Early Childhood Toddler Teacher

EARLY CHILDHOOD TODDLER TEACHER

Hawken School is committed to doing school differently and better. We seek to create an inclusive and accepting community where adults are empowered to design educational experiences for students that are deep and learner-centered. Hawken School seeks culturally-competent teachers, administrators, and staff members who are committed to equity and social justice, who are comfortable taking risks, and who embrace a growth mindset. We are constantly looking for new ways to inspire student curiosity and agency while remaining dedicated to nurturing compassion and kindness in our students. 

THE POSITION 

Hawken School is seeking an experienced, thoughtful, and caring educator with a passion for working with toddlers, 18 months to 3 years. The ideal candidate is a dynamic, reflective professional who thrives in a collaborative, team-oriented environment, working alongside thoughtful and dedicated colleagues. 

Successful candidates will demonstrate a strong understanding of early childhood development and a commitment to creating joyful, engaging learning experiences grounded in a child-centered approach. They will bring warmth, curiosity, and professionalism to their work, along with a deep respect for the individuality and developmental needs of each child. Equally important is a commitment to building positive, respectful partnerships with families. 

While not required, experience with approaches such as Reggio Emilia, Conscious Discipline, and/or Resources for Infant Educarers (R.I.E.) are especially valued. Familiarity with these frameworks aligns with our commitment to supporting social-emotional development, fostering meaningful relationships, and creating responsive learning environments. Candidates who bring experience or interest in these practices will find opportunities to collaborate with colleagues who value thoughtful, reflective teaching within our program. 

ESSENTIAL DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES 

• Demonstrate professionalism and reflective practice while maintaining a child-centered, relationship-based approach to teaching and caregiving
• Collaborate with a co-teacher to provide relationship-focused care, including sensitive observation and the planning of developmentally-appropriate classroom provocations across all domains of learning as set forth in the Ohio Early Learning Standards
• Communicate respectfully, clearly, and in a timely manner with families, colleagues, support staff, and administrators to foster a collaborative school community
• Provide attentive, respectful caregiving during daily routines including diapering and toileting, meals, rest time, and dressing, using these moments as opportunities for connection, language development, and the fostering of independence
• Serve as an active member of the teaching team, collaborating to develop and implement classroom curriculum while observing, documenting, and reflecting on children’s growth and development
• Cultivate a caring, inclusive, and engaging classroom environment where social-emotional learning and the school’s commitments to diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice are central to daily practice
• Prepare classroom materials and maintain a clean, safe, and thoughtfully organized learning environment that supports exploration and independence
• Maintain accurate daily records of children’s care routines and developmental progress
• Participate fully in the professional life of the school through weekly team meetings, faculty meetings, professional development opportunities, and school events
• Prepare for and participate in family-teacher conferences according to the school’s conference cycle (typically three to four times per year), partnering with families to support each child’s development
• Contribute to the broader life of the school by supporting additional responsibilities as assigned by the Director or Head of School, including professional development days, admissions events, and community programs

QUALIFICATIONS 

• A minimum of a Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education or a related field is required
• Experience with R.I.E., Conscious Discipline, or similar social-emotional learning frameworks preferred
• Demonstrated competence in early childhood pedagogy, including curriculum development, inquiry-based learning, and developmentally appropriate practice
• Exceptional understanding of the developmental needs of early childhood learners and toddler development
• Joyful enthusiasm, creativity, flexibility, good humor, and a team spirit necessary for working within a dynamic team serving toddlers individually and in groups
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with demonstrated experience building collaborative relationships with colleagues and families
• Commitment to contributing positively to a collaborative school community and to the broader life of the school
• Demonstrated ability to reflect on teaching practice and engage in ongoing professional growth
• Experience documenting and making student learning visible through observation, reflection, and classroom documentation

HAWKEN CANDIDATE COMPETENCIES 

Mission, Culture, and Philosophy Alignment: Successful candidates show they can thrive at Hawken and are highly motivated by the school’s mission. 

Fair Play: Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Justice: Successful candidates indicate a commitment to and have experience with serving students and communities equitably. 

Relationship Building and Cultivation: Successful candidates show they can build relationships throughout the Hawken community. 

Content Knowledge: Successful candidates demonstrate depth in content area knowledge as well as an ability to inspire students to a high level of excellence and challenge and take a student-centered approach to all aspects of their work. 

Humility and Growth Mindset: Successful candidates are eager to learn new approaches and methods and be able to team effectively with others. 

Approach to Work: Successful candidates show initiative and agency with a commitment toward feedback and flexible problem-solving. 

THE SCHOOL 

Founded on the ideal that “the better self shall prevail and each generation introduce its successor to a higher plane of life,” Hawken School is a coeducational independent day school with 1,600 students in toddler through grade 12. Our four campuses are located within 25 minutes of downtown Cleveland, and an urban extension center in the city’s museum district provides a demanding and integrated course of study in a diverse and dynamic environment. To learn more about us, visit www.hawken.edu.

HOW TO APPLY 

Submit an employment application through this link. Address your cover letter to Lisa Borowy, Director of Early Childhood. 

Hawken School is an equal-opportunity employer dedicated to promoting all forms of diversity in the workplace and in our student body. We strongly urge all qualified individuals to apply.