The Gardner School·Plymouth, Minnesota
Lead and inspire the classroom with creativity while mentoring assistant teachers to uphold core values. Build meaningful relationships with families and children while maintaining a safe, compliant, and joyful environment.
It's fun to work in a company where people truly BELIEVE in what they're doing!
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We're Hiring!
Join our team as a Lead Teacher at The Gardner School of Plymouth!
We have an exciting opportunity for a Lead Infant Teacher working in our State-of-the-Art facility.
At The Gardner School of Plymouth, we believe learning begins with love — for children, for teaching, and for making a difference.
Join our passionate, professional team in our state-of-the-art preschool, where your ideas are valued, your growth is supported, and your impact is celebrated every day.
What You’ll Do: Lead and inspire your classroom with creativity, care, and excellence Mentor assistant teachers and model The Gardner School’s core values: Children First, Trust, Innovation, and Make a Difference Build meaningful relationships with families and children Plan engaging, developmentally appropriate lessons that spark curiosity Maintain safety, compliance, and a joyful classroom environment
Competitive Pay: The starting pay range is $18.70-$23.10 per hour, based on education and experience Comprehensive Benefits: Health, dental, and vision insurance; paid time off; 401(k) with company match; childcare tuition discount; paid holidays; and professional development opportunities Career Growth: Ongoing professional development and training, opportunities for advancement within our growing organization, and a supportive, mission-driven culture.
Education/Certification: CDA or Associate's degree (required); Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education or related degree (preferred) Current CPR/First Aid certification (or willingness to obtain upon hire) Experience: 2+ years of early childhood education experience (lead or co-lead experience preferred) Knowledge, Skills and Physical Requirements: Eligible to work in the U.S. without sponsorship. (Required) Regular and reliable attendance. Intermediate PC skills and proficiency with general administrative tasks. (Required) Active engagement throughout the day including standing, sitting on the floor, bending, and lifting up to ~60 lbs. Ability to fulfill cognitive and interpersonal aspects of a classroom leadership including speaking, hearing, reading, writing, focusing attention, and building relationships Ability to perform the essential functions of the position with or without reasonable accommodation. The Gardner School extends equal employment opportunities to qualified applicants and employees on an equal basis regardless of an individual’s age, race, color, sex, religion, national origin, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, or any other reason prohibited by law.
Requires a CDA or Associate's degree, with a Bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education preferred. Candidates must have at least 2 years of early childhood education experience and current CPR/First Aid certification.
Market context
In Minnesota, lead infant teacher roles often draw steady interest because centers need candidates who already meet DHS lead teacher qualifications and can step into infant classrooms with minimal training. This role is competitive for applicants with lead-teacher experience, an associate’s degree, and familiarity with Teaching Strategies GOLD, Creative Curriculum, and Jewish early childhood settings. Review the AI-summarized requirements and benefits here to save time, then confirm your experience aligns with the infant-specific expectations before applying.