Location: Richmond, VA
Job Category:  Full-time, Faculty and Instructional Staff
Classification: Exempt
Department: Preschool

POSITION DESCRIPTION

Sabot School, a progressive preschool–Grade 8 school in Richmond and a leader in the Reggio Emilia Approach®, seeks a Preschool Co-Teacher-Researcher.

This role supports instruction in a Preschool classroom,, through a collaborative, inquiry-based, and Reggio Emilia-inspired approach. Working as a co-teaching team, the Teacher-Researchers collaborate to facilitate a safe, inclusive, and engaging learning environment focused on the whole child.

Instruction is delivered through an emergent curriculum rooted in theReggio Emilia Approach™.  As a Teacher-Researcher, this position offers an opportunity to work in a deeply collaborative environment where teaching is viewed as an ongoing process of research, reflection, and relationship-building.

ESSENTIAL TASKS

• Collaborate with their Co-Teacher-Researcher to create an engaging classroom environment to include developmentally-appropriate experiences and activities based on the children’s interests;
• Collaborate with their Co-Teacher-Researcher and Atelieristas to guide inquiry-driven projects with a focus on fostering student curiosity and joy of learning; 
• Build and maintain positive, collaborative relationships with students, families, colleagues, and community partners, promoting equity, inclusion, and a strong sense of belonging;
• Support classroom management and student well-being through supervision, proactive engagement, clear expectations, and respectful communication. 
• Demonstrate understanding of the Reggio Emilia Approach® or an eagerness to learn about the approach. 
• Co-teach in a respectful, collaborative partnership with a Lead Teacher-Researcher.
• Support an emergent curriculum and student-centered learning.
• Demonstrate familiarity with child development and supporting children’s social-emotional growth.
• Engage in ongoing professional reflection and growth.
• Support a diverse community of learners with cultural responsiveness and humility.
• Ensure compliance with Preschool licensing requirements
• Assist children with activities of daily living, including restroom needs, mobility, and rest time.
• Participates in school-wide service responsibilities including conferences, meetings, events, field trips, and admissions activities and events, including occasional evening or weekend commitments;

QUALIFICATIONS

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE

• Education: Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in Education or a related field.
• Experience: Prior experience working with elementary-age children, ideally within a classroom or school-based setting—and preferably in a progressive or Reggio Emilia-inspired environment.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

Must be able to successfully pass a background check.

General Knowledge, Skills, And Abilities:

• Willingness to participate fully in a dynamic day school environment in Richmond, Virginia.
• Demonstrates professionalism and serves as a role model by modeling honesty, accountability, understanding, tolerance, respect, love, and kindness for students.
• Develops and maintains professional, collaborative, and collegial relationships with faculty, staff, and community partners for the benefit of students and classes.
• Demonstrates professionalism, engagement, and kindness toward all children and families, regardless of race, religion, nationality, abilities, familial status, gender identity, or gender expression.
• Exhibits excellent communication skills, both oral and written.
• Establishes effective communication and relationships with students and parents.
• Displays curiosity, a positive attitude, flexibility, and a good sense of humor.
• Demonstrates creativity and flexibility in teaching practices, with a growth mindset toward professional goals and development.
• Guides students in discovery and understanding, fostering the development of reflective thinking and problem-solving skills.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• Ability to stand, walk, and move around for extended periods during supervision and activities, both indoors and outdoors.
• Ability to lift and carry materials or equipment weighing up to 15 lbs.
• Capability to walk up and down two flights of stairs.
• Ability to respond promptly to emergencies, which may involve running, lifting, or assisting children to safety.
• Alertness and ability to supervise children during physical activities, such as outdoor play, while ensuring a safe environment.

TO APPLY:

Interested candidates should click the link on the right to submit the following materials. Be sure to list the position in the "position applying for" field.

• Letter of interest
• Resume
• Contact information for three professional references

About Sabot School

Sabot School was founded in 2007 through the merger of Sabot School and Stony Point School, bringing together both an innovative early childhood program and a Pre-K through 8th grade program. Sabot has fully embraced the Reggio Emilia Approach throughout its program from preschool through the eighth grade. At Sabot, children are seen as capable thinkers and theorists. Working together, students research and come to understand themselves and their world in a deeper way. As articulated in the mission statement of Sabot, it is a school designed to sustain children’s quest for meaning and understanding, harness the power of their theories and ideas, and guide their inquiry and research. Sabot provides the resources and support for teachers and students to research, represent, and reflect together, in relationship, on challenging problems with curiosity, creativity, imagination and innovation. Students maintain their individuality while working together in community, celebrating each student’s unique gifts and talents. The historic campus in south Richmond celebrates its natural beauty which adjoins the 106 acre Larus Park, providing a unique location for innovation, discovery and learning.

Connections working at Sabot School