The fastest way to find preschool teachers is to start in your own community, then post online and respond to applicants faster than anyone else. Here is the order that works for the early childhood education (ECE) schools we recruit for.
Introduction
The fastest way to find preschool teachers is to start in your own community, then post online and respond to applicants faster than anyone else. Here is the order that works for the early childhood education (ECE) schools we recruit for.
Your best candidates are often one or two people away from your school. Before you spend money on job ads, work the people who already know you.
Your teachers know other teachers. Offer a referral bonus paid after the new hire’s first 90 days, and remind staff about it often, since most people forget a bonus exists until someone mentions it.
Parents know your school well, and many know someone who would be a great fit: a friend between jobs, a relative finishing a degree, a former nanny. Some parents may even want to work with you. Mention open roles in your family newsletter and at pickup.
Post flyers at coffee shops, libraries, places of worship, gyms, and community college bulletin boards. Add a QR code that links straight to your application so people can apply from their phone on the spot.
If your community network hasn’t filled the role, it’s time to post online.
Indeed is where most preschool teachers search for jobs. Post every open role there with the pay range, schedule, and age group in the ad.
Free postings sink quickly under sponsored ones. Paying to boost (sponsor) an ad keeps it near the top of search results. Start with a modest daily budget on your hardest-to-fill role and adjust based on applicant flow.
This is where most schools lose good candidates. Job boards make applying nearly effortless, so one teacher might apply to 10 schools in an afternoon. Some schools now use AI tools or dedicated recruiters to reach applicants within minutes. If you wait a few days to call back, that teacher has likely interviewed somewhere else.
Aim to call or text every qualified applicant the same day they apply, and never later than one business day.
Offer an interview within a few days of the first call. A short classroom observation tells you more than a long sit-down interview. When you find the right person, make the offer that week.
A strong job ad helps too. See our guide to writing a daycare job ad that gets applicants.
Teachers apply to several schools at once. The school that calls first usually gets the interview.
Hire Up Recruiting is a daycare recruiting agency that works only in early childhood education. We write, post, and pay for job ads, screen candidates by phone, and send you resumes with recruiter notes so you only interview qualified people. Every interested candidate hears from us within one business day.
Book a call with our team to talk through your open roles.
Share this post
Trusted by
