Preschool Teacher - Orono Public Schools

What this job is

Orono Early Learning is hiring a preschool teacher. You'd lead your own classroom, and you would not be doing it alone. An Assistant Teacher works with you in the room every day.

This job is 34 hours per week, and it follows the school calendar. When school is out, you're out. Summers, winter break, and spring break are yours.

One thing you need before applying: a current Early Childhood B-3 teaching license from the Minnesota PELSB. That's the state license for teaching this age group in a public school. If you have it, keep reading, because the rest of this job is worth your time.

Why teachers like it here

Someone already built the hard stuff. This program is NAEYC Accredited and holds a 4-Star Parent Aware rating, the highest there is. In plain terms, the curriculum, the assessment tools, and the quality systems are already in place and working. You get to spend your energy on teaching kids, not building a program from scratch.

Planning time is part of your work day. You get scheduled prep time to plan lessons and make materials. Not "find time after the kids leave." Actual hours, built into your schedule.

A real teammate. Your Assistant Teacher is with you every day. You share the room, the setup, the cleanup, and the wins.

What you'd actually do

• Plan and teach fun, hands-on activities that help kids grow socially and academically
• Watch how each child is doing and adjust your teaching to fit them
• Write progress reports for families twice a year
• Sit down with families twice a year for conferences
• Keep in friendly, regular touch with parents and caregivers
• Join staff and family meetings

Pay and benefits, spelled out

Pay: $34,431 to $53,550 per year, depending on your degree and experience. 

• Health insurance: the district pays 90% of the premium if it's just you, 75% if you're covering a partner or your family
• Dental: 100% paid by the district
• Life insurance equal to a year of your pay: 100% paid by the district
• Disability insurance in case you can't work: 100% paid by the district
• A pension. This job is covered by TRA, Minnesota's retirement plan for teachers. The district pays in alongside you, and it adds up to guaranteed income when you retire. Private preschools almost never offer this.
• Time off: 3.5 personal days and 9.25 sick days a year, on top of every school break

What you need

Required:

• A current Early Childhood B-3 license from the Minnesota PELSB
• Familiarity with Minnesota's Early Childhood Indicators of Progress (the state's guide to what kids should be learning from birth to five)
• Warmth with kids and families, and calm, positive control of a classroom

Nice to have, not required:

• Experience with Teaching Strategies GOLD, the assessment tool we use. Never touched it? We'll teach you.
• Experience working in a public school