Preschool Teacher -- Play-Based Preschool | Ages 2-3
Job Description
Job Description
Do you genuinely love working with two- and three-year-olds? Do you want to join a team of passionate and caring people?
The curiosity. The big feelings. The messy hands. The endless "why?" The joy of watching a child discover, "I can do it!"
If that sounds like your kind of day, we'd love to meet you.
Nitty Gritty Preschool is looking for a warm, playful, dependable Toddler Guide to join our team. We're a small, community-centered preschool that's part of Acton Academy Silicon Valley, which is reimagining learner-driven education. Our approach brings together purposeful play, skill-building with Montessori tools, and the Kimochis social-emotional curriculum to create an environment where young children build independence, confidence, curiosity, and a genuine love of learning.
We believe play is how young children do their most important work by exploring, creating, moving, experimenting, and trying again.
What you'll do every day
You'll guide a classroom of children ages 2–3 through a play-based program where learning happens through doing. That means:
- Hours: 8:00-4:30 with 30-minute lunch
- Getting down on the floor to play, explore, sing, create, and be silly alongside children — not directing from a distance
- Encouraging children to try things for themselves rather than immediately doing things for them
- Planning and implementing enriching experiences for children as individuals and as a group
- Learning and weaving the Kimochis social-emotional curriculum into daily interactions
- Supporting toileting, diapering, meals, naps, and transitions — all the wonderfully necessary parts of child development
- Supervising and ensuring the safety of children at all times, staying alert to the needs of individuals and the group
- Working closely with your co-teacher and teaching team to set up, maintain, and care for the classroom environment
- Communicating with families frequently, warmly, and professionally, including two parent-teacher conferences per year and contributions to the monthly parent newsletter
- Attending Back-to-School Night, school events, staff meetings, in-service training, and team planning days
Who you are
- You truly enjoy spending your days with two- and three-year-olds, delighted by the magic of learning at this age
- You're warm, patient, playful, energetic, and nurturing
- You understand that toddler behavior is communication
- You value strong relationships with children, families, and coworkers
- You're dependable, flexible, and ready to be part of a close-knit team
- You're on your own growth journey: curious, reflective, and eager to keep learning
Qualifications
- Early childhood education experience or coursework (12 early childhood education units or 6 units) and continuing
- AS in ECE or child development a plus
- Classroom experience with toddlers or two-year-olds strongly preferred
- A genuine love of working with toddlers and a willingness to keep learning
- California Child Development Permit at any level is a plus but not required to apply
Before your start date, you'll need
These are California licensing requirements for all childcare staff:
- Live Scan fingerprints and California clearance
- Health screening signed by a physician
- Negative TB test within the past 12 months
- DTaP and MMR immunization records
- 16 hours of health and safety training authorized by Emergency Medical Services (EMS), including:
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- Current pediatric CPR/First Aid (American Red Cross, American Heart Association, or EMS-approved program)
- Preventive Health and Safety Training
- Mandated Reporter Training
Schedule and logistics
- Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM (occasional overtime for training, meetings, or school events)
- In person at our Redwood City campus (94062); must be able to reliably commute or relocate before starting
- Full-time, year-round
What you'll find here
A preschool where guides are encouraged to bring their own creativity, interests, and personality into the classroom. You'll help children cook, garden, make art, make music, explore nature, solve problems, build friendships, and develop the independence that lets them proudly say: "I can do it!"
We're not looking for someone to simply supervise children. We're looking for someone who sees the magic in these early years and wants to be part of them.
This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive. The employee may perform other related duties as assigned to meet the ongoing needs of the organization.