Pre-K Lead Teacher

Uncommon Schools is a nonprofit network of high-performing public charter schools dedicated to providing an exceptional K-12 education in economically disadvantaged communities. Operating in Boston, Camden, New York City, Newark, and Rochester, we are committed to closing the college completion gap and preparing every student for college and beyond. Our students consistently exceed national benchmarks, reflecting our dedication to their success. With over 70% of our staff identifying as people of color, we exemplify diversity, equity, and inclusion. We invest deeply in our educators, offering weekly coaching, feedback, and professional development to ensure excellence in teaching and leadership. Join us to work hard, do good, and make a lasting difference

Uncommon Pre-K Teachers cultivate a love for learning in every student from the very start. Our teachers and students engage in a learning environment that fosters curiosity, achievement, respect, and empathy (CARE). Our classrooms are engaging, intentional and playful.  We have built a community where teachers encourage our core values of respect and hard work while celebrating the uniqueness of each student and laying the academic foundations that carry students to and through college. Our classrooms are led by teaching teams that consist of a lead teacher and apprentice teacher.

Responsibilities

• Instruction

• You’ll co-teach and build an engaging and joyful classroom environment that encourages mastery and empowers students to learn through exploration and purposeful play.
•  You’ll teach literacy (reading comprehension, phonics, language development, vocabulary, and writing), mathematics, core knowledge (science and social studies).
• The teaching team (lead & apprentice teachers) work together to facilitate our free-choice centers and small group instruction.

Data Analysis

• You'll meet weekly with your director to analyze and respond to trends in student work samples and assessments.
•  You'll learn and implement strategies to differentiate instruction for all learners in your classroom.

Classroom Culture

• Implement instructional model and collaborate with instructional coach/director to ensure students are achieving academic goals
• Use multiple data sources (assessments, classroom quality observations, and other data collections) to make day-by-day decisions about instruction (reflective) 
• Provide early-learning experiences that contribute to children’s positive feelings about school, teachers, and their communities (nurturing)
• Support children’s development across social-emotional, physical, cognitive, and academic competencies (balanced)
• Apply a variety of strategies to promote both concept and skill development
• Provide modeling and support for children’s expressive and receptive language throughout the school day.

School Culture

• You’ll build positive relationships with students to ensure they feel seen, loved, and heard.
• You’ll partner with students’ families to ensure appropriate resources are available to support their children’s learning needs.
• You'll engage in practice-based professional development, mentorship, and coaching sessions.
• You’ll support morning arrival, lunch duty, student assemblies, class transitions, and after-school dismissal.
• You'll participate in weekly, school-wide meetings to foster community, model our core values, and encourage student achievement.
• You'll partner with your teaching partner and grade level team to develop academic goals and practice instructional strategies.

• A commitment to the mission of Uncommon Schools and investment in our vision for being an anti-racist organization
• A demonstrated commitment to supporting students’ social emotional and academic development
• An enthusiasm for working with families in the best interest of students
• A self-directed learner who solicits and implements feedback to improve outcomes and achieve objectives

Required Experience

• A demonstrated interest in impacting pre-K-12 students in urban schools and communities (1-2 years experience preferred).
• Academic expertise in early childhood education.
•  Prior to the start of employment, you must have a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university. Certification is not required to be hired at Uncommon, but you do need to meet NY state certification eligibility requirements. 
  1. To meet these requirements, you must enroll in a teacher preparation program and maintain a GPA of 2.75 or higher during your employment with us if you do not have a degree in education. 
  2. Uncommon Schools teachers are required to become certified in the state of New York within a reasonable period after beginning employment.

Our people are what make us Uncommon. We offer competitive compensation and comprehensive benefits that support the personal health, wellness, and finances of our staff and their families. Our compensation philosophy values equity & fairness and attracting & retaining top talent.

Compensation

Compensation for this role is between $72,000 to $115,000

Starting pay is determined using various factors including but not limited to relevant full-time teaching experience, education certifications, and tenure with Uncommon Schools. Candidates without full-time Teaching experience will likely have a starting salary of $72,000. 

* The range above represents our compensation scales for the 2025-2026 school year. If starting prior to June 30th, 2025, compensation will be based on a slightly lower range, reflective of current compensation scales. New hires who fall into this category will see an increase in their compensation starting on July 1st, 2025 for next school year which aligns to the scale above.

Benefits

• Generous paid time off inclusive of sick time, paid holidays, and 10 weeks of paid breaks (Spring, Winter, and Summer). 
• Extensive, best-in-class training and development  
• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance plans + pre-tax flexible spending (FSA), dependent care (DCFSA), and health saving accounts (HSA)
• Financial Planning
  • 403(b) retirement savings program + employer match
• Paid leave of absence options (parental, medical, disability, etc.)
• Mental health and counseling support + wellness benefits

*A detailed list of all benefits is located HERE.

Uncommon believes in the importance of being a diverse, equitable, and inclusive organization that enables our students and staff to thrive. We are committed to building an exceptional team that reflects the diverse backgrounds and experiences of our students. We also strive to ensure an inclusive community by creating a space for meaningful dialogue about issues of race and identity for our staff and students. As an equal opportunity employer, Uncommon provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. We also ensure that individuals with disabilities receive all privileges and benefits associated with employment and are provided reasonable accommodations for the interview process and to perform core job functions. If you would like to request an accommodation, please email [email protected].