Lead Afterschool Teacher – K–5

The Art Farm NYC
Pay: $18.00–$20.00 per hour
Schedule: Monday–Friday, 2:00 PM–6:00 PM
Minimum Commitment: 2 days per week; additional days preferred

About the Role

The Art Farm NYC is seeking a responsible, creative, and enthusiastic Lead Afterschool Teacher to provide a safe, engaging, and positive afterschool experience for K–5 students. The Lead Teacher will oversee classroom activities, support student development, guide assistant teachers, and work closely with the Director and teaching team to ensure a high-quality program.

This is a great opportunity for someone who enjoys working with children and creating fun, structured learning experiences through art, science, games, stories, and other hands-on activities.

Responsibilities

• Lead daily classroom activities including art, science, group games, storytime, and other age-appropriate activities.
• Follow schedules and lesson plans provided by the Director and ensure activities are implemented consistently.
• Provide attentive supervision and prioritize student safety, care, and well-being.
• Manage classroom behavior and use appropriate behavior-management techniques with support from the Director when needed.
• Maintain a clean, organized classroom and ensure students' belongings are properly managed.
• Delegate responsibilities effectively to Assistant Teachers.
• Work collaboratively with co-teachers and the Director to address student behavior or other concerns.
• Maintain accurate attendance records, rosters, and other required daily or weekly paperwork.
• Communicate any roster discrepancies to the appropriate staff.
• Help ensure the program is creative, engaging, challenging, inclusive, and safe for students of all ages and abilities.
• Provide friendly and professional customer service to students, families, staff, and other site personnel.
• Promote a positive and supportive environment for both students and staff.
• Motivate and support staff to promote student well-being, engagement, and enjoyment.
• Recognize and respond appropriately to emergencies.
• Report medical incidents to the Director promptly.
• Work with the Director to make adjustments to programming and staffing as needed to maintain smooth daily operations.
• Represent The Art Farm NYC professionally and positively in the community.
• Perform additional responsibilities as assigned by the Director.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree completed or currently pursuing a degree in Education preferred/required.
• Experience working with elementary-aged children preferred.
• Strong classroom management and communication skills.
• Ability to lead activities and keep students engaged in a structured environment.
• Reliable and dependable with a commitment to the afterschool schedule.
• Ability to work collaboratively with teachers, assistants, Directors, students, and families.
• Professional, positive, patient, and enthusiastic attitude.
• Ability to respond calmly and appropriately to emergencies and challenging situations.

What We're Looking For

We're looking for someone who is creative, dependable, energetic, and passionate about working with children. The ideal candidate can confidently lead a classroom while creating an environment where students feel safe, supported, and excited to participate.

If you enjoy working with children and want to make a positive impact during their afterschool experience, we'd love to hear from you!