A good question. At 3, my son went to a Montessori preschool and after just one year, transferred to what is arguably the best school in town. He just finished his second year there-and he begins first grade in August.. I think that the teachers in the classroom (not only the homeroom but the specials, too--he had some Spanish vocabulary before he was four years old) were absolutely the cornerstone of the experience for the children

Look at your current PARENT demographic (or the demographic of other similar schools if you're a startup).. Run an ad in the paper or on the website THEY would most likely go to.

As I'm sure you know, when left in groups, parents discuss their child's teacher. There are a lot of new, young teachers who are great, but who are out of work due to budget cuts, and one of your parents may know someone--perhaps a former teacher of an older child, and since the parents are young enough themselves, perhaps a friend -- who they think is qualified. I'm willing to guess if any of the parents in either the older child's circle or the same social circle as a teacher looking for work has any contact with the laid-off teacher, they'd recommend that person give you a call.

Don't be afraid to give someone with no early-childhood experience a try--as long as they meet the legal qualifications to work for a preschool, that interview is going to tell you a lot. Maybe put them feet to the fire and ask candidates to plan an activity to do with the kids, and incorporate that activity as part of the formal interview. At that age, the kids really react to and judge the teacher--and the entire experience--based on the teacher's personality. You will see instantly which candidates become magnets for the kids and which ones don't. You never know... a shining star could be hidden.

You might get lucky enough to get a qualified candidate with experience in preschool or kindergarten!

You can try Craigslist under the heading "Education". The listings are free and you may see others advertising their availability (for tutoring, babysitting, etc.)
Post flyers on bulletin boards at your local church or civic organization, apartment complex, government office, anywhere you think educational types might see it.
Ask elementary teachers at your local public school if they have any leads.
Make your needs known to your family and friends, as most hires are by word of mouth.

Good luck!

duenhsiyen

I would post a small ad in your local newspaper. I guess it depends where you live, but you just need a small ad. There are SO many people looking for jobs I am sure you will get lots of responses. From there you can interview them, call their references and determine if they are right for you and your establishment. I agree with one of the other responses. You can tell ALOT by their demeanor. A preschool teacher should be happy, upbeat and patient. I would think now is a great time to get a WONDERFUL, possibly over qualified teacher. Jobs are scarce, as I said. Good luck and be picky :)

Good old fashion interviewing face to face would be my first choice. Don't discount a person's life experience. A maternal warm personality, with experience raising children and babysitting, may be more helpful than an early education degree in a preschool. Which is not to say a degree is without merit, I'm just saying you should look at more than the stats on paper.

I would run an add in your local newspaper. Seeking a qualified preschool teacher is a great begining. Interview as many people that apply and choose the one you feel has the best credentials and experience. You could even place flyers around your town asking the same the seeking qualified preschool teacher. you would be surprised at the amount of people that will apply. Also another great place to place an ad is at your local college, many students going for their teaching degreee would gladly take this position and continue their education in the evening time. Craig's list is also a good place for it is free and you may find just what you are after right there.

Good Luck !!

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How to Hire a Good Preschool Teacher

Although hiring requirements vary between different preschools and early childhood education centers, site directors and hiring managers should follow some basic steps to find a qualified teacher. School (and often state) policy often dictates minimum credentials for preschool teacher employment. Individuals responsible for hiring should follow specific policy guidelines, while maintaining a search for the best teacher to fit the job. This may include education, experience, knowledge, as well as ability to fit into the workplace culture and productively work well with other employees.

Step 1
Consult all hiring and managerial staff about new employee requirements. Brainstorm a list of qualities, education, and experience that can be considered necessary for the job. Some preschools may need to follow state or school district hiring requirements such as instructional certifications or years of employment in child care. Schools that do not have written policy to follow may want to consider what is important to the center's educational philosophy, such as instructional methods, discipline theories, or community building techniques.

Step 2
Place an ad for a qualified teacher. The job title should be specific and include wording such as preschool teacher, early childhood education professional, child development educational professional, or a similar title. Post the ad in a highly visible, reputable print or online periodical. These may include local newspapers, online community resources, or college employment sites. Include a very brief job description, any educational or certification requirements, and years of experience necessary. Make sure to add a means for prospective employees to submit a resume such as an address, email, or phone number.

