Kindergarten Teacher (2026-2027)

Job Description

Kindergarten Teacher (Full-Time, Permanent Position)
Royal Palm Academy - Naples, Florida
School year: 2026-2027
Salary range: $52,000-$72,000 annually, commensurate with experience

Royal Palm Academy, a joyful and thriving independent Catholic PK-8 school in North Naples, Florida, is seeking a full-time Kindergarten Teacher for the 2026-2027 school year. This is a permanent faculty position with competitive salary and benefits.

Royal Palm Academy partners with families to provide an education of rich academics with Catholic formation. We teach the mind, educate the heart, and form the character of tomorrow's leaders. Our Kindergarten program is a foundational year, marked by joy, structure, curiosity, and intentional formation of the whole child.

This position is designed for a joyful, energetic, and faith-filled educator who loves young children and understands the importance of strong routines, clear expectations, and developmentally appropriate instruction in early childhood.

Position Overview

The Kindergarten Teacher plays a critical role in laying the academic, social, emotional, and spiritual foundation for students at the beginning of their school journey. The teacher creates a nurturing and engaging classroom environment where students grow in independence, confidence, literacy, numeracy, and faith.

The Kindergarten Teacher works closely with grade-level colleagues, early childhood leadership, and support staff. This is a full-time, on-campus teaching position that follows the academic calendar.

Key Responsibilities

Classroom Instruction and Student Development
• Plan and deliver engaging, developmentally appropriate lessons aligned with the Kindergarten curriculum and learning standards.
• Foster a joyful, structured, and nurturing classroom environment that promotes curiosity, cooperation, and a love of learning.
• Support early literacy, phonics, numeracy, and foundational academic skills through intentional instruction and practice.
• Differentiate instruction to meet the academic and developmental needs of each student.
• Use a variety of formative and summative assessments to monitor student growth and guide instruction.

Catholic Identity and Mission
• Integrate Catholic values, prayer, and virtue formation throughout the school day.
• Teach and act in accordance with the doctrinal and moral teachings of the Catholic Church.
• Support the Catholic identity of the school through example, prayer, and participation in the life of the community.
• Embrace and uphold the mission and philosophy of Royal Palm Academy.

Family Partnership and Communication
• Communicate regularly and professionally with parents regarding student progress and classroom life.
• Build strong, collaborative relationships with families as partners in their child's education.
• Provide excellent and responsive customer service to students and families.

Professional Collaboration and Responsibilities
• Collaborate with grade-level colleagues, specialists, and support staff to support student success.
• Participate fully in faculty meetings, professional development, and school events.
• Maintain accurate student records using school systems and tools.
• Contribute positively to a collegial, mission-driven faculty culture.

Professional Expectations

Strong candidates will demonstrate:
• A genuine love for teaching young children.
• Alignment with the Catholic mission and values of Royal Palm Academy.
• Strong classroom management and age-appropriate instructional practices.
• Professional reliability, organization, and follow-through.
• Warmth, patience, and emotional maturity.
• Effective written and verbal communication skills.
• A growth mindset and openness to collaboration and feedback.

Qualifications
• Bachelor's degree in Elementary Education, Early Childhood Education, or a related field.
• Minimum of two years of lead classroom teaching experience at the Kindergarten or early primary level preferred.
• Strong foundation in early literacy, phonics, and developmental instruction.
• Proficiency with technology tools including Microsoft Office and student information systems.
• Commitment to providing excellent service and support to students and families.

Preferred Qualifications
• Practicing Catholic in good standing and comfortable integrating Catholic faith into the classroom.
• Experience in a Catholic school or independent school setting.
• Experience with early childhood assessments and structured literacy instruction.

Physical and Other Demands
• Ability to actively lead instruction in an early childhood classroom environment.
• Ability to supervise and support young children indoors and outdoors, including recess and movement-based activities.
• Ability to lift up to 20 pounds and support classroom setup and daily student needs.
• Ability to maintain professionalism, composure, and clear communication in a joyful, fast-paced environment.

Position Details
• Full-time, permanent faculty position
• Kindergarten teaching assignment
• School-year position following the academic calendar
• Salary range: $52,000-$72,000 annually, commensurate with experience
• Competitive benefits package
• On-campus position in Naples, Florida
• Reports to the Head of Lower School

To Apply
Please submit your Resume or CV in Adobe PDF format to Michael Bussman, Head of School, at mbussman@royalpalmacademy.org. A brief email or cover letter expressing your interest in the Kindergarten Teacher position is encouraged.

Royal Palm Academy is building a joyful, high-performing, and mission-driven faculty. We are seeking educators who love children, value collaboration, and want to help form confident, capable, and faith-filled learners from their very first year of school.

About the Employer

Royal Palm Academy is an independent, Catholic, pre-kindergarten to eighth grade school in Naples, Florida. Our mission is to partner with families to provide an education of rich academics with Catholic formation. Royal Palm Academy teaches the mind, educates the heart, and forms the character of tomorrow's leaders. This mission is pursued through the development of the whole person, integral formation, which encompasses the commitment to teach, to educate, and to form our students.