Preschool Assistant Teacher
leila day nurseries inc · New Haven, CT
FULL-TIME
Posted Sep 9, 2026
Job Description
About This Role
Title: Preschool Assistant Teacher
Type: Full time, Non-exempt
Salary: $19-23/hour
Schedule: Monday–Friday, 8 hours per day, for the 10-month school year (late August–early June)
Additional Work Opportunities: Substitute shifts may be available based on school needs and employee interest.
About Leila Day
Leila Day is a progressive, play-based, nature-centered school where childhood is honored. We innovate and build on the best traditions and practices of progressive, early childhood education. We believe in teaching and learning grounded in caring relationships, filled with joyful, learning adventures, and powered by the creativity of children at play. Teachers plan learning experiences around the needs and interests of the children and the opportunities provided by the natural world and our multicultural community.
Our indoor and outdoor classrooms encourage children to explore, wonder, learn, and grow. Located beside East Rock Park in New Haven, we use the woods, trails, streams, and surrounding neighborhood as an extension of the classroom.
What You'll Do
Position Summary
Leila Day is seeking a full-time Assistant Teacher to join our preschool teaching team and work alongside Co/Lead Teachers with children ages 3–4. The Assistant Teacher plays an essential role in creating a warm, engaging, and inclusive classroom community where children feel known, supported, and empowered to explore through play.
Working collaboratively with the teaching team, the Assistant Teacher helps implement an emergent, child-centered curriculum grounded in children's interests, caring relationships, and hands-on experiences. The role includes supporting children's play and learning, helping with daily routines and classroom responsibilities, and contributing to a learning environment that extends naturally between indoor and outdoor spaces.
We are looking for a thoughtful, energetic, and collaborative educator who enjoys being actively engaged with young children and is excited to learn and grow within a progressive, nature-centered school community.
Responsibilities
- Foster a warm, welcoming, inclusive, and developmentally appropriate classroom environment where children feel safe, known, and encouraged to explore and learn through play.
- Work collaboratively with Co/Lead Teachers to plan, implement, observe, and document an emergent, child-centered curriculum that responds to children's interests, developmental needs, and the opportunities offered by the natural world.
- Engage actively with children throughout the day, facilitating play, extending children's thinking and exploration, and building caring, respectful relationships with individual children and the group.
- Support children's social-emotional development and growing independence by modeling empathy, patience, respect, and positive communication, and by helping children navigate conflicts, challenges, and everyday classroom experiences.
- Support and affirm each child's cultural background, language, identity, interests, and individual learning style while contributing to an equitable and inclusive classroom community.
- Carry out daily classroom routines and procedures in collaboration with Co/Lead Teachers, including transitions, group activities, meals, rest, toileting, and outdoor time, while responding thoughtfully to children's varying needs.
- Help maintain a safe, orderly, engaging learning environment by preparing materials, setting up and cleaning up activities, organizing classroom spaces, and caring for classroom resources.
- Participate fully in indoor and outdoor learning experiences, helping children engage safely and confidently with nature, materials, and their surroundings in all weather.
Requirements
Qualifications
We are seeking someone who is:
- Experienced working with children ages 3–9
- Passionate about outdoor education and emergent curriculum
- Collaborative, organized, dependable, and joyful
- Comfortable leading children outdoors in all weather
- Interested in multicultural education and culturally responsive teaching
- Excited to contribute to a progressive, arts-rich school community
-
Education & Experience
- At least 20 years of age.
- Minimum one year of experience working with children in a child care or school setting.
- Associate degree or equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.
-
Physical, Health & Safety Requirements
- Meet all Connecticut state requirements and Leila Day policies regarding immunizations, physical examinations, and required health and safety training, including CPR, First Aid, and Administration of Medication.
- Ability to participate fully in the physical activities of the classroom, including lifting, moving, or holding children weighing approximately 20–60 pounds, as well as walking, squatting, climbing, and sitting on the floor.
- Ability and willingness to spend up to approximately three hours outdoors each day in a variety of weather conditions.
- Ability to maintain physical and mental alertness throughout the school day, sustain an appropriate level of energy, and respond quickly and appropriately to emergencies or unexpected situations.
Nice To Haves
Preferred
- Degree or coursework in early childhood education, education, child development, or a related field
- Early Childhood Education (ECE) credits
- Experience with play-based, emergent, or child-centered curriculum
- Experience working with mixed-age groups
- Experience supporting multicultural and inclusive learning environments
- Experience or skills in outdoor education, gardening, environmental education, science, or naturalist education
Benefits
- Health Insurance
- Dental Insurance
- Vision Insurance
- Life Insurance
- Sick Leave
- Competitive salary
- Holiday pay
- Medical, dental, and vision insurance
- 401(k) retirement plan with employer matching contributions available after two years of service
About Us
Leila Day is an accredited, nonprofit child care center serving children of working families from diverse economic, racial and cultural backgrounds from New Haven and surrounding towns. In operation since 1878, this celebrated program's mission is to foster children's social, emotional, intellectual and physical development within a warm and nurturing environment built on sound
principles of child development. Leila Day emphasizes nature and outdoor education. The children and teachers spend time learning outside every day.
