Lower School Maternity Leave Preschool Assistant Teacher

Wilmington Friends School, a preschool to 12th grade Quaker, college preparatory, day school located in Wilmington, Delaware, enrolling approximately 700 students, seeks a full-time preschool assistant teacher for the rest of the 2024-2025 academic year. This position will extend from mid-May, 2025 until June 11th, 2025. We work to find the best match in regard to teaching experience and philosophy for each lead-assistant team. If interested, please send a cover letter, resume, and list of three references addressed to Chris Loeffler, Head of Lower School, to Linda Beard (lbeard@wilmingtonfriends.org) by January 31. We may set up interviews as soon as we receive materials for candidates of interest.

 

Beyond its fidelity to best practices related to early childhood education, our preschool is guided by Quaker values and the understanding that young children can and should be at the forefront of decisions about what and how they learn.  Our program emphasizes community and responsibility, with respect for each individual, through practices that encourage student-initiated exploration. In our program, students’ interests and questions help determine the course of the learning process, with the teacher as a partner. Opportunities for self-expression are frequent and varied, and student work is documented regularly. Our program encourages students to reflect on and inquire more deeply into what they are thinking and doing. An emphasis on play is at the heart of our early learning program.

 

The preschool classroom is designed to encourage creative thinking and collaboration, and there is a significant focus on building a learning community with a sense of mutual respect and responsibility. 

 

During the school day, assistant teachers support the work of lead teachers in many ways and are involved in virtually every aspect of classroom teaching. Over the course of the year, an assistant teacher is typically engaged in the following duties:

In addition to a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree, successful candidates usually have prior experience working with children, as well as coursework in early childhood education. Most important is the ability to work closely with another teacher in supporting children’s growth. A candidate must be flexible and willing to take on various challenges to succeed in this job. Candidates with diverse backgrounds, candidates committed to working on diversity, equity, and inclusion in education, and members of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) are particularly encouraged to apply.