Entry Level Phonics Teacher Jobs (NOW HIRING)

As the First Grade Lead Teacher, you are the driving force behind our students' academic growth, developmental progress, and foundational school experience. You serve as the primary instructional leader of the first-grade classroom and as a contributing member of the Lower Elementary instructional team. By balancing exceptional relationship-building with meticulous standards-based instruction, you play a vital role in preparing young learners for a successful transition into second grade and upholding the highest standards of educational excellence.

• Curriculum & Standards Alignment: Implement high-quality, standards-aligned instruction using the approved Dreamers School of Excellence curriculum, explicitly mapping lessons to current South Carolina College- and Career-Ready standards in ELA, Math, Science, and Social Studies, alongside school-adopted Montessori-inspired developmental aims. Teachers are expected to explicitly identify standards in all lesson plans, translate standards into measurable learning objectives, maintain documented evidence that standards have been introduced, taught, practiced, assessed, retaught, and mastered, participate actively in horizontal and vertical planning, and continuously adjust instructional pacing based on student-performance data.

• Comprehensive Literacy Block: Deliver explicit, systematic, sequential, and evidence-informed foundational reading instruction—including phonemic awareness, phonics, print concepts, oral language, and comprehension— ensuring students are not encouraged to rely primarily on pictures or guessing instead of decoding print.

• Conceptual Mathematics Instruction: Implement South Carolina math standards moving from concrete to pictorial and symbolic understanding, utilizing manipulatives, visual models, and purposeful mathematical discussions to build deep conceptual reasoning.

• Integrated Inquiry & Montessori-Inspired Development: Cultivate student growth across academic, social-emotional, physical, and executive-functioning domains by integrating science, social studies, fine arts, and practical-life skills into daily classroom routines and active learning centers. Within our academic model, "Montessori-inspired" practices specifically nurture whole-child outcomes—including academic independence, strong executive function, social-emotional maturity, self-directed creativity, emerging student leadership, practical life skills, and physical coordination.

• Assessment & Data Monitoring: Conduct beginning-, middle-, and end-of-year diagnostics alongside daily formative assessments, tracking performance by standard to adjust instruction, run interventions, and document readiness for first grade.

• Classroom Culture & Management: Establish clear, positive expectations using proactive, trauma-informed, non-shaming behavior strategies that protect student dignity while maintaining a safe, organized, and print-rich learning environment.

• Instructional Team Supervision: Provide daily direction, joint lesson planning, and meaningful instructional assignments to the First Grade Assistant Teacher, modeling professional practices and monitoring classroom support quality.

• Family Partnership & Collaboration: Build strong, professional relationships with families through regular updates and scheduled conferences, communicating student strengths and developmental progress objectively and transparently.

• Required Education: A bachelor’s degree or higher from an accredited college or university, featuring a major, concentration, certification area, or substantial coursework in Early Childhood Education, Elementary Education, Child Development, Montessori Education, or a related approved field.

• Experience: At least 3 years of successful experience working with children between ages four and seven is preferred. Supervised student teaching, residency, or internship experience will be considered for entry-level candidates.

• Professional Competencies: Demonstrated ability to differentiate content for diverse readiness levels, implement documented IEP/504 accommodations, collaborate with special education service providers, and apply instructional coaching feedback.

• Communication: Elite verbal and written communication skills for delivering prompt, empathetic, and clear notifications to families regarding student growth, academic benchmarks, and behavioral milestones.

• Essentials: Must pass all required criminal background checks, fingerprinting, child-abuse registry screenings, and reference verifications, while maintaining valid pediatric/adult CPR, First Aid, and AED certifications. Additionally, employees must complete mandatory child-safety training, state mandated-reporter training, emergency procedures orientation, adhere strictly to student confidentiality (FERPA) requirements, and satisfy all applicable state health requirements.

Preferred Qualifications: Current South Carolina educator certification in Early Childhood or Elementary Education; Master’s degree; Montessori credential; specialized training in the Science of Reading (LETRS, Orton-Gillingham); or experience with project-based, STEAM, or arts-integrated models.

• Professional Impact: The opportunity to shape the foundational academic and developmental experience for young learners in a premier educational setting.

• Professional Development: Access specialized school-assigned training pathways including South Carolina standards updates, Science of Reading, structured literacy, Montessori-inspired practices, and data analysis.

• Total Rewards: Competitive salary commensurate with your experience, plus a comprehensive benefits package, contracted time off, and institutional support.

Dream Preparatory Academy, located in Greenville, SC, is a unique educational organization that offers a new teaching style to break traditional barriers of learning repetitive lessons in a prepared routine environment. Our goal is to create a more interactive, hands-on learning environment that is technology-focused and can integrate classroom-to-home management.