PreK Teacher

Rocketship Public Schools•Washington, DC

10d

About The Position

Rocketship Public Schools’ PreK 3 and PreK 4 Early Childhood Teachers nurture young learners’ academic, social-emotional, and developmental growth across subject areas. They design and deliver developmentally appropriate, play-based, standards-aligned instruction in early literacy, numeracy, language development, science, social studies, and social-emotional learning. Teachers create warm, structured classrooms where children feel safe, joyful, and excited to learn, and work with an early childhood team while receiving weekly professional development and coaching from school leaders. The position reports to the Principal or Assistant Principal. Teachers also support children’s personal care needs—including toileting, diapering, and hygiene—in accordance with OSSE licensing requirements and school protocols, while promoting children’s independence and self-help skills.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in elementary education, reading, psychology, human development, early childhood education, or a closely related field.
Ability to support young children with personal care needs, including toileting, diapering, and hygiene routines, in accordance with OSSE licensing requirements and school protocols.
Ability to promote children’s independence and self-help skills through support with toileting, handwashing, dressing, and daily routines.
Ability to meet the position’s physical demands, including occasional lifting or moving of up to 50 pounds and occasional ladder climbing.

Responsibilities

Build a joyful, nurturing, developmentally appropriate classroom culture that supports learning, social-emotional development, and positive behavior.
Plan and deliver engaging, integrated instruction across early literacy, math, science, social studies, and social-emotional learning.
Internalize Tools of the Mind instructional materials and refine lessons in response to student needs and developmental milestones.
Use observation, formative assessment, and student data to personalize instruction and support each child’s growth.
Implement classroom routines, transitions, and behavior supports that foster independence, self-regulation, and a love of learning.
Collaborate with special education and student support staff to provide meaningful, inclusive support to students receiving additional services.
Maintain a safe, organized, engaging learning environment that meets licensing and program requirements.
Partner with students and families through frequent, respectful communication and relationship-building.
Honor families as children’s first teachers and incorporate family knowledge and cultural assets into classroom practice.
Build relationships with families beginning with home visits and continue collaboration throughout the year.
Engage families around academic, developmental, and behavioral goals, and share student progress transparently.
Attend and actively participate in professional development meetings, coaching sessions, and school-wide events.
Meet professional responsibilities, communicate proactively about challenges or changes, and act in students’ best interests.
Reflect honestly and humbly on practice, receive and implement feedback, and contribute to a positive, collaborative school culture.
Coordinate with staff to ensure students receive consistent, high-quality support.
Support children’s age- and developmentally appropriate personal care needs, including toileting, diapering, and hygiene routines, in accordance with licensing requirements and school protocols.
Promote student independence and self-help skills through developmentally appropriate support with toileting, handwashing, dressing, and daily routines.