About Us

Rise & Shine Preschool is a small business, DCYF-licensed preschool located in Seattle's Seward Park neighborhood. We serve 20 children, ages 3 and 4, and are proud to partner with the Seattle Preschool Program and ECEAP.

Our families speak Somali, Oromo, Spanish, Arabic, and English. We honor every child's home language, culture, and identity as an essential part of their learning experience.

We are a close-knit, supportive team where every educator is known, respected, and trusted as a professional. We know every child by name, recognize each teacher's strengths, and treat one another with dignity, warmth, and respect.

The Role

We are looking for a Lead Teacher to lead a classroom of 20 preschoolers in partnership with an Assistant Teacher and additional support staff, maintaining the required staffing ratio.

You will be the steady, familiar presence who greets children by name, helps them feel safe and known, and creates an environment where they are excited to learn.

This is a hands-on teaching position grounded in Creative Curriculum, Teaching Strategies GOLD, and our belief that belonging and emotional safety are the foundation for learning.

What You'll Do

• Plan and lead daily learning experiences using Creative Curriculum, integrating literacy, math, science, creative arts, and social-emotional development through play and exploration.
• Observe, assess, and document each child's growth using Teaching Strategies GOLD.
• Lead morning meetings, small-group learning, project work, family-style meals, outdoor play, transitions, and rest time.
• Partner with the Assistant Teacher to coordinate classroom responsibilities, lesson implementation, active supervision, and daily routines.
• Develop seasonal child portfolios and participate in family conferences.
• Provide families with regular classroom communication, including weekly updates using photos and classroom observations.
• Connect families with community resources related to food, housing, health care, developmental services, education, and other needs.
• Plan family-engagement activities, workshops, celebrations, and classroom events.
• Build genuine, respectful relationships with children and families.
• Create a calm, welcoming, and culturally affirming classroom where every child's home language, culture, identity, and abilities are respected.
• Support individualized learning goals in partnership with families, the Director, and other specialists when appropriate.
• Maintain DCYF licensing standards, ECEAP and Seattle Preschool Program requirements, health and safety procedures, and required child-to-teacher ratios.
• Respond to children's behavior with patience, warmth, consistency, and developmentally appropriate guidance.
• Take on increasing leadership responsibilities as skills and readiness develop.
• Help maintain program records, classroom compliance documentation, and preparation for monitoring visits.
• Participate in coaching, professional development, team meetings, and continuous quality-improvement activities.
• Communicate promptly with the Director regarding children's development, classroom needs, safety concerns, and family-support needs.
• Perform other duties reasonably related to classroom leadership, family support, licensing, and preschool operations, as assigned by the Director.

What You Bring

• Bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education, or a closely related field with the equivalent of 30 approved ECE quarter credits, as verified in MERIT.
• Candidates actively working toward this requirement may be considered if eligible under Seattle Preschool Program and ECEAP qualification timelines.
• Prior classroom teaching experience with preschool-age children.
• Experience with Creative Curriculum and Teaching Strategies GOLD is strongly preferred.
• Ability to obtain and maintain DCYF background-check clearance.
• Current CPR and First Aid certification, or willingness to obtain certification before beginning independent classroom responsibilities.
• Ability to complete and maintain all required DCYF health, safety, MERIT, and training credentials, including TB clearance and Child Care Basics.
• Warmth, patience, dependability, and a genuine commitment to young children.
• Strong communication and relationship-building skills with children, families, and colleagues.
• Comfort working with families from diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds.
• Ability to collaborate effectively while providing leadership within the classroom.
• Commitment to active supervision, professional boundaries, confidentiality, and consistent attendance.

What We Offer

• Pay of $25 to $30 per hour, based on education and relevant experience.
• Paid sick and safe time.
• Paid holidays and school-closure days.
• Weekly dedicated paid planning and documentation time.
• Paid professional development and Seattle Preschool Program coaching.
• A thoughtfully designed classroom environment with natural materials and meaningful teacher input.
• A close-knit professional team where your ideas, experience, and contributions are valued.
• The opportunity to build lasting relationships with a small community of children and families.
• A workplace culture grounded in dignity, respect, communication, and mutual support.

At Rise & Shine, educators are trusted professionals. Your voice matters, your work is recognized, and you will have the opportunity to help shape a classroom where children and adults can thrive.

To Apply

Please send your resume and a short note explaining why you are interested in the position to riseshinedaycare00@gmail.com

You may also call (206) 637-8409 with questions about the position.

Pay: $25.00 - $30.00 per hour

Benefits:

• Professional development assistance

Work Location: In person