Preschool teachers specialize in working with our nation’s youngest minds. Their students may be as young as two and as old as five. Early childhood is a critical time in young people’s cognitive and emotional development, and preschool has an enormous impact. Studies have shown that kids attending PreK are more likely to finish high school and go to college.
The average annual preschool teacher salary as of May 2023 in Ohio is $37,770. Salary ranges can vary widely depending on the city and many other important factors, including education, certifications, additional skills, and the number of years you have spent in your profession.
In this guide, Teachers of Tomorrow examines the various Ohio preschool salaries. We’ll also outline how to become an Ohio preschool teacher, including alternative teacher certification options.
What Is a Preschool Teacher?
Certified preschool teachers go by many titles:
- Early Childhood Teacher
- Montessori Preschool teacher
- Nursery Teacher
- PreK Teacher
- Lead Teacher
Regardless of job title, the main objective of preschool teachers is to help guide young children’s social, physical, mental, and emotional development. Teachers devise play-based lessons and activities that keep learning fun, promote discovery, and raise children’s confidence.
Lesson and activity topics include:
- How to wash hands.
- Recognizing shapes.
- Learning basic colors.
- How to help prepare and serve snacks to friends.
- How to share.
Preschool teachers work in various types of schools, and the type of school or program influences the curriculum and classroom structure.
To become a successful preschool teacher, you must have the following skills:
- Patience: Preschool students are still learning basic social skills and how to regulate their emotions. They are curious, excitable, and busy people with short attention spans. It takes kindness and empathy to meet young people where they are at.
- Positivity: Young children are incredibly sensitive to the emotions their caregivers’ exhibit. Preschool teachers need to wear a warm, sunny attitude to ensure their students do not become anxious and scared. Educators who display enthusiasm and friendliness get better student engagement, and classes are more fun.
- Communication: Young children are still developing their listening skills. Teachers must be able to speak clearly and repeat the main themes of instructions and lessons to ensure their students are following along.
Preschool teachers have many responsibilities, including:
- Creating a positive environment: Indoor and outdoor spaces must be safe, welcoming, fun, and inclusive.
- Meet Development Needs: Preschoolers are all at different stages in their development. Some might be already reading but can’t use the bathroom without help. Others need assistance with tying their shoes or need instructions repeated four times. Then there are kids that need to be reminded to eat.
- Plan and implement daily activities: Preschoolers learn best through play and fun activities like singing and moving their bodies. Educators for this age group play indoor and outdoor activities involving games, crafts, puzzles, and silly challenges that may appear like nothing but fun but are actually teaching and working on areas of development.
- Assess students’ progress and development: Preschool teachers are instrumental in tracking children’s progress and development. Many learning and development delays are not picked up until after a child begins school. A preschool teacher can help students and caregivers by spotting the challenges now so the right help and support can be put in place.
How Much Do Preschool Teachers in Ohio Make?
This is the average annual salaries for preschool teachers in Ohio as of May 2023, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics:
- Highest salary – $47,770
- Average salary – $36,170
- Lowest salary – $27,100
Preschool teacher salaries in Ohio depend on the type of school, location, and a teacher’s years of experience and qualifications.
Certification Routes for Preschool Teachers in Ohio.
The process of becoming a preschool teacher varies across the United States. In Ohio, the State Board of Education (SBOE) oversees the license and renewal process to becoming a certified preschool teacher or prekindergarten associate.
Ohio’s traditional pathway to becoming a preschool teacher includes the following steps:
- Obtain an associate’s or bachelor’s degree. Preschool teaching candidates should study early childhood education or the nearest equivalent regardless if getting an associate’s or bachelor’s. The degree must be from an accredited college or university. An associate’s degree will have more career limitations than obtaining a bachelor’s. However, these degrees are cheaper and faster. In addition, getting an associate’s will allow a candidate to work while studying further for their bachelor’s. However, a bachelor’s degree will provide options for higher-paying opportunities, including becoming a lead (head) preschool teacher and potentially qualifying to teach grades K-3 later on, which pays better than preschool.