Title: Preschool Assistant Teacher
Type: Full time, Non-exempt
Salary: $19-23/hour
Schedule: Monday–Friday, 8 hours per day, for the 10-month school year (late August–early June)
Additional Work Opportunities: Substitute shifts may be available based on school needs and employee interest.
About Leila Day
Leila Day is a progressive, play-based, nature-centered school where childhood is honored. We innovate and build on the best traditions and practices of progressive, early childhood education. We believe in teaching and learning grounded in caring relationships, filled with joyful, learning adventures, and powered by the creativity of children at play. Teachers plan learning experiences around the needs and interests of the children and the opportunities provided by the natural world and our multicultural community.
Our indoor and outdoor classrooms encourage children to explore, wonder, learn, and grow. Located beside East Rock Park in New Haven, we use the woods, trails, streams, and surrounding neighborhood as an extension of the classroom.
What You'll Do
Position Summary
Leila Day is seeking a full-time Assistant Teacher to join our preschool teaching team and work alongside Co/Lead Teachers with children ages 3–4. The Assistant Teacher plays an essential role in creating a warm, engaging, and inclusive classroom community where children feel known, supported, and empowered to explore through play.
Working collaboratively with the teaching team, the Assistant Teacher helps implement an emergent, child-centered curriculum grounded in children's interests, caring relationships, and hands-on experiences. The role includes supporting children's play and learning, helping with daily routines and classroom responsibilities, and contributing to a learning environment that extends naturally between indoor and outdoor spaces.
We are looking for a thoughtful, energetic, and collaborative educator who enjoys being actively engaged with young children and is excited to learn and grow within a progressive, nature-centered school community.
Responsibilities
- Foster a warm, welcoming, inclusive, and developmentally appropriate classroom environment where children feel safe, known, and encouraged to explore and learn through play.
- Work collaboratively with Co/Lead Teachers to plan, implement, observe, and document an emergent, child-centered curriculum that responds to children's interests, developmental needs, and the opportunities offered by the natural world.
- Engage actively with children throughout the day, facilitating play, extending children's thinking and exploration, and building caring, respectful relationships with individual children and the group.
- Support children's social-emotional development and growing independence by modeling empathy, patience, respect, and positive communication, and by helping children navigate conflicts, challenges, and everyday classroom experiences.
- Support and affirm each child's cultural background, language, identity, interests, and individual learning style while contributing to an equitable and inclusive classroom community.
- Carry out daily classroom routines and procedures in collaboration with Co/Lead Teachers, including transitions, group activities, meals, rest, toileting, and outdoor time, while responding thoughtfully to children's varying needs.
- Help maintain a safe, orderly, engaging learning environment by preparing materials, setting up and cleaning up activities, organizing classroom spaces, and caring for classroom resources.
- Participate fully in indoor and outdoor learning experiences, helping children engage safely and confidently with nature, materials, and their surroundings in all weather.
Requirements
Qualifications
We are seeking someone who is:
- Experienced working with children ages 3–9
- Passionate about outdoor education and emergent curriculum
- Collaborative, organized, dependable, and joyful
- Comfortable leading children outdoors in all weather
- Interested in multicultural education and culturally responsive teaching
- Excited to contribute to a progressive, arts-rich school community
-
Education & Experience
- At least 20 years of age.
- Minimum one year of experience working with children in a child care or school setting.
- Associate degree or equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.
-
Physical, Health & Safety Requirements
- Meet all Connecticut state requirements and Leila Day policies regarding immunizations, physical examinations, and required health and safety training, including CPR, First Aid, and Administration of Medication.
- Ability to participate fully in the physical activities of the classroom, including lifting, moving, or holding children weighing approximately 20–60 pounds, as well as walking, squatting, climbing, and sitting on the floor.
- Ability and willingness to spend up to approximately three hours outdoors each day in a variety of weather conditions.
- Ability to maintain physical and mental alertness throughout the school day, sustain an appropriate level of energy, and respond quickly and appropriately to emergencies or unexpected situations.
Nice To Haves
Preferred
- Degree or coursework in early childhood education, education, child development, or a related field
- Early Childhood Education (ECE) credits
- Experience with play-based, emergent, or child-centered curriculum
- Experience working with mixed-age groups
- Experience supporting multicultural and inclusive learning environments
- Experience or skills in outdoor education, gardening, environmental education, science, or naturalist education
Benefits
- Health Insurance
- Dental Insurance
- Vision Insurance
- Life Insurance
- Sick Leave
- Competitive salary
- Holiday pay
- Medical, dental, and vision insurance
- 401(k) retirement plan with employer matching contributions available after two years of service
About Us
Leila Day is an accredited, nonprofit child care center serving children of working families from diverse economic, racial and cultural backgrounds from New Haven and surrounding towns. In operation since 1878, this celebrated program's mission is to foster children's social, emotional, intellectual and physical development within a warm and nurturing environment built on sound
principles of child development. Leila Day emphasizes nature and outdoor education. The children and teachers spend time learning outside every day.
Benefits
- Health Insurance
- Dental Insurance
Additional Details
- City
- New Haven
- State
- Connecticut
- Country
- US
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