Pre-school teachers are responsible for teaching basic skills, such as word and number recognition, to young pupils. They organize and create games and educational activities such as painting, drawing, and developing plays. Additionally, they attend to basic needs including nap and snack time and are responsible for enforcing classroom rules.

Employment Trends
Between 2006 and 2016, approximately 187,000 new jobs are expected to be created, making job growth for this profession faster than other careers.

Typical Work Activities

• Providing personal assistance to young children.
• Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, or products that support early age learning.
• Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
• Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others.

Work Styles

• Calmness or ability to maintain composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in stressful situations.
• Reliability, responsibility, dependability, and ability to fulfill obligations.
• Sensitivity to others’ needs and feelings. Ability to be understanding and helpful on the job.
• Honesty and ethically sound judgment.

Examples of Work Locations
Educational settings, especially pre-schools.

Stepping Stone Positions
Acting as a Pre-school Assistant is a great way to build experience before becoming a full-time pre-school teacher.

Pre-school Assistants help the teacher clean up at the end of the day, assist with snacks and meals, and implement activities. This position can also prepare you for the topics and coursework required to recieve a bachelor’s in Elementary Education.

Education Resources

• Pre-school teaching positions require training in vocational schools, on-the-job experience, or an associate’s degree. Some may require a bachelor’s degree.
• There are many ways to obtain post-secondary education without going into debt. Some Goodwills and public One-Stop Career Centers offer free training for growth jobs.
• Community colleges are another great resource for occupational skills training. Talk to the college financial aid office or visit the Federal Pell Grant Program to see if you are eligible.

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