The Co-op School was founded in 2003 by a group of parents who saw the need for a high-quality and affordable preschool option in the Clinton Hill and Fort Greene neighborhoods. Since then, the Co-op School has matured from a small, parent-run playgroup to a fully staffed and licensed non-profit school.

After residing in two prior homes in Clinton Hill, The Co-op School moved into 87 Irving Place in the fall of 2009. In 2011, The Co-op School launched the first kindergarten class of its elementary program at 40 Brevoort Place. In 2019, we opened our doors at 644 Gates Avenue in the Bedford Stuyvesant neighborhood—in a 3,500-square-foot building with a double-height gym, a rooftop library, and two playgrounds—housing our preschool, lower school, and middle school students under one roof.

OUR MISSION

The mission of The Co-op School is to inspire passion and teach children to become protagonists in their own educational journey by fostering their innate sense of curiosity and creativity. The Co-op School facilitates joyful learning through a unique and rigorous constructivist approach that listens to and honors the individual interests and strengths of each child. The Co-op School doesn’t just belong to the students and educators but extends to the family community as a whole. It belongs to those who participate in it and is a more resilient and creative place because of it.

JOB SUMMARY

The Co-op School values and respects classroom teachers as the central person in the process of educating children. The most important part of the teacher’s job is directly related to the instruction of students; however, other responsibilities are also essential. The teacher’s relationships with students, colleagues, and the community are of major importance. 

Assistant Teachers share with the Head Teacher the task of maintaining and organizing materials and preparing for the week's lessons.  Assistant Teachers also spend a great deal of time helping their students with classwork and projects, as well as facilitating social interactions between students. All Assistants have opportunities to teach small and large group lessons alone or with the assistance of the Head Teacher.  Assistants partake in the planning of the curriculum for the week or the month and have the opportunity to plan and execute their own unit of study at some point during the year. While communicating with parents and guardians via email, telephone, or in-person is usually the responsibility of the Head Teacher, they should also be included in family communication. Assistants participate in parent conferences and contribute to the writing of student reports.  Assistant Teachers attend staff meetings, curriculum nights, teacher meetings, and planning after school one hour a week. 

Responsibilities (in collaboration with the lead teacher):  

Instructional Planning, Preparation, & Communication

• Working with the Division Head and Teachers to ensure The Co-op School’s mission and values are upheld inside and outside the classroom
• Working with the Division Head and Teachers to ensure that The Co-op School maintains a healthy and safe environment in which the children can learn, play, and grow
• Assisting in fostering an open forum of communication between the staff and Co-op parents and guardians
• Working with the Administration and Teachers to ensure that all families and children are warmly greeted during drop-off and pick-up times
• Implementing an age-appropriate curriculum that embodies social-emotional learning,  inquiry-based social studies, literacy and math skills
• Assisting Lead Teachers in prepping, implementing and planning lessons 
• Updating displays of current projects around the classroom 
• Working collaboratively with the Lead teacher to provide student observations 
• Documenting learning experiences and conversations among peers
• Supporting lead teacher with the student documentation process
• Working collaboratively with the lead teacher to provide data for developmental progress reports and narratives
• Assisting in class and behavior management of class
• Teaching class if the lead teacher is absent and the Division Head is unable to find a substitute

Professional Growth

• Participating in all professional development provided to the staff within or outside of the school
• Meeting weekly (1 hour after school)  with the head teacher to plan, update documentation and maintain a clean learning environment
• Attending monthly staff meetings, open house, curriculum night, professional development, and conferences (two to three times a year) 
• Meeting with the Division Head to discuss lesson planning and provide classroom updates
• Exhibiting willingness to participate in the development and implementation of new ideas and teaching techniques
• Engaging in activities that promote professional growth
• Working with the Division Head and colleagues to grow, practice, ask questions and work through lesson planning collaboratively 

Relationships with the School & Colleagues

The Co-op teachers are a part of the educational program in and about the building, including parent meetings, staff meetings, and teacher support. Teachers are expected to maintain a positive and supportive attitude in regard to the program. Teachers are also encouraged to establish and maintain harmonious and cooperative professional relationships with all staff members.

These roles include and are not limited to:

• Exhibiting a cooperative attitude toward students, parents/guardians community, and school personnel
• Sharing ideas and techniques for improving instruction with one another and the ability to accept and offer constructive criticism
• Collaborating and implementing projects, either in teams or in study groups
• Following the prescribed process for communication within the school system, daily Edsby checks and posts
• Responding to any emails in a timely fashion (within 24 hours)
• Working on classroom projects and supporting school events by attending when possible (i.e. Gala, Town Hall, Potluck, Book Fair, Open House, School Tours)

Relationships with Families 

• Always speaking about the school and co-staff in a positive and professional manner
• Welcoming and connecting at morning drop-off and pick up
• Fostering an open forum of communication between the staff and Co-op families

School Operations and Safe Environments

• Thoroughly cleaning and organizing classroom spaces
• Informing the Administration if there is a health and safety concern
• Maintaining personal belongings in communal areas (i.e. kitchen, lounge, multipurpose room) 

QUALIFICATIONS

• Passionate about working with children
• 2-3 years experience working with children, preferably working in a school setting
• Bachelor/Master degree required - Ideal candidate has or will have a degree in early childhood or elementary education
• Enthusiasm for the opportunities and challenges inherent in working with children
• A positive attitude and flexible approach.

Annual Salary:  The salary range for this position is $37,000 - $49,639; The position on the scale will be based on years of teaching experience and education.

Level: Full-Time Union Position

Start Date: November 2025

This Position reports directly to the Upper School Division Head

TO APPLY: 

• Send your resume to the Director of Human Resources, Evelyn@thecoopschool.org

The Co-op School COVID-19 Vaccination Policy:

We appreciate your interest in employment at The Co-op School. We would like to note that the School has a mandatory COVID-19 vaccination policy, which requires all faculty and staff to be fully vaccinated. Proof of vaccination is required.

The Co-op School is an equal opportunity employer. We prohibit discrimination against any employee or applicant for employment on the basis of race, creed, color, citizenship, national origin or ancestry, religion or religious practices, sex, age, marital status, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, prior arrest or conviction record, genetic predisposition or any other basis prohibited by federal, state, or local laws. Our policy extends to all employment practices including but not limited to, hiring, transfer, promotion, training, compensation, benefits, lay-offs, and termination.

About The Co-Op School

We are a progressive constructivist program that teaches to the individualities of every child and every unique classroom. The Co-op School models its curriculum based on these following beliefs: Joyful learning lays the foundation for lifelong learning and critical thinking. Creativity cannot exist without passion. Children learn best when they are invested in finding out the answers to their questions and when learning is embedded in meaningful contexts, which makes learning fun and engaging. It is important to us to educate the entire child on all levels: emotional, social, physical, and intellectual. Students work as a group and think as individuals, expressing feelings and contributing ideas peacefully and respectfully. Students will leave The Co-op School confident in their ability to effect change in the community and comfortable reflecting on ways to challenge and grow themselves. As creative problem solvers, each with unique viewpoints and learning styles, students will embrace the idea of a more equitable world. We strive to inspire passion and teach children to become protagonists in their own educational journey by fostering their innate sense of curiosity and creativity.

Connections working at The Co-Op School