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Bright Horizons

Field UPK Teacher

🇺🇸 New York, NY 🕑 Full-Time 💰 $30 - $36 per Hour 💻 Teaching 🗓️ July 16th, 2026

Edtech.com's Summary

Bright Horizons is hiring a Field UPK Teacher. This role involves creating a safe and nurturing environment for children, fostering their development through a child-centered approach, and implementing an appropriate curriculum following established guidelines. The teacher maintains professional relationships with parents and colleagues while ensuring safety and supervision of children during varied schedules and locations.

Highlights
  • Provide a safe, nurturing, and developmentally appropriate environment for children.
  • Implement curriculum aligned with Bright Horizons and NAEYC standards.
  • Communicate frequently and professionally with children, parents, and staff.
  • Maintain child supervision, safety, ratios, and attendance records at all times.
  • Document children's accomplishments and participate in parent outreach activities.
  • Must be at least 18 years old with a high school diploma or GED; ECE Bachelor's or Master's degree or equivalent college credits with experience required.
  • Physical ability to lift up to 40 pounds, stand and sit with children extensively, and respond to emergencies.
  • Flexibility to work at multiple centers and varied hours, minimum 30 hours per week for benefits eligibility.
  • Hourly salary ranges from $29.58 to $35.96, based on education and experience.
  • Must pass background checks and comply with state and company regulations.

Field UPK Teacher Full Description

Field UPK Teacher

New York, New York, United States of America, 10014
Teachers & Center Support
Full time

Our competitive UPK Teacher salaries range from $29.58 to $35.96 per hour. Salary is determined by your level of education and experience in Early Childhood Education or a related field.

Provide a safe and nurturing environment for children that encourages their social, emotional, physical and intellectual development. Foster the development and growth of children providing a child-centered environment, which is inviting, warm and friendly to children, parents and clients. Implement developmentally appropriate curriculum according to the guidelines established by Bright Horizons Family Solutions and the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). Review important decisions with his/her supervisor and maintain positive, professional relationships with parents, children and co-workers. Ensure safety and supervision of children at all times by meeting the physical demands of the position. Must be available to work at various centers. May need to be available a variety of hours as schedules will vary. *See Field Teacher Guidelines for more information

Essential Functions/Responsibilities
  • Faculty/Child Relationships: Communicate and interact frequently, affectionately and respectfully. Encourage and model appropriate behavior and expectations. Be attentive, flexible and supportive of children and their families. Practice positive discipline techniques.

  • Curriculum: Implement developmentally appropriate curriculum, materials, activities and environments on a daily basis that provides a balance. Demonstrate respect for diversity, independence and creativity. Provide choice and maintain flexibility. Be able to complete professional documentation of children’s accomplishments for parents, if assigned.

  • Client/Community/Parent Partnerships: Acknowledge and respond to all parents and visitors in a friendly, courteous and professional demeanor. Invite input on child’s development and care. Communicate daily including events and meetings. Share resources with parents. Assist in parent outreach activities and initiatives to increase registration, use or memberships.

  • Health/Safety/Nutrition: Supervise children, following all safety and health rules and knowing the number of children in group at all times. Maintain ratios and attendance records. Keep environment safe, organized and accessible to children. Participate in tasks to ensure a clean, safe environment for children.

  • Professionalism: Maintain confidentiality. Ensure continuity of care and participate in all required meetings/training. Demonstrate knowledge and flexibility of child care practices, continuing ongoing professional growth. Maintain an awareness of current issues, and developments in early childhood education and work/family practices through workshops, professional affiliations and publications.

  • Teamwork: Establish and maintain a relationship of cooperation and respect. Participate in teaching team, communicating directly and resolving conflicts quickly and professionally.

Decision Making
Receives limited direction and exercises independent judgement within the scope of their role

Decision Making Authority - Placeholder Content
  • May take action but must inform Director when caring for a child with a significant injury, acknowledging and listening to a parent concern, filing a neglect and abuse complaint or recording an unusual incident. Refer all other decisions to Teacher or Lead Teacher.

Job Requirements – Education/Experience

Qualifications:

Candidates must pass required state and company background checks, and meet state and company minimum education and experience requirements:  

  • At least 18 years of age with a high school diploma or GED required

  • Early Childhood Education Bachelor's or Master's Degree

  • Elementary Education Bachelor's or Master's Degree OR

  • 90 or more college credits in ECE and one year classroom experience teaching children  (study plan eligible)

Additional Job Requirements
  • PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

  • Follow state, federal and Bright Horizons Family Solutions guidelines. Ensure children’s safety. Demonstrate full range of motion. Be able to lift up to 40 pounds. Must be able to stand and sit on the floor with children for extensive periods of time. Supervise and interact with children outdoors. Respond immediately and appropriately to multiple or unexpected situations or emergencies. Maintain mental and physical alertness and an appropriate level of energy to perform essential job requirements. Demonstrate the qualities of patience, tolerance, commitment, perseverance, flexibility and optimism.

  • RECOMMENDED EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE/SKILLS:

  • Must have a high school degree or GED. Meet minimum age requirements: Minimum age of 18 with high school diploma or GED. Meet federal, state, city and provincial requirements. Experience working with young children. Some College experience desirable.

  • Preferred Qualifications include the following:

  • Must work at least 30 hours a week to be a Field Teacher and receive benefits

  • Some states may require ECE coursework or related degree

  • Ability to work at more than one BHFS center

  • Ability to work with multiple ages groups

  • Flexibility with hours worked

  • Professionalism/teamwork

  • In transfer cases: past performance

Compensation: $29.58 to $35.96 per hour

Life at Bright Horizons:
At Bright Horizons, you’re more than your job title — you’re the difference. Whether you’re nurturing a child’s first steps or supporting the systems behind the scenes, your work creates real impact. We’re a community that celebrates individuality, invests in your growth, and supports your whole self. Because when you thrive, so do the children, families, and clients we serve. Join us and help build a brighter future — for yourself and for others.

Bright Horizons provides equal opportunity in all aspects of employment and does not discriminate against any individual on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, disability, sexual orientation, veteran status, national origin, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected under federal, state, or local law. Bright Horizons complies with the laws and regulations described in the following federal government resources: Know Your RightsFamily and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and Employee Polygraph Protection Act (EPPA).

If you require assistance or a reasonable accommodation in completing these application materials or any aspect of the application and hiring process, please contact the recruitment helpdesk at 855-877-6866 or [email protected]. Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis.