Employment
Current Openings
The Marylhurst School, founded in 1972, is an independent preschool, primary, and middle school located in Oregon City. At The Marylhurst School, we practice progressive education through experiential learning and respect for the social and emotional development of the student. Here, children are creators, citizens, and explorers, developing a foundation for lifelong learning, problem-solving, and collaboration.
Become a Teacher with Us!
We love meeting people interested in learning what it means to be a teacher. Starting as an assistant teacher is a fantastic place to begin. At Marylhurst, you’ll work closely with a Lead Teacher, learning the ropes of becoming a creative, dynamic, and skilled educator. You’ll also immerse yourself in our collaborative and supportive school community.
We offer competitive pay, along with mental, dental, and vision benefits, and an FSA. Plus, you get your summers off!
Interested? Email us a brief note expressing your interest and your resume. We’ll get back to you with the next steps. We look forward to possibly welcoming you as a future teacher at The Marylhurst School!
We are always seeking talented and passionate individuals who share our vision and values, regardless of their current background. This could include educators, but also those with experience in other fields who are excited to transition into education.
Even if you don't see a current opening that perfectly matches your experience, we encourage you to email your resume along with a note about your interest. We are always open to hearing from candidates who can contribute to our dynamic school environment.
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About Us
The Marylhurst School is a proud, progressive Preschool through 8th grade school. We are hands-on, immersive, and project-based. Teachers and staff dedicate themselves to providing a deep, challenging, meaningful, and joyful education that nurtures the whole child. Located on 36 wooded acres along the Clackamas River in Oregon City, we inspire our students to be creators, citizens, and explorers in the classroom and the world.
Position Overview
We seek a passionate and innovative Pre-K Lead Teacher who is energized by children's creativity, inquisitiveness, and intelligence and shares our commitment to progressive education. The ideal candidate will create a dynamic and engaging learning environment that encourages student exploration, inquiry, and collaboration. This position involves teaching a Pre-K class and collaborating with colleagues to integrate project-based learning into the curriculum. This is a full-time position with benefits.
Key Responsibilities
Create and deliver a hands-on, emergent, project-based curriculum that aligns with the school’s mission and the developmental needs of Pre-K students.
Establish a nurturing, organized, and joyful learning environment where children feel safe and valued.
Differentiate instruction to meet each child's needs, abilities, and interests.
Foster a sense of community, empathy, and respect within the classroom through positive guidance and modeling.
Work closely with assistant teachers, other staff members, and families to support student success and maintain a cohesive Pre-K program.
Build strong partnerships with families through regular updates, conferences, and open communication about their child’s progress and experience.
Observe and document student learning, growth, and development to inform instruction and provide meaningful feedback to families.
Ensure a clean, safe, healthy classroom environment, adhering to all school policies and licensing requirements.
Participate in ongoing training and professional growth opportunities to stay current with best practices in early childhood education.
Actively participate in school-wide events, meetings, and committees to support the overall mission and vision of The Marylhurst School.
Qualifications
Required:
Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education or a related field.
Minimum of 2–3 years of experience teaching in a Pre-K or early childhood setting.
Knowledge of progressive, emergent, and project-based teaching methods.
Strong understanding of child development principles and best practices in early education.
Completion of Oregon’s Early Childhood Registry Step Program.
CPR and First Aid Certification (must be current or obtained within 30 days of hire).
Food Handler’s Permit (must be current or obtained within 30 days of hire).
Recognizing and Reporting Child Abuse and Neglect (RRCAN) Certification.
Background Check & Fingerprinting Clearance.
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
Ability to create a joyful, inclusive, and respectful classroom environment.
A “Yes…and” approach to ideas, work, and challenges.
Physical Requirements:
Ability to move quickly and respond to children’s needs in a fast-paced environment.
Frequent standing, walking, bending, kneeling, squatting, and sitting on the floor to engage with students at their level.
Ability to lift, carry, and move classroom materials and equipment.
Comfortable assisting children with self-care tasks, such as dressing, handwashing, and toileting as needed.
Ability to supervise outdoor play and physical activities, including walking on uneven terrain and being outside in various weather conditions.
Preferred:
Master’s degree in Early Childhood Education or related field.
Familiarity with Universal Design for Learning.
Experience working in a private or independent school setting.
Benefits
Competitive salary commensurate with experience.
Health, dental, and vision insurance.
Tuition remission for children.
Professional development opportunities.
Supportive and collaborative work environment.
To apply, please submit a cover letter, resume, teaching philosophy statement, and contact information for three professional references to Leif Gustavson, Head of School at leifg@themarylhurstschool.org. If you have any questions you can reach Leif at 503.650.0978. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled. Employment is contingent upon eligibility to work in the United States and completing a background check. We look forward to welcoming a dedicated and passionate Pre-K Lead Teacher to our school community at The Marylhurst School.
The Marylhurst School does not discriminate in its hiring or employment practices based on race, color, religion, gender (including gender identity or expression), disability, national or ethnic origin, age, sexual orientation, marital status, genetic information, or other legally protected characteristic or status.tion
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Lead Preschool Teacher (3-Year-Old Program)
About Us
The Marylhurst School is a progressive Preschool through 8th grade independent school located on 36 wooded acres along the Clackamas River in Oregon City. Our program is hands-on, emergent, and deeply rooted in play, exploration, and joy. We believe young children learn best through meaningful experiences, relationships, and inquiry, and we design environments that honor children as capable, curious, and full of ideas. The start date for this position is August 1, 2026.
Position Overview
The Marylhurst School seeks a warm, reflective, and developmentally grounded Lead Preschool Teacher to work with 3-year-old children. This role calls for a teacher who deeply understands early childhood development and who finds joy in supporting young children as they learn to navigate independence, relationships, language, and play.
The Lead Preschool Teacher creates a play-based, emergent, and exploratory learning environment that balances predictability and structure with flexibility, curiosity, and delight. This is a full-time position with benefits. Our preschool program offers families the option of a 4-day or 5-day schedule, and the Lead Teacher is responsible for ensuring a cohesive, high-quality experience across both options. This role also plays an important part in connecting the preschool experience to Marylhurst’s broader K–8 program, helping children and families feel a sense of continuity, belonging, and forward connection within the school community.
The Lead Preschool Teacher works closely and collaboratively with the Pre-Kindergarten Lead Teacher to ensure continuity, shared language, and aligned expectations across the 3s and Pre-Kindergarten programs, supporting smooth developmental and programmatic transitions for children and families.
Key Responsibilities
Curriculum & Learning Environment
Design and facilitate an emergent, play-based, and exploratory curriculum that reflects children’s interests, questions, and developmental stages.
Create a classroom environment that is joyful, calm, organized, and responsive, supporting young children’s need for movement, choice, and routine.
Establish consistent rhythms and predictable structures that help 3-year-olds feel safe, confident, and ready to explore.
Observe, document, and reflect on children’s play and learning to inform next steps and make learning visible.
Child Development & Guidance
Demonstrate a strong understanding of three-year-old development, including social-emotional growth, language acquisition, physical development, and emerging independence.
Support children as they learn to regulate emotions, communicate needs, engage in cooperative play, and navigate early friendships.
Use positive, developmentally appropriate guidance grounded in empathy, modeling, and clear, age-appropriate boundaries.
Recognize that behavior is communication and respond with curiosity, patience, and care.
Collaboration & Continuity
Work closely with assistant teachers to ensure consistency, shared expectations, and thoughtful caregiving throughout the day.
Partner intentionally with the Pre-Kindergarten Lead Teacher to align routines, language, curriculum approaches, and developmental supports across the 3s and Pre-Kindergarten programs.
Collaborate with learning support staff and specialists to support individual children and the overall health of the program.
Family Partnership
Build trusting, collaborative relationships with families through regular communication, conferences, and documentation of children’s growth.
Partner with families around the developmental realities of being three, supporting independence, transitions, and social-emotional growth.
Clearly communicate classroom routines, expectations, and program structures.
Professional Practice & Community Life
Maintain a safe, healthy, and developmentally appropriate classroom environment in alignment with licensing requirements and school policies.
Supervise children indoors and outdoors, including daily outdoor play on a wooded campus.
Participate in professional development, meetings, and school-wide events, contributing to a reflective, collaborative early childhood team.
Qualifications
Required
Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education or a related field.
2–3 years of experience teaching in an early childhood setting, with demonstrated experience working with 3-year-olds.
Strong grounding in child development and developmentally appropriate practice.
Experience with emergent, play-based, or inquiry-driven approaches to early childhood education.
Completion of Oregon’s Early Childhood Registry Step Program.
Current (or ability to obtain before start date; training costs covered by the school): CPR/First Aid, Food Handler’s Permit, Recognizing and Reporting Child Abuse and Neglect (RRCAN) Certification.
Ability to pass required background checks and fingerprinting.
Warm, clear communicator with a collaborative, reflective mindset.
A joyful, flexible, and curious approach to teaching and learning.
Preferred
Master’s degree in Early Childhood Education or related field.
Familiarity with Universal Design for Learning.
Experience in a progressive or independent school setting.
Benefits
Competitive salary commensurate with experience.
Health, dental, and vision insurance.
Tuition remission for children.
Professional development opportunities.
Supportive and collaborative work environment.
To apply, please submit a cover letter, resume, teaching philosophy statement, and contact information for three professional references to Leif Gustavson, Head of School at leifg@themarylhurstschool.org. If you have any questions, you can reach Leif at 503.650.0978. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled. Employment is contingent upon eligibility to work in the United States and completing a background check. We look forward to welcoming a dedicated and passionate Preschool Lead Teacher to our school community at The Marylhurst School.
The Marylhurst School does not discriminate in its hiring or employment practices based on race, color, religion, gender (including gender identity or expression), disability, national or ethnic origin, age, sexual orientation, marital status, genetic information, or other legally protected characteristic or status.m description
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The Marylhurst School seeks pool of qualified substitute teachers for preschool, primary and middle school classrooms.
REPORTS TO: Head of School
ESSENTIAL DUTIES: Our dedication to each child and family means that our substitute teachers need to fit seamlessly into the classrooms regardless of age or subjects being taught. We are looking for people with experience teaching preschool as well as people with primary and middle school experience. Our ideal candidates are looking for a few extra hours of work a week, and would like to become a part of our substitute rotation. A handful of dedicated substitutes will be selected to work on call for about 10 classrooms.
SKILLS: Interpersonal skills to communicate with school staff and interact appropriately with a diverse array of people.
REQUIREMENTS: Registered with Oregon Background Registry, teaching experience preferred.
COMPENSATION: Salary commensurate with experience.
Please send cover letter and resume to:
Leif Gustavson, Head of School
leifg@themarylhurstschool.org
The Marylhurst School does not discriminate in its hiring or employment practices on the basis of race, color, religion, gender (including gender identity or expression), disability, national or ethnic origin, age, sexual orientation, marital status, genetic information, or other legally protected characteristic or status.