Early Childhood Education Teacher

Universities of Wisconsin • Milwaukee, WI

2d • Onsite

About The Position

The Children's Learning Center is seeking a dedicated, collaborative, and experienced Early Childhood Education Teacher (Flex Lead) to join our team. This position plays a vital role in supporting classrooms across the center by providing high-quality care and education, coordinating daily staffing needs, mentoring student employees, and ensuring compliance with licensing and accreditation standards. The Early Childhood Education Teacher (Flex Lead) prepares and implements developmentally appropriate learning experiences that foster children's growth in a safe, engaging, and inclusive environment. In addition to teaching responsibilities, this position coordinates daily classroom staffing, mentor’s student employees and new teachers, and supports center-wide operations to ensure high-quality programming and regulatory compliance.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education or a closely related field that meets Wisconsin Child Care Licensing qualifications.
• Experience working in an early childhood education setting.
• Knowledge of child development and developmentally appropriate practices.
• Ability to work collaboratively with children, families, students, and colleagues.
• Certification in hands-on Pediatric First Aid, AED and CPR is required upon start date and must be maintained during incumbency.
• Lift and carry children weighing up to 50 pounds.
• Sit on the floor for extended periods while interacting with children.
• Frequently walk, bend, kneel, and climb stairs.
• Actively participate in indoor and outdoor play and classroom activities.
• Respond quickly to children's health, safety, and supervision needs.
• Successfully passing Post-Offer Pre-Employment (POPE) physical screening which involves squatting, bending, reaching, lifting, and carrying of varying weights.

Nice To Haves

• Experience mentoring or supervising staff or student employees.
• Experience with staffing coordination or scheduling.
• Knowledge of NAEYC accreditation standards.
• Experience implementing emergent curriculum and authentic assessment practices.

Responsibilities

• Plan and facilitate developmentally appropriate classroom experiences using an emergent curriculum approach.
• Prepare and implement lesson plans that support children's cognitive, social-emotional, language, and physical development.
• Maintain a safe, healthy, and nurturing classroom environment.
• Observe, document, and assess children's development to support individualized learning goals.
• Collaborate with families and colleagues regarding children's progress and classroom activities.
• Ensure compliance with Wisconsin Child Care Licensing regulations, Wisconsin Model Early