Little Gate Early Childhood Teacher (Infant/Toddler)

Department: Little Gate 

Reports to: Head of Little Gate 

FLSA Classification: Exempt (Salary)

Job Type: Full-time, 10-month  

Hours: 40+ hours a week 

Start Date: August 1, 2026

About McGehee School:

Founded in 1912, Louise S. McGehee School is an independent all-girls Pre-K–12 school in New Orleans. For more than a century, McGehee has educated girls to lead with purpose and confidence — and today, we are shaping our next chapter.

Our Vision is a world shaped by purposeful women who lead with clarity, courage, and conviction. From Pre-K through 12th grade, each McGehee student is empowered to develop her unique strengths and aspirations in an environment designed specifically for girls.

Our Mission challenges each girl to discover her strengths and reach her full potential as an independent learner, a critical thinker, and a confident leader. Academic depth, intellectual ambition, creativity, and self-direction define the McGehee experience from the earliest years through graduation.

Our work is guided by the values that shape our community and decisions:

• Commitment to Excellence grounded in high expectations and continuous improvement
• Empowering Leadership that elevates others and builds strong teams
• Honorable Action rooted in integrity and alignment between values and choices
• Independent Thought balanced by curiosity and courage
• Joyful Engagement that recognizes girls thrive when they feel valued, challenged, and connected

We hold high expectations for our faculty and our students, and we align our work with our values.

McGehee advances a distinctive, individualized approach to girls’ education built on close relationships between students and faculty and grounded in research-informed practice. Located on a historic Garden District campus, we embrace New Orleans as an extended classroom, connecting learning to service, internships, and real-world leadership. With more than 2,200 alumnae worldwide, McGehee is both a rigorous academic institution and a lifelong community committed to excellence and impact.

About the Little Gate Program: 

Little Gate is a play-based program, inspired by the Reggio Emilia philosophy of early childhood education.  We view the child as capable and curious.  This natural inquisitiveness leads children to explore, discover, question, experiment, and construct their own knowledge about the world they live in and their role in it. 

Position Description: 

Little Gate is seeking a dedicated educator for children between the ages of one- and four-years-old. The ideal candidate should love young children, remain calm while multitasking, and approach the work with inquisitiveness and curiosity, while grounding the practice in the Reggio Emilia philosophy. Little Gate hires educators who put children first, are flexible and nimble thinkers, and act as collaborative problem solvers. 

1. Classroom Leadership & Pedagogical Practice

• Design and maintain a developmentally appropriate classroom environment that reflects the Reggio Emilia philosophy.
• Thoughtfully set up and adapt materials to support daily interactions and emerging interests.
• Offer age-appropriate, innovative, and exploratory learning experiences.
• Incorporate story, song, and meaningful rituals into daily routines.
• Observe children closely, ask open-ended questions, and extend learning through intentional engagement in play.
• Create individual and group documentation that reflects developmental growth and significant moments of learning.
• Demonstrate knowledge of developmental milestones and communicate that knowledge clearly to families.
• Execute daily transitions smoothly between environments in alignment with the classroom schedule.
• Facilitate morning meetings and classroom gatherings at the children’s level.
• Value and utilize outdoor exploration as an extension of the classroom environment.
• Attention to detail

2. Family Communication & Engagement

• Communicate clearly, professionally, and openly with parents.
• Prepare weekly classroom newsletters.
• Maintain the classroom Brightwheel or Seesaw page with consistent updates and documentation.
• Share developmental insights and classroom experiences in a thoughtful and reflective manner.

3. Collaboration & Professional Life at Little Gate

• Maintain a collegial, collaborative relationship with a co-teacher.
• Participate in weekly after-school faculty meetings.
• Engage fully in professional development offered by the administrative team.
• Meaningfully participate in the faculty feedback and goal-setting process.
• Engage honestly and consistently with a mentor teacher during the first two years of employment.
• Remain flexible within contracted hours to support smooth transitions between classroom environments.
• Learn and adhere to all licensing guidelines and operational procedures.

4. Daily Care, Safety & Physical Responsibilities

• Assist children with personal belongings, shoes, jackets, and clothing changes as needed.
• Rotate with a co-teacher during carpool, including safely lifting children when necessary.
• Set up, supervise, and clean up snacks and lunch.
• Support rest time by helping children settle appropriately.
• Respond appropriately to health or safety emergencies, including escorting children as needed.
• Maintain an active presence in the classroom environment, including sitting, kneeling, standing, and moving throughout the day.

5. Professional Characteristics & Dispositions

• Demonstrates strong classroom leadership and presence.
• Remains calm and grounded while multitasking.
• Is detail-oriented and organized.
• Approaches work with curiosity and inquisitiveness.
• Shows genuine warmth and respect toward young children.
• Contributes positively to the culture and mission of Little Gate.
• Ability to maintain appropriate boundaries with students, fellow staff and community members. 

Qualifications/Experience:

• A Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education or a related field preferred.
• Candidates with a Child Development Associate (CDA) credential may be considered; however, a bachelor’s degree is strongly preferred. 
• Must have at least two years of classroom teaching experience at the early childhood, elementary, or secondary level. Early childhood or lower elementary experience is preferred.
• A passion for teaching children.
• A commitment to continuous improvement through ongoing self-reflection, professional growth, and intentional goal setting. 
• Applicants must be authorized to work lawfully in the United States.

Physical Requirements and Work Environment:

• Able to walk up 3 flights of stairs  
• Lift and/or move between 10 pounds up to 45 pounds  
• Must be comfortable being in and around water 
• Regularly uses close and distance vision, including working at a computer and phone screen for extended periods of time.
• Repetitive tasks  
• Frequent combinations of sitting, climbing, standing, walking, balancing, bending, kneeling, and crouching  
• Combination of indoor and outdoor environments  
• Exposure to; high noise levels, bodily fluids, infectious illness/diseases, occasional inclement weather
• Attend, facilitate and oversee outdoor play in multiple environments for approximately 1 to 2 hours per day 
• Ability to perform the essential functions of the position with or without reasonable accommodations. 

Technical Skills:

• Proficient in Google Suite (such as: copy/paste, creating documents, creating links, transferring photos, etc.)
• Ability to operate all classroom management software and systems

Physical Stamina

Most children have plenty of energy and need physical activity to stay healthy. Expect to be in motion during most of your time around children, whether you're participating in outdoor playtime or cleaning up after activities. Physical stamina allows you to stay engaged with children in a multitude of ways, providing a healthy, safe environment where you are able to react in the moment to each individual situation and its needs. 

EEO Statement

Louise S. McGehee School is an equal opportunity employer dedicated to building an inclusive and diverse workforce. McGehee does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, religious creed, color, national origin, ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, marital status, sex, gender or gender identity, age, sexual orientation, or any other status protected by applicable federal, state or local law.