroom where emotional well-being, intellectual curiosity, and tangible developmental progress hold equal weight. You'll craft engaging, play-based environments that support children in building confidence, resilience, foundational literacy and numeracy skills, and an authentic passion for learning. We seek educators who understand that excellent preschool education is far more than supervision - it's the groundwork for all future success.

Alpha is transforming education by accelerating academic mastery, which frees up time to cultivate the essential life skills children need. This mission starts in Pre-K with talented teachers who understand how to translate play into intentional learning.

We anticipate hiring candidates from throughout the New York metro area. If you're a highly skilled educator interested in relocating closer to the city, relocation assistance is available.

What You Will Be Doing

• Craft engaging, sensory-driven learning environments that deliberately foster early literacy, numeracy, emotional regulation, and social competence.
• Build a classroom culture where each child feels emotionally secure, truly understood, and eager to attend school daily.
• Monitor children's developmental trajectories continuously, record significant progress, and apply these observations to tailor instruction.
• Modify classroom activities based on individual children's interests and developmental stages, ensuring every learner achieves measurable growth.
• Collaborate actively with families to communicate progress, acknowledge achievements, and extend each child's learning beyond school hours.

What You Won’t Be Doing

• Overseeing children without intentional developmental objectives guiding each activity.
• Adhering to predetermined lesson scripts, depending on worksheets, or prioritizing compliance over genuine curiosity.
• Dedicating your time to behavior management instead of cultivating children's capacity for self-regulation.
• Placing children in front of educational technology while you observe passively from a distance.

Lead Pre-K Teacher Key Responsibilities

Establish a Pre-K environment where each child cultivates an enduring enthusiasm for learning while achieving outstanding growth in the developmental areas that form the foundation for long-term success.

Basic Requirements

• Available to work full-time, on-site in Manhattan, New York City (relocation assistance is available)
• Hold an associate's degree or higher, or possess any U.S. state teaching license or certification
• A minimum of 2 years of experience working with children ages 3-5 in a structured, play-based classroom or group environment
• Demonstrated experience recording developmental milestones through a structured framework or assessment instrument (Teaching Strategies GOLD, ASQ, High Scope COR, etc.)
• Legally authorized to work in the U.S. without sponsorship

Nice-to-have Requirements

• Background in a Reggio Emilia, Montessori, Bank Street, or similar inquiry-driven early childhood program
• Prior work in an independent school or academically rigorous preschool setting
• Knowledge of child-development frameworks, observational tools, or portfolio-based assessment methods
• Experience modifying play-based activities to align with individual interests, needs, and developmental objectives

About Alpha

Join the team building school around student growth

Alpha reimagines the school day around faster learning, stronger mentorship, and more time for students to build real-world skills.

Roles with real student impact:
Alpha hires teachers (guides), operators, admissions experts, school & curriculum leaders, and remote team members.

Education work that pays like it matters:
Alpha offers six-figure roles for people ready to help build a radically better school experience.

A culture built for builders:
Alpha is fast-moving, ambitious, and student focused. It’s for people who want to improve the system, not maintain it.

Alpha is where you can do the most meaningful work of your career.

Working with us

This is a full-time (40 hours per week), long-term position. The position is immediately available and requires entering into an independent contractor agreement with Crossover as a Contractor of Record. The compensation level for this role is $60 USD/hour, which equates to $120,000 USD/year assuming 40 hours per week and 50 weeks per year. The payment period is weekly. Consult  for more details on this topic.

Crossover Job Code: LJ-5746-US-New York-LeadPreKTeache.
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