About Us

21st Century Charter School at Gary is part of the GEO Academies network, delivering an innovative K–12 model focused on college and career readiness. As a tuition-free public charter school, we serve students from kindergarten through high school with a strong emphasis on academic excellence, early college opportunities, and career pathways.

Our Early Childhood program plays a critical role in building the foundation for lifelong learning. We are committed to ensuring that all students enter kindergarten with strong skills in literacy, numeracy, and social-emotional development.

Position Overview

The Pre-School (Pre-K) Teacher is responsible for creating a nurturing, developmentally appropriate learning environment that supports early childhood growth across cognitive, social-emotional, and physical domains. This role emphasizes kindergarten readiness, structured play-based learning, and strong family partnerships.

Reports To: Principal
Position Type: 10-month

Essential Responsibilities

• Plan and implement developmentally appropriate instruction aligned to Indiana Early Learning Standards
• Deliver a play-based, student-centered learning environment that promotes exploration, curiosity, and foundational skill development
• Build early literacy and numeracy skills through structured and guided activities
• Foster social-emotional development, including self-regulation, collaboration, and communication
• Create a safe, engaging, and inclusive classroom environment
• Monitor and assess student progress using age-appropriate tools and observational data
• Communicate regularly with families regarding student growth, development, and school readiness
• Partner with support staff (Special Education, interventionists, etc.) to meet diverse learner needs
• Establish clear routines, expectations, and positive behavior supports
• Participate in professional development, coaching cycles, and school events

Required:

• Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education or related field
• Valid Indiana teaching license in Early Childhood or Elementary (or ability to obtain)
• Knowledge of early childhood development and best instructional practices
• Strong classroom management and relationship-building skills
• Ability to integrate technology appropriately in early learning environments

Preferred:

• Experience teaching Pre-K or early elementary students
• Experience working in an urban or high-needs school setting
• Familiarity with play-based or blended learning models
• CDA (Child Development Associate) or Early Childhood endorsement