Early Childhood Educator, Ages 3-5

Join Our Team as an Early Childhood Educator at Princeton Friends School!

Are you a caring, curious, and community‑mindful collaborative educator who delights in the wonder of young children? Do you take responsibility for advancing equity and anti‑racist practice through your teaching and classroom culture, honoring and affirming children’s identities, cultures, and voices every day? Do you believe progressive education can be deeply child‑centered and academically excellent—grounded in wonder, curiosity, agency, meaningful learning and powerful play?

Do you enjoy teaching outdoors every day no matter the weather? If so, you might be the teacher we’re looking for.

At Princeton Friends School, all of our faculty work collaboratively to actively bring to life our school’s 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.

Working closely with the Lower School team, you will:

• 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
• Help 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 your interactions with students, families, and colleagues
• Partner with the colleagues and families to support each child’s growth and development
• Take part in school life—staff meetings, professional development, school‑wide events, lower school admissions events, and more

You are someone who brings:

• Experience working with young children in a classroom setting
• A 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
• A strong commitment to anti‑racism in and out of the classroom
• Reliability, a collaborative nature, and eagerness to contribute to a close‑knit teaching team
• Excitement to extend the classroom to the outdoors every day, in all seasons, no matter the weather—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 in a school setting
• Training and experience in Responsive Classroom (or openness to being trained)
• A 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 a 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!)

• You’ll teach in a school that takes childhood seriously. We believe strong childhoods are the foundation of extraordinary outcomes. That means time for play, inquiry, reflection, and deep thinking without sacrificing academic excellence or high expectations.
• Progressive education here is intentional and rigorous. You’ll design learning that is interdisciplinary, developmentally responsive, and intellectually rich, with space for curiosity, struggle, revision, and pride in high‑quality work.
• Mixed‑age learning is a strength, not a challenge. You’ll work in a community that values multi‑year relationships, differentiation, and peer learning where children learn with and from one another, and teachers are trusted as thoughtful designers of learning.
• You’ll be deeply supported by…