Atelierista & Pedagogy Lead

About Tribeca Community SchoolFounded in 2006 in the TriBeCa neighborhood of New York City, Tribeca Community School (TCS) has grown from a single classroom into a highly respected early-childhood program with a national and international reputation for excellence in teaching and program design. For two decades, the school has remained deeply committed to a child-centered, community-rooted philosophy inspired by progressive and Reggio Emilia–informed educational practices. The Ridgefield campus represents a thoughtful expansion of this long-standing vision. Serving children ages 6 weeks through Kindergarten in a full-day, year-round model, the school is designed to meet the needs of modern families while maintaining deep fidelity to child development and educational quality.Position OverviewThe Atelierista & Pedagogy Lead is a central pedagogical leader within the school. This individual serves as both an artist-educator and a curriculum leader, working across classrooms to deepen children’s thinking through materials, documentation, and long-term project work.This is not a standalone studio role. We are looking for someone who can:Drive curriculum and pedagogy across the programSupport teachers in translating theory into practiceElevate documentation and reflective work school-wideHelp build systems, structures, and coherenceThe Atelierista works in close partnership with the Head of Program and teaching teams to ensure that the atelier is not just a space—but a way of thinking that lives throughout the school.Key ResponsibilitiesPedagogical Leadership & Curriculum DevelopmentCollaborate with the Head of Program to shape and evolve the school’s curriculumSupport teachers in developing emergent, project-based investigationsBring a strong lens to materials, aesthetics, and the role of environment as the “third teacher”Help ensure coherence and depth of learning across age groups (infants through 5s)Atelier PracticeDesign and facilitate experiences in the central atelier and mini-ateliers across classroomsIntroduce children and teachers to a wide range of materials, tools, and expressive languagesSupport children in representing ideas through drawing, painting, print-making, sculpture, construction, light, etc.Maintain and curate atelier materials with intentionality and careDocumentation & ResearchLead and elevate documentation practices across the schoolSupport teachers in observing, interpreting, and making learning visibleHelp transform documentation into tools for reflection, curriculum planning, and communicationContribute to school-wide displays, panels, and narrative documentationTeacher Support & Professional DevelopmentServe as a pedagogical partner to teachers in classroomsModel strong practice through co-teaching, observation, and reflectionLead workshops, study groups, and ongoing professional learningSupport onboarding of new teachers into Reggio-inspired practiceProgram Coordination & SystemsHelp establish structures for curriculum planning, documentation cycles, and project workCollaborate with leadership on aligning practices across classroomsSupport organization and coordination of materials, atelier scheduling, and shared resourcesContribute to long-term program development and growthFamily & Community EngagementShare documentation and insights with families in meaningful, accessible waysSupport communication around curriculum and children’s learning processesContribute to admissions events, parent events, exhibitions, and community-facing workQualificationsRequiredSignificant experience in early childhood education (Reggio-inspired or progressive setting preferred)Strong background in visual arts, design, or material-based explorationDeep understanding of child development and constructivist learningExperience supporting or mentoring teachersDemonstrated strength in documentation and pedagogical thinkingAbility to move fluidly between classroom practice and big-picture thinkingPreferredExperience in an Atelierista or pedagogical coordinator roleBackground in curriculum leadership or program developmentExperience opening or shaping a new programGraduate degree in Early Childhood Education, Art Education, or related fieldPersonal Attributes We ValueDeeply curious about children’s thinking and processesBoth creative and highly organized (this role needs both)Collaborative, reflective, and groundedComfortable leading while working alongside othersAble to hold vision while attending to detailExcited to build something from the ground upWhy This Role MattersAt TCS, we view the atelier, as well as the creative work that happens throughout the program, as central to how children think, express, and learn.This role is an opportunity to:Shape the pedagogical identity of a new schoolWork alongside a highly thoughtful teaching and leadership teamBuild systems that support deep, sustained learningContribute to a program grounded in nearly 20 years of practice and evolutionTo ApplyPlease send a resume, portfolio (if applicable), and a brief statement of educational philosophy to doug@tribecacommunityschool.com.