PreK Teacher

Rocketship Public Schools•Washington, DC

18h

About The Position

Rocketship Public Schools’ PreK 3 and PreK 4 Early Childhood Teachers nurture the academic, social-emotional, and developmental growth of young learners across subject areas. Teachers design and deliver developmentally appropriate, play-based, standards-aligned instruction in early literacy, numeracy, language development, science, social studies, and social-emotional learning. They create warm, structured classrooms where children feel safe, joyful, and ready to learn. Teachers work with a collaborative early childhood team and receive ongoing professional development and weekly coaching. This position reports to the Principal or Assistant Principal. Teachers build partnerships with students and families through respectful communication, relationship-building, and home visits. They recognize families as children’s first teachers, incorporate family knowledge and cultural assets into classroom practice, and communicate transparently about students’ academic, developmental, and behavioral progress. The role includes supporting children with personal care needs, including toileting, diapering, hygiene, handwashing, dressing, and daily routines, while promoting independence. The work environment has moderate to high noise levels. Physical demands include frequent standing, walking, sitting, reaching, handling objects, and communicating with adults and children; occasional lifting or moving of up to 50 pounds and climbing ladders; and potentially frequent bending, kneeling, lifting, and assisting children with personal care. Reasonable accommodations may be made for individuals with disabilities.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in elementary education, reading, psychology, human development, early childhood education, or a closely related field.
Ability to support children with age- and developmentally appropriate personal care, 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 developmentally appropriate support with toileting, handwashing, dressing, and daily routines.
Ability to meet the physical demands of the role, including occasionally lifting or moving up to 50 pounds and occasionally climbing ladders.

Responsibilities

Create 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 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 for students receiving additional services.
Maintain a safe, organized, engaging learning environment consistent with licensing and program requirements.
Communicate respectfully and frequently with students’ families, build strong relationships, and conduct home visits as the foundation for ongoing collaboration.
Incorporate family knowledge and cultural assets into classroom practice and partner with families on academic, developmental, and behavioral goals.
Share student progress transparently so families and teachers can jointly support each child.
Participate in professional development meetings, coaching sessions, and school-wide events.
Meet professional responsibilities, communicate proactively about challenges or changes, reflect on practice, receive and implement feedback, and contribute to a positive collaborative school culture.
Collaborate with staff to provide students with consistent, coordinated, high-quality support.
Support children’s age- and developmentally appropriate personal care, including toileting, diapering, hygiene, handwashing, dressing, and daily routines, while encouraging self-help skills.