What are the hours of a preschool teacher?

Preschool teacher hours vary significantly depending on the specific preschool, its licensing requirements, and the teacher's role. There's no single answer. However, here's a breakdown of possibilities:

* Typical Full-Day Preschool: Often 7:00 AM to 6:00 PM or similar hours to accommodate working parents. Teachers may work a portion of those hours (e.g., 8 AM to 4 PM), but the center itself is open for extended hours.

* Half-Day Preschool: Hours might range from 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM or 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM. Again, teachers might work a portion of those hours.

* Before and After Care: Many preschools offer extended care. Teachers might be responsible for a portion of those additional hours, or it might be covered by different staff.

* Preparation and Planning Time: Beyond direct classroom time, teachers usually need to factor in time for lesson planning, preparing materials, cleaning, communicating with parents, and attending meetings. This "unseen" work can add several hours to their weekly workload.

In short, while some preschool teachers might have a standard 8-hour workday, it's common for the total commitment (including prep and meetings) to be significantly more. It's best to check the specific job posting for the exact hours a particular preschool requires.