Kindergarten Teacher

About This Role

Climbing Tree Community School is seeking a warm, knowledgeable, and dedicated Kindergarten Teacher to join our small nonprofit early childhood community. Climbing Tree Community School is a play‑based, child‑centered school serving preschool through kindergarten children in Tucson. We believe children learn best through meaningful relationships, hands‑on exploration, creativity, inquiry, and a strong sense of belonging. “Community” is our middle name, and we are looking for an educator who values connection with children, families, and colleagues.

The Kindergarten Teacher will lead a small kindergarten classroom and provide a developmentally appropriate learning environment that supports children’s academic, social, emotional, and creative growth. The ideal candidate understands early childhood development, values play as the foundation for learning, and can balance kindergarten readiness with joyful, meaningful classroom experiences. This is a 10‑month position;
August 2026‑May 2027, with the option of summer employment.

• Create and maintain a safe, nurturing, inclusive, and engaging kindergarten classroom environment.
• Plan and implement developmentally appropriate curriculum aligned with early childhood and kindergarten learning goals.
• Support children’s growth in early literacy, math, science, social studies, creative expression, problem‑solving, independence, and social‑emotional development.
• Use play‑based, hands‑on, and inquiry‑based teaching practices.
• Observe and document children’s learning and development.
• Communicate regularly and professionally with families.
• Work collaboratively with the Director and teaching team.
• Maintain classroom organization, routines, supervision, and licensing expectations.
• Support Climbing Tree’s mission of community, inclusion, and high‑quality early childhood education.

• Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education, Elementary Education, or a closely related field.
• Level One AZ Fingerprint Clearance Card.
• Experience working with young children in an early childhood, kindergarten, or elementary classroom setting.
• Experience supporting children with diverse learning profiles, including neurodivergent children and children with varying developmental, social‑emotional, sensory, communication, or behavioral support needs.
• Strong understanding of child development and developmentally appropriate practice.
• Ability to build warm, respectful relationships with children, families, and coworkers.
• Reliable, professional, flexible, and committed to creating a positive classroom community.

• Arizona teaching certification preferred, but not required.
• Experience teaching kindergarten or pre‑kindergarten.
• Experience with play‑based, emergent, inquiry‑based, or project‑based learning.
• Familiarity with Arizona Early Learning Standards and/or kindergarten standards.
• Familiarity with First Things First and Quality First.

• Paid Leave
• Sick Leave
• Child Care Discount
• Professional Development
• Paid time off for federal holidays.
• Paid time off during scheduled school breaks.
• Tele Health services.
• Aflac services.
• Supportive, community‑centered work environment.
• Small school setting with a mission‑driven team.

At Climbing Tree Community School, an Early Learning Center, we view children as feeling, thinking, creative, and growing individuals. Our child‑centered programs prioritize understanding the whole child. Each child’s culture, strengths, challenges, interests, dreams, and fears inform program design, instructional methods, and individual goals through an emergent curriculum. We honor each child’s curiosity and capacity to drive their learning. Children are encouraged to become problem‑solving, sensitive, contributing, and responsible members of the "school community".

Our curriculum is child‑centered and focuses on play as a dynamic form of learning that involves a wide range of intellectual, social, emotional, and physical capabilities.