- Take the OAE. Teaching candidates must take the relevant Ohio Assessments for Educators. For example, preschool teaching candidates will take the Early Childhood Education or the Early Childhood Special Education.
- Pass a background check. Ohio requires all teaching candidates applying for their first educator license to have a background check through the BFI and Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI). The background check must be less than a year old by the time a teaching license is issued.
- Apply for your license. The Ohio SBOE issues various licenses to teaching candidates depending on qualifications, teaching pathway, and residency. For example, PreK associate degree holders should look into the 5-year Associate License. Bachelor degree candidates on the traditional pathway can consider a 2-year Standard Resident Educator License. (The 4-year Resident Educator Licenses transitioned to 2-year in April 2023.)
Alternative Routes to Certification for Ohio Preschool Teachers
Ohio has two main alternative pathways for teaching candidates. The option benefits those who already have a bachelor’s degree but did not go directly into teaching. The process is often faster than obtaining an early childhood education associate’s degree and cheaper than gaining a second bachelor’s degree.
Ohio’s Alternative Resident Educator License
Ohio provides an Alternative Resident Educator License for P-12 teaching candidates who wish to teach in the following areas:
- Designated Subjects (See list)
- World Languages
- Intervention Specialist Areas
- Hearing Impaired
- Mild/Moderate
- Moderate/Intensive
- Visually Impaired
The program allows candidates to teach while attending an educator program and completing other teaching certification requirements.
Candidates who wish to take part must go through the following steps:
- Submit a request for an Alternative Resident Educator License Evaluation.
- Pass the exams for your desired teaching area.
- Download the confirmation registration letter.
- Enroll in an approved alternative licensure program,
- Obtain a Statement of Eligibility.
- Apply for the Alternative Resident Educator License.
- Complete requirements and progress to applying for a Professional License.
Lastly, spouses of active military personnel, current service members, and honorably discharged veterans will not have to pay the alternative evaluation request application fee.
Ohio’s Alternative Resident Educator – Montessori
Ohio provides a Montessori license to candidates who want to teach using the methods approved by one of the following:
- American Montessori Society
- Montessori Accreditation Council for Teacher Education
- Association Montessori Intermale
It is a 2-year licensure pathway that allows a candidate to work for pay as a teacher while fulfilling the requirements for a professional educator license.
To qualify, candidates must:
1. Have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution.
2. Completed a teacher education program from one of the following institutions:
- American Montessori Society.
- Association Montessori International.
- An institution accredited by the Montessori Accreditation Council for Teacher Education.
3. Complete a background check and file it with the SBOE.
Once the license has been granted, the candidate has two years to work at a school while completing the rest of the requirements for a Professional Educator License, including passing the necessary exams.
What Is the Lowest and Highest Paying Preschool Teaching Job?
As a certified preschool teacher in Ohio, you can work in various settings:
- Special education: According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, as of May 2023, Ohio preschool special education teachers make an average of $68,630. There is a shortage of qualified teachers in this area, and these roles require additional training. Thus, they often pay better than other teaching jobs.
- Private schools: Private preschools offer the best salaries to early childhood educators. Many working families do not qualify for publicly funded programs like Head Start. Private preschools also provide many perks, including smaller class sizes.
- Public schools: Ohio has been investing in expanding PreK in its school districts and through community providers. However, 72% of Ohio’s four-year-olds use alternative preschool programs or wait until kindergarten to begin their education. Thus, the better-paying public education jobs are in special education and K-12.
- Charter schools: Charter schools do not receive as much funding as public schools, which typically results in lower wages.
- Online teaching: Many families choose to teach their children online. However, the demand is greatest in the higher grades. Parents and guardians often feel equipped to teach preschool-aged children using tools like videos, apps, and hands-on learning activities.
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