Nature Nursery Lead Teacher

Friends’ Central School Overview

Friends’ Central School is an independent, coeducational Quaker day school founded in 1845 and serving approximately 880 students in Nursery through grade 12. Located in the Philadelphia suburbs, the School has two campuses. The Middle & Upper Schools are located just outside of West Philadelphia in Wynnewood, and the Lower School is on our Old Gulph Road campus in the heart of Wynnewood. The Lower School, which is grades Nursery through Fifth Grade, has approximately 285 students. 

The exceptional faculty at Friends’ Central offers a curriculum that cultivates the intellectual, spiritual, and ethical growth of our students. Our pedagogy is grounded in continuing revelation, reflection, and integrity. From Nursery to Grade 12, our students participate in a process designed to foster creative, critical, and flexible thinking, along with compassion. As they transform from playful children to skilled, self-possessed teenagers, they are intellectually curious and engaged thinkers. Friends’ Central prepares graduates to succeed in college and in life. 

Lower School Nursery Lead Teacher

Our Nature Nursery is a magical place where important lessons about sharing, friendship, math, art, science, and reading happen in the context of the woods, gardens, pond, stream, fields, and classrooms of our beautiful 18-acre campus. Highly qualified teachers guide our youngest students, beginning at age 2 years and 7 months, through their first steps in the Friends’ Central School community. Nursery students play on their own playground and take “field trips” to explore and learn from different facets of our campus. Learning thematically with an integrated approach to language arts, math, and social studies takes place both in the classroom and outdoors, where an exploration of the natural world – including seed germination, planting, harvesting, and eating vegetables – helps children improve their fine-motor skills and make connections across the curriculum. At Nature Nursery, 70 percent of the learning happens outside. Spread across the week are the “specials,” which include science, art, music, library, and Spanish, as well as “gym & jam,” where students explore the gym and its equipment to a background of music. 

Friends’ Central School seeks a Lower School Nursery Lead Teacher for a full-time position beginning in August 2026. Ideal candidates will demonstrate knowledge of and experience in hands-on and integrated learning; be highly motivated, hard-working, collaborative, and flexible; demonstrate a desire to learn; show initiative; and have a sense of humor. This position is a 10-month, exempt position and will be under the supervision of the Lower School Principal.

In addition to having the required professional and educational background, we seek an enthusiastic, energetic candidate.

Essential functions of the role include:

• Taking the lead on all curricular areas for their classroom, including literacy, math, and Social Studies 
• Collaborating with grade team and Lower School specialists to integrate curriculum and support student success 
• Partnering with the Student Support Team and outside support providers as necessary to promote student success 
• Having an understanding of how to teach thematically and partnering with resources and experts on campus, including the Light Lab Director, to bring thematic teaching to life 
• Building community within the classroom and demonstrating clear and affirming classroom management 
• Developing positive working relationships with students 
• Supervising students during snack, lunch and all outdoor activities 
• Supervising and assisting students with transitions throughout the day and student personal needs (bathroom, etc.)
• Participating in Lower School committee work
• Communicating meaningfully to families on a regular basis so they have a window into the classroom and understand their child’s achievement and growth 
• Crafting thoughtful portfolio and conducting thorough parent conference in the fall and spring for each student 
• Demonstrating a commitment to diversity and inclusivity 
• Understanding and being committed to the School’s Quaker values and mission

• Participating in extra duties either before or after school as needed; other duties as assigned

Physical requirements:

Our Nature Nursery Program spends most of its time outdoors. This position requires candidates to do extensive amounts of walking outside, in addition to being outdoors in every type of weather, including the cold and rain. This role also requires carrying supplies outdoors and around campus, helping children physically navigate the space and terrain of campus, and being able to pick children up, if necessary. 

• At least 3-5 years of teaching at the elementary level
• Bachelor’s degree in a related field (advanced degree preferred)
• A passion for teaching and learning and working with elementary school students
• Demonstrated knowledge of current research around teaching and learning

Please apply here. The application will ask for a resume, cover letter, and three professional references. All applications should be completed by May 15, 2026.

Friends’ Central School seeks candidates with a commitment to fostering an inclusive learning community, who will address issues of diversity, as well as enhance the Philosophy of Inclusivity and Awareness articulated in our Diversity Statement.