At Hilltop School, we know that great early learning starts with great teachers. The people caring for, teaching, encouraging, and getting to know your child each day make an enormous difference.
We are very selective in our hiring process because we believe the right people make all the difference. We don't hire simply to fill a position. At times, we may keep a position open longer while we search for someone who is the right fit for our children, our families, and our team. We look for people who are caring, dependable, enthusiastic about working with young children, and committed to providing a high-quality early learning experience.
Experience, Training & Safety
Every new employee goes through an interview and new-hire orientation process. As required by the State of Maine, employees complete fingerprinting and background checks through DHHS and Child Care Licensing before beginning employment.
All staff must meet the qualifications required for their position and maintain required certifications, including Pediatric First Aid and CPR. Staff also complete Mandated Reporter, Health and Safety, Sexual Abuse Prevention, Active Supervision, and additional early childhood education training.
Consistency Builds Connection
We believe children thrive when they have familiar, consistent teachers they know and trust. Our older classrooms have a consistent lead teacher five days a week, while our youngest classrooms are supported by consistent lead and assistant teaching teams five days a week.
This continuity allows teachers to truly know the children in their care—their personalities, routines, strengths, interests, and individual needs—and helps children build strong, trusting relationships with the adults who care for them each day.
Experienced Leadership
At Hilltop School, we recognize that no one person makes a program successful—it takes a team. Every member of our team brings their own strengths, experiences, ideas, and perspective, and we believe our program is strongest when we work together toward a shared goal: providing the best possible experience for the children and families we serve.
Both of our administrators have 20+ years of experience in Early Childhood Education and have been part of the Hilltop School community for more than 14 years. Both have worked directly in classrooms with children across multiple age groups, giving them firsthand experience with the joys and challenges of early childhood education.
That experience helps us support our teachers not just as administrators, but as educators who understand the classroom. We value collaboration, open communication, and the ideas and strengths each person brings to our team.
At Hilltop, we believe the best programs are built together.
We are proud of the people who make Hilltop what it is—and we invite you to meet them below.
