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Job Title: Preschool Teacher
Location: Ave Maria Academy - Powell, Ohio (Diocese of Columbus)
Reports to: Principal
Status: Full-Time, Salaried
Position Summary
Ave Maria Academy, a new Catholic school in the Diocese of Columbus, seeks a joyful, faith-filled, and developmentally knowledgeable Preschool Teacher to help launch its foundational early childhood program which will serve children who are three and four years old. Teachers must understand children's cognitive, social, emotional, and physical development through the lens of Christian anthropology, recognizing each child as created in the image and likeness of God. This understanding ensures a safe, nurturing, and stimulating classroom environment where children are treated with dignity, actively engaged in learning, and encouraged to grow not only academically but also spiritually and morally, in accordance with Catholic teachings. The ideal candidate has Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (CGS) training and a strong understanding of how to integrate the Catholic faith into all aspects of early learning. This teacher will create a nurturing, orderly, and wonder-filled environment that supports the spiritual, social, emotional, and cognitive development of young children, rooted in the beauty of Catholic tradition and the dignity of every child.
Key Responsibilities
Faith Formation & Catechesis
• Lead children in daily prayer and model a life rooted in the teachings of the Catholic Church.
• Deliver Catechesis of the Good Shepherd Level I formation through presentations, practical life work, and prayerful engagement with Scripture and liturgy.
• Create an environment marked by reverence, peace, and beauty that reflects a Catholic worldview.
• Plan activities that reflect the liturgical year, introduce children to the lives of saints, and nurture a sense of wonder about God and His creation.
Early Childhood Instruction
• Provide developmentally appropriate instruction in early literacy, numeracy, sensory exploration, motor skills, and social-emotional learning.
• Use Montessori-inspired methods aligned with CGS principles to foster independence, concentration, and purposeful work.
• Integrate Catholic themes naturally across academic content and play-based learning experiences.
• Observe, document, and assess developmental milestones and academic progress to inform instruction and communicate with families.
Classroom Environment & Child Development
• Establish a warm, structured, and nurturing classroom rooted in mutual respect and Christian virtue.
• Foster independence, grace and courtesy, and cooperative play.
• Maintain an orderly, beautiful environment with thoughtfully prepared materials that invite exploration and discovery.
• Support children in conflict resolution, self-regulation, and the development of empathy and kindness.
Family Partnership & Communication
• Build strong relationships with parents rooted in trust, clarity, and mutual respect.
• Communicate regularly about classroom activities, student progress, and ways families can support faith and learning at home.
• Collaborate with colleagues to support smooth transitions between preschool, pre-kindergarten, and kindergarten.
Professional Responsibilities
• Maintain fidelity to Catholic moral teaching in conduct, communication, and professionalism.
• Participate in faculty meetings, professional development, liturgical events, and community activities.
• Keep accurate student records, lesson plans, and required documentation per diocesan policies.
• Contribute to the founding culture of Ave Maria Academy as a joyful extension of the parish's mission of evangelization.
Qualifications
Required
• Bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education or related field.
• Valid Ohio teaching license (PreK-3) or ability to obtain one.
• Catechesis of the Good Shepherd Level I certification or willingness to work toward the certification.
• Understanding of Catholic teaching and commitment to faithfully living the Catholic faith.
• Experience working with preschool-aged children in a school, parish, or Montessori/CGS environment.
• Strong communication, observation, and child-guidance skills.
Preferred
• Experience with Montessori methods or willingness to be trained.
• Experience integrating Catholic themes across early academic content.
• Knowledge of classical education principles for young children.
• Familiarity with diocesan early childhood standards.
• Bilingual Spanish
Personal Qualities
• Joyful, gentle, and mission-driven
• Deeply respectful of the developmental needs of young children
• Prayerful, reflective, and comfortable leading children in faith
• Collaborative and eager to contribute to a founding school community
• Patient, creative, and able to prepare a beautiful, engaging environment
Physical Demands:
• Requirements include the ability to take frequent walks, use hands and fingers, handle objects, tools or controls, talk to and hear voices at many levels.
• May also be required to kneel, bend, squat and get up quickly. Must be able to lift up to 40 lbs. Repeatedly throughout the day.
Mission Alignment
The Preschool Teacher at Ave Maria Academy plays a vital role in forming the youngest disciples of Christ. This educator embodies the school's commitment to truth, beauty, goodness, and faithful Catholic identity while nurturing each child's sense of wonder, belonging, and love for God.
Please apply for this position at the bottom of the page.