Step 3
Review resumes based on educational and experiential qualifications. According to the National Association for the Education of Young Children's (NAEYC) position statement on The Standards for Programs to Prepare Early Childhood Professionals, young children can benefit from a teacher's education (in child development or a related field). The higher the prospective employee's education is, the more child development knowledge he may have. Many preschools do not require teachers to have any post-secondary education. An associate's degree will provide a preschool teacher with a basic amount of theoretical and possibly hands-on experience in early childhood education. Bachelor's level employees will have a more in-depth level of knowledge, and may have several semesters worth of internship or practicum experience working under a a more senior level teacher. Preschool educators with a master's degree or higher will have superior knowledge of educational practices and human development. They can be expected to exhibit knowledge of best practices as directed by current research. Additional, bachelor's and master's level preschool teachers may hold state instructional licensure or certification.

Step 4
Look for an above-adequate amount of actual employment experience working with preschool-aged children in an educational institution. This should be quantifiable and verifiable. Being a parent, babysitting many years ago, or occasionally watching a young relative does not count as real-life work experience. A good preschool teacher should have at least one year (most likely many more) of employment working with children in the age group that you are hiring her to work with. Although post-secondary internships and field placement practicums are highly important to an employees' professional preparation, employment experience ideally should be in addition to college or other post-secondary training programs.

Step 5
Check the prospective employees recommendations or references. ask for references who know the individual's capacity to work with children or have specific professional understanding of the early childhood education system.

Step 6
Request all state-mandated clearances. These may include child abuse and state police clearances in addition to a FBI background check.

Step 7
Ask the prospective new hire to come in to the preschool for a half-day observation. This will help the individual understand the preschool better, and give you the opportunity to see how he interacts with the children. Use a notepad and a pen (or pencil) to take brief notes on the candidate's behaviors and attitudes in the childcare environment.

Step 8
Check the preschool teacher's abilities and knowledge against criteria developed by a national association. NAEYC includes a section what teachers should be able to do in their statement on The Standards for Programs to Prepare Early Childhood Professionals. Look for an understanding of child development and learning theory, understanding and respect for other cultures and communities, the ability to observe and assess a child's development, knowledge of developmentally appropriate practices and early childhood content areas, and the ability to act in a professional manner. These can be gauged by observation and sample lesson plan/curriculum documents.

I wish I knew more about what you are calling *a "glorified" day care rather than a preschool environment* since to an untrained eye they might look the same. A good quality preschool will not look like an elementary classroom with wee little chairs and tables. That is not how preschool children learn. If you are into reading to learn more about what is best for your child, then the book Einstein Never Used Flash Cards is a must read.

I would suggest that you go to the website of the National Association for the Education of Young Children and use their accredited program search to find a great preschool for your child. Visit the ones you find and feel free to ask questions. A good school will be one that is willing to take the time to talk to you.

At 3 your son needs not only to "learn" from an educational standpoint, but needs to have lots of opportunities to interact with other children. I would certainly recommend you place him in an environment where he has that opportunity. I see more children held back by lack of social skills than by lack of educational experiences.

BTW, I have taught for 20+ years, 10 of which have been in pre-K.

Teachers who have content knowledge in the subject but do not know what to do in the classroom can learn so many strategies of how to deliver the lesson, assess student’s work and modify instructional strategies in the program of licensure. Teachers who meet requirements as being “highly qualified “ are more likely to use effective instruction than those who do not meet these requirements.

No Child Left Behind includes funds for the teacher and principal quality training and recruitment. The money is designed to help states and school districts improve teacher and principal quality and recruit quality staff. To make sure that more teachers get qualified, the Department of Education allocated $2.85 billion in 2002 and $2.93 billion in 2003 through Improving Teacher Quality state grants to help teachers become highly qualified if they are not already (Desimone, Smith, Ueno, 2005). According to Safier, teacher certification increase and greater increases in instructional expenditures are correlated with the increase of highly qualified teachers (Safier, 2007).

Here are a few things you'll need to consider when starting a preschool:

1. Starting a preschool will mean you need to find parents to enroll their children. You will also need to find the proper location to set up the preschool. The location should be safe, kid friendly and conducive to learning and playing. The location ideally should be within the neighborhood or easily accessible to people. You also need to find environments that will be safe for kids, such as local parks and playgrounds.

2. Select furniture that is soft, suitable for kids and is an easily cleaned area. Books, coloring materials, paper and other activity items should be readily available and easy to reach. You'll also want to include activities that foster interaction and camaraderie with the kids. A prepared lesson plan for the day, week or month is also recommended. As a preschool teacher you will need to make sure that the kids are mentally stimulated and enjoy what they are learning.

3. Starting up a preschool also requires obtaining permits, licenses and certifications from local authorities and local offices. It is important that you research the specific requirements for your city, state and country. You should also check your local Department of Education and find out what educational requirements are needed for teaching preschool kids.

An aspect to consider when starting a preschool is if you are going to be teaching the kids yourself or if you'll hire a qualified teacher to take on the job. If you choose to be a Director your job will be mostly supervising the preschool.

These are just a few of things you'll need to consider when starting a preschool. You should also think of your own ideas for making your preschool stand out so you can always be ahead of the competition. Once you get the hang of the preschool business you can either set up another one or expand the current one you have.

smart and caring

Although hiring requirements vary between different preschools and early childhood education centers, site directors and hiring managers should follow some basic steps to find a qualified teacher. School (and often state) policy often dictates minimum credentials for preschool teacher employment. Individuals responsible for hiring should follow specific policy guidelines, while maintaining a search for the best teacher to fit the job. This may include education, experience, knowledge, as well as ability to fit into the workplace culture and productively work well with other employees.
.Difficulty: Challenging
Instructions.Things You'll Need:
•Employee resumes
•Notepad
•Pencil or pen
Step 1
Consult all hiring and managerial staff about new employee requirements. Brainstorm a list of qualities, education, and experience that can be considered necessary for the job. Some preschools may need to follow state or school district hiring requirements such as instructional certifications or years of employment in child care. Schools that do not have written policy to follow may want to consider what is important to the center's educational philosophy, such as instructional methods, discipline theories, or community building techniques.

Step 2
Place an ad for a qualified teacher. The job title should be specific and include wording such as preschool teacher, early childhood education professional, child development educational professional, or a similar title. Post the ad in a highly visible, reputable print or online periodical. These may include local newspapers, online community resources, or college employment sites. Include a very brief job description, any educational or certification requirements, and years of experience necessary. Make sure to add a means for prospective employees to submit a resume such as an address, email, or phone number.

Step 3
Review resumes based on educational and experiential qualifications. According to the National Association for the Education of Young Children's (NAEYC) position statement on The Standards for Programs to Prepare Early Childhood Professionals, young children can benefit from a teacher's education (in child development or a related field). The higher the prospective employee's education is, the more child development knowledge he may have. Many preschools do not require teachers to have any post-secondary education. An associate's degree will provide a preschool teacher with a basic amount of theoretical and possibly hands-on experience in early childhood education. Bachelor's level employees will have a more in-depth level of knowledge, and may have several semesters worth of internship or practicum experience working under a a more senior level teacher. Preschool educators with a master's degree or higher will have superior knowledge of educational practices and human development. They can be expected to exhibit knowledge of best practices as directed by current research. Additional, bachelor's and master's level preschool teachers may hold state instructional licensure or certification.

Step 4
Look for an above-adequate amount of actual employment experience working with preschool-aged children in an educational institution. This should be quantifiable and verifiable. Being a parent, babysitting many years ago, or occasionally watching a young relative does not count as real-life work experience. A good preschool teacher should have at least one year (most likely many more) of employment working with children in the age group that you are hiring her to work with. Although post-secondary internships and field placement practicums are highly important to an employees' professional preparation, employment experience ideally should be in addition to college or other post-secondary training programs.

Step 5
Check the prospective employees recommendations or references. ask for references who know the individual's capacity to work with children or have specific professional understanding of the early childhood education system.

Step 6
Request all state-mandated clearances. These may include child abuse and state police clearances in addition to a FBI background check.

Step 7
Ask the prospective new hire to come in to the preschool for a half-day observation. This will help the individual understand the preschool better, and give you the opportunity to see how he interacts with the children. Use a notepad and a pen (or pencil) to take brief notes on the candidate's behaviors and attitudes in the childcare environment.

Step 8
Check the preschool teacher's abilities and knowledge against criteria developed by a national association. NAEYC includes a section what teachers should be able to do in their statement on The Standards for Programs to Prepare Early Childhood Professionals. Look for an understanding of child development and learning theory, understanding and respect for other cultures and communities, the ability to observe and assess a child's development, knowledge of developmentally appropriate practices and early childhood content areas, and the ability to act in a professional manner. These can be gauged by observation and sample lesson plan/curriculum documents.
.

Hope this helped!