PlayGarden Preschool - Lead Teacher

Job Opportunity at the Seattle PlayGarden for 2025-2026 school year!

We are looking to hire a lead preschool teacher to join our Preschool team this Fall who has experience with children with disabilities, a background in early childhood education and who is excited about teaching a nature and play based curriculum and philosophy.

Position Title: Lead Preschool Teacher

Employment Dates: 2025-2026 school year, Sept. 2025 - June 5, 2025 with the possibility of extension.

Rate of Pay: $27-$30 per hour DOE and schedule + health benefit stipend of $535/ month if working over 20 hours/week.

Days/week: 2 or 3 days per week

Hours/week: 15-22 hours/week depending on schedule.

Shift hours: approx. 8am-2:30pm + additional weekly hours allotted for teacher planning, preparation and parent/staff communication.

Supervisor: Executive Director

About PlayGarden Preschool: The Seattle PlayGarden is a private non-profit, operating in a public park with accommodating play spaces and inclusive, year-round programs for children, youth and adults with disabilities. Now in our 15th year, PlayGarden Preschool offers families a developmentally appropriate, fully inclusive, equity-based, outdoor preschool experience. We serve children ages 3-6 with and without disabilities in our one acre PlayGarden. Preschool curriculum is founded on the core principles of full inclusion, exploration of the natural world, and play based education.

Job tasks:

• Teach and develop culturally responsive and nature and play-based curriculum, lesson plans, and activities that support the cognitive, social, emotional, and physical development of 3-6 year olds for a class of 15 children of all abilities.
• Create a welcoming, safe, inclusive environment for all children and families in the Preschool program.
• Supervise and work alongside our team of teacher's assistants and as part of the whole preschool team.
• Assist in all daily setup and clean up of the classroom, program spaces and garden.
• Establish a close relationship with parents through daily, weekly, and monthly communication; regular meetings and phone calls and parent conferences; and regular family events during and outside of class time.
  • Produce a monthly newsletter for parents with upcoming lesson themes, special events/dates.
  • Communicate with parents regularly about achievements, growth, behavioral challenges, and goals of the students.
  • Develop and implement on-going evaluation methods designed to aid in the creation of individualized growth plans for each student that can be shared with parents.
• Communicate with outside professionals in connection with student education plans including support with student IEPs, existing and emergent therapy goals and assist with any school referrals.
• Maintain clear communication with fellow staff, students, and their families to achieve common goals and avoid potential conflicts, including working closely with supported employment job coaches and adult employees with disabilities.
• Document the learning and development that occurs in the classroom using a variety of methods for both internal and external use.
• Ensure the health, safety and well-being of all students through daily check-ins with students and large group management skills
• Plan and help prepare healthy meals and snacks

Job Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education, Special Education, Environmental Education, or a related field. Education can substitute for experience and visa versa. A Masters degree is highly desired, but not required.
• Teaching experience with children with disabilities, strong disability awareness and understanding of the practice of full inclusion.
• Understanding of cultural competency in the context of early childhood education.
• Comfortable working outdoors, around animals, in all weather conditions and supporting employees to complete physical tasks around the garden and classroom.
• Self-directed and can work independently.
• Comfortable engaging in collaborative and creative problem solving with our team of staff including being able to: constructively give and thoughtfully receive feedback, effectively mentor, train and manage team of teachers assistants and maintain a sense of calm as unforeseen situations arise.
• Strong planning, organizing, and time-management skills.
• Ability to stand, stoop, bend, and sit for 15-20 minutes at a time.
• Ability to lift and carry up to 25 pounds.
• Exceptional verbal, written, and interpersonal skills.
• Has an understanding of how to:
  • Lead group activities that cover a variety of types of play for 15 children at a time- including circle times, art experiences, big-body play, imaginative play, risky play, creative play. Etc.
  • Cook simple meals (quesadillas, pasta, simple baked goods)
  • Clean and organize materials (wash dishes, fold laundry, organize art supplies)
  • Basic awareness of garden maintenance (sweeping, mowing, raking)
• Proficient in word processing and Google Drive applications
• High school diploma or GED
• Ability to pass a Washington State background check
• Current First Aid certification
• Current Pediatric CPR certification
• Ability to pass a Washington State background check

Additional Benefits

• Health benefit stipend to be used at your discretion of $535/ month if working over 20 hours/week.
• 10 paid days off (PTO) used at employee discretion across the year
• Additional time off during school program breaks (we follow the Seattle Public Schools calendar in regards to significant school breaks like Winter, Mid-Winter and Spring Breaks)
• Possibility of summer employment in our Summer Camp Program

To apply: Review the job description and learn about our Preschool program on our website. Send a cover letter, application & resume to our Executive Director, Liz Bullard at liz@seattleplaygarden.org sharing your interest in the position and relevant work, volunteer and life experience. Apply by May 23. Interviews begin May 27th.

Equal Opportunity Employer The Seattle Children’s PlayGarden is an Equal Opportunity Employer and welcomes applications for posted positions from qualified individuals without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, pregnancy, marital status, amnesty, or status as a covered veteran in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws. We encourage diverse applicants to apply because we believe having a staff that authentically reflects the communities we serve is a critical step in creating the inclusive world we envision.