Description Pre-Kindergarten & Kindergarten Teacher (Early Childhood), 2026-2027 School Year Talent Pool (C23-2627) Hartford Public Schools (Hartford, Connecticut) is a diverse community of educators and 16,000 students attending 39 distinctive magnet, community, and neighborhood schools located in Connecticut's capital city. Our values are excellence, equity, inclusiveness, collaboration, transparency, and continuous improvement. Our mission is to provide all students with the learning and support needed to succeed in school and life, and our shared vision is that all students will graduate prepared to transform our world.
"Set the bar. Meet the bar. Exceed the bar. Raise the bar!" is the motto of Hartford Public Schools' Superintendent and CEO, Dr. Andraé Townsel. We are committed to continuous improvement, knowing that consistent growth toward abundant academic proficiency and excellence will raise the bar for our students in Hartford.
Achieving this vision requires exceptional educators who share our commitment to every student. In HPS, we recruit and select diverse educators who are committed to our instructional vision : to develop students' individual academic, social, and emotional capacities and growth within the classroom and beyond. If this resonates with you and you're passionate about empowering students to reach their full potential, we'd love to hear from you. Apply now to explore opportunities with Hartford Public Schools. Passion and purpose thrive here!
Benefits We Value Our Staff...And It Shows Hartford Public Schools is seeking excellent candidates and wants to provide the best experience for you.
We have put together a comprehensive package of benefits and incentives.
Financial Incentives - Competitive Salary Range : $55,643 to $114,267
- HPS Graduate Bonus : $2,500 for HPS graduates hired as full-time teachers (initial hire only)
- National Board Certification Bonus : $3,500 annually
- Tuition Reimbursement : Up to $4,200 annually
- Residency Differential : 3% for teachers living in Hartford
Additional Benefits - Comprehensive health, vision, and dental insurance
- 5 Personal days per year; 17 Sick days per year
- Life insurance (1.5x annual salary)
- Loan forgiveness (State & Federal)
- Access to Connecticut Higher Education Supplemental Loan Authority (CHESLA) Alliance District Teacher Loan Subsidy Program
- 7-Hour teacher work day
- New teacher induction
- In-school mentor support
- Employee perks (discounted tuition, tickets, etc.)
Join HPS & REPRESENT Hartford Public Schools acknowledges that systems of injustice exist in our nation and our community. Our district is committed to addressing systemic barriers and creating a culture of equity that benefits all students. We are committed to recruiting, developing, and retaining a diverse team of culturally competent educators. We strive to have our team reflect the diverse perspectives of our families and community so that we can work together to overcome obstacles, close opportunity gaps, and prepare our students for continuous success.
HPS is a diverse community of scholars and staff-racially, socioeconomically, culturally, and beyond. Among our students, 86 languages are spoken, and 25% of our student population are Multilingual Learners. Over 85% of our students are students of color. At Hartford Public Schools, we work deliberately to recruit and hire staff from various backgrounds and from our local community-26% of our staff reside in Hartford. Among our teaching staff, 28% identify as Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC), compared to approximately 12% statewide.
HPS has career opportunities of all kinds in all of our schools. Come represent your community, your culture, and what's possible for our amazing students. When you work here, it's not just about making a living-it's about making a difference. And you don't just earn a paycheck-you earn lifelong respect.
Hartford is The Place to Be The state of Connecticut is located on the northeastern seaboard. Hartford is within an hour's drive of the coastline and is centrally located between New York City and Boston. Hartford is one of America's oldest and most historic cities, made up of 17 unique neighborhoods rich in history and diversity. It is commonly known as the "insurance capital" due to its prominence beginning in the 19th century as home to many of the nation's most prestigious insurance companies, many of which still call Hartford home today. The city features world-class museums, entertainment, and sports venues and is home to several major companies. An array of restaurants reflecting cuisines from around the world attracts people from far and wide, and more than 200 arts, heritage, and cultural organizations in the Hartford region provide hundreds of events year-round. In addition, several universities and colleges are located in Hartford and the surrounding towns, offering easy access to advanced degree programs.
Education & Certification Requirements Candidates must have a conferred bachelor's degree from an accredited institution and must also possess and maintain the certification and/or licensure requirements for this position as established by the Connecticut state statutes.
Salary Pay will be commensurate with experience, educational level, and in accordance with the Hartford Federation of Teachers' (HFT) Collective Bargaining Agreement salary schedule. The bargaining agreement salary range for the school year 2026-2027 is $55,643 to $114,267 . To learn more about the HFT collective bargaining agreement please click here .
Application Procedure To be considered, all internal and external applicants must fully complete a Hartford Public Schools' online application, which can be accessed through our Applicant Tracking System, Nimble, at https://app.hirenimble.com/jobs/hartford . Candidates' application and supporting documents will be reviewed. Candidates will be contacted directly by hiring managers for interviews.
Want to learn more about opportunities in HPS? Join one of our monthly
virtual information sessions .
An Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer, M/F/V/D
Note: This posting does not necessarily reflect vacancies in the respective subject area and is solely intended to generate a talent pool for current and future certified teaching opportunities. The above description covers the principle duties and responsibilities of the position. The description should not, however, be construed as a complete listing of all duties or as a contract. In all cases, these relationships, functions, and their applications are subject to change by the superintendent of schools.
