Preschool Teacher- Operational Support

Job Description

Job Description

About This Role

At Starlight Academy, we believe childhood should be filled with wonder, connection, exploration, and meaningful learning experiences. Our small, nature-inspired center serves just 33 children throughout the entire building, allowing us to create strong relationships, maintain small class sizes, and provide a warm, supportive environment for both children and teachers.

We are looking for a warm, energetic Teacher to join our team and support classrooms throughout the center. This role is perfect for someone who enjoys variety in their day, building relationships across age groups, and collaborating closely with a supportive team of educators.

Our classrooms focus on hands-on learning, play-based exploration, and meaningful social-emotional development. Lesson planning throughout the center supports both school-readiness skills and emotional growth, helping children build confidence, independence, communication skills, and positive relationships.

We are seeking someone who brings creativity, patience, flexibility, and heart to the classroom; a true team player who enjoys stepping in where needed, supporting fellow teachers, and helping children feel safe, valued, and excited to learn. If you are passionate about early childhood education and want to work in a close-knit center where relationships and teamwork truly matter, we would love to meet you.

• Provide classroom support across all age groups as needed throughout the center
• Step into different classrooms to assist with supervision, engagement, and daily routines
• Support lead and co-teachers by helping implement lesson plans and planned activities
• Lead and facilitate small group activities, learning centers, and transitions when assigned
• Assist with maintaining a calm, safe, and positive learning environment at all times
• Build positive, supportive relationships with children across the center
• Help support social-emotional development through modeling, guidance, and redirection
• Maintain consistency with center routines, policies, and licensing requirements
• Assist with meal times, nap/rest periods, outdoor play, and transitions between activities
• Help with classroom organization, cleaning, and preparation of learning materials
• Communicate effectively with staff to ensure smooth daily coverage and teamwork
• Flexibly adapt to the needs of the center while supporting high-quality care and education throughout the day

• Must be at least 18 years old
• Experience working with children in a childcare, preschool, or group setting preferred
• Ability to work flexibly across multiple classrooms and age groups as needed
• Strong communication, collaboration, and teamwork skills
• Dependable, punctual, and able to adapt to a changing daily schedule
• Positive, patient, and supportive approach to working with young children
• Ability to follow directions, center policies, and licensing regulations consistently
• Comfortable stepping into different classroom environments with confidence and professionalism
• Physically able to stand, bend, sit on the floor, and lift up to 30 pounds as needed

• Previous experience as a float, assistant, or lead teacher in a childcare or early childhood education setting
• CPR, First Aid, and AED certification (or willingness to obtain upon hire)
• Coursework, credentials, or degree in Early Childhood Education or a related field
• Familiarity with play-based, nature-inspired, or child-led learning approaches
• Experience supporting multiple age groups and flexible classroom environments
• Strong background in positive behavior guidance and social-emotional development strategies
• Ability to step confidently into classrooms and support both structure and engagement as needed
• Passion for teamwork and contributing to a collaborative, center-wide learning environment

• Supportive, close-knit team in a small center setting with only 33 children total
• Paid training and onboarding support to set you up for success
• Paid holidays and scheduled center closures
• Opportunities for professional growth, training, and advancement
• Consistent team communication and strong leadership support
• Varied daily experience working across different classrooms and age groups
• Opportunity to build meaningful relationships with all children and staff in the center
• Collaborative, team-based environment where your input and ideas are valued
• Focus on work-life balance in a well-structured, respectful workplace
• A warm, nature-inspired environment that encourages creativity and hands-on learning