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What is a lead pre-kindergarten teacher and how to become one
Do you want to hold one of the most important jobs in the world? Then, you should look into becoming a lead pre-kindergarten teacher. The individuals who pursue this career are responsible for laying the educational foundation for the next generation.
As a lead pre-k teacher, you'll have an opportunity to spark a child's love for learning while building strong ties linking home and school. Some of the key tasks that you will do in this role include promoting children's personal and academic growth, developing lesson plans, coordinating with preschool teachers, and developing activities that promote parental involvement and home learning techniques.
Traits required for this job include patience, creativity, and adaptability. You'll also need to plan and implement activities to meet the physical, emotional, intellectual, and social needs of the children in the program.
To become a lead pre-kindergarten teacher, you will typically need to complete at least a certificate or Associate's degree program in early childhood education or child development.
What general advice would you give to a lead pre-kindergarten teacher?
Dr. Diana Jones
Chair, Department of Kinesiology, Anderson University
Avg. Salary $32,779
Avg. Salary $59,228
Growth rate 15%
Growth rate 0.3%
American Indian and Alaska Native 0.94%
Asian 6.38%
Black or African American 10.33%
Hispanic or Latino 16.22%
Unknown 4.70%
White 61.43%
Genderfemale 92.85%
male 7.15%
Age - 39American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%
Asian 7.00%
Black or African American 14.00%
Hispanic or Latino 19.00%
White 57.00%
Genderfemale 47.00%
male 53.00%
Age - 39Stress level is high
7.1 - high
Complexity level is intermediate
7 - challenging
Work life balance is excellent
6.4 - fair
Lead pre-kindergarten teacher career paths
Key steps to become a lead pre-kindergarten teacher
Explore lead pre-kindergarten teacher education requirements
Start to develop specific lead pre-kindergarten teacher skills
Skills Percentages Classroom Management 22.18% Language Arts 8.64% CPR 7.83% Child Development 7.81% Professional Development 6.40% Complete relevant lead pre-kindergarten teacher training and internships
Accountants spend an average of Less than 1 month on post-employment, on-the-job training. New lead pre-kindergarten teachers learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a lead pre-kindergarten teacher based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real lead pre-kindergarten teacher resumes.Research lead pre-kindergarten teacher duties and responsibilities
- Lead and co-taught in a NAEYC accredit private school.
- Target at risk and high achieving students using levele readers and DRA strategies.
- Follow NAEYC standards to create the best environment for children.
- Work with children with IEP's and collect and chart data reflecting progress.
Get lead pre-kindergarten teacher experience
Generally, it takes 1-2 years to become a lead pre-kindergarten teacher. The most common roles before becoming a lead pre-kindergarten teacher include teacher, lead teacher team lead and substitute teacher.Prepare your lead pre-kindergarten teacher resume
When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your lead pre-kindergarten teacher resume.
You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a lead pre-kindergarten teacher resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.
Choose from 10+ customizable lead pre-kindergarten teacher resume templates
Build a professional lead pre-kindergarten teacher resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your lead pre-kindergarten teacher resume.
Apply for lead pre-kindergarten teacher jobs
Now it's time to start searching for a lead pre-kindergarten teacher job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:
- Browse job boards for relevant postings
- Consult your professional network
- Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
- Watch out for job scams
How did you land your first lead pre-kindergarten teacher job
Are you a lead pre-kindergarten teacher?
Share your story for a free salary report.
Average lead pre-kindergarten teacher salary
The average lead pre-kindergarten teacher salary in the United States is $32,779 per year or $16 per hour. Lead pre-kindergarten teacher salaries range between $20,000 and $51,000 per year.
What am I worth?
How do lead pre-kindergarten teachers rate their job?
Lead pre-kindergarten teacher reviews
Administration, observations, being told what to teach and HOW to teach it, expecting us to participate in things we might not want to or have the time for, staff meetings with no substance
Kids, teaching lessons, co-teachers, hours, weekends off, salary, holidays off, summers off, paid sick and personal days
I like working with my students, their parents and the various specialists my students need in order to increase their physical, emotional, daily living and cognitive skills.
There are very few things I dislike about working with preschoolers with special needs, other professionals and their parents.
Some students' non-challant attitude towards learning.
Ability to share knowledge and guide students in learning new things.
Updated January 8, 2025
