A clear job description gets you more qualified applicants and fewer surprises after the hire. Copy the template below, fill in the bracketed parts, and adjust the requirements to match your state’s rules for lead and assistant teachers. Our guide to child care teacher requirements by state lists them for all 50 states.
Preschool teacher job description template
Job title: Lead Preschool Teacher, [age group, e.g., 3s or Pre-K]
Location: [School name], [City, State]
Schedule: [Full-time / part-time], [days and hours]
Pay: [$X to $Y per hour], based on education and experience
About us
[Two or three sentences on your school: your philosophy or curriculum, how many children you serve, and what makes it a good place to work.]
What you’ll do
- Plan and lead daily activities that follow [curriculum name] and support each child’s development
- Keep a safe, clean, and welcoming classroom that meets licensing standards
- Observe and document each child’s progress, and share updates with families
- Supervise children at all times and maintain required staff-to-child ratios
- Guide behavior with positive, age-appropriate strategies
- Work closely with your assistant teacher and the director
- Complete required annual training hours
What you’ll need
- Meets [State] qualifications for a lead teacher
- [CDA credential / associate or bachelor’s degree in early childhood education] preferred
- [1+ year] of experience working with young children in a group setting
- Current CPR and first aid certification, or willingness to get certified
- Able to meet state-required background check and health screening requirements
- Able to lift up to [40] pounds, sit on the floor, and keep up with active children
Benefits
- [Paid time off and paid holidays]
- [Health, dental, and vision insurance]
- [Child care tuition discount]
- [Paid training, CDA sponsorship, or tuition reimbursement]
How to apply: [Apply link or email]
How to make this template work harder
- List the pay range. Ads with pay listed get more applicants, and some states require pay ranges in job postings.
- Lead with what’s different. A tuition discount, small class sizes, or a planning period can be the reason a teacher picks you.
- Be specific about the age group. Infant teachers and Pre-K teachers search for different things.
- Keep the requirements honest. List your state minimum as required and anything extra as preferred, so you don’t scare off good assistants ready to step up.
For more ways to get applicants, see how to write a daycare job ad that gets applicants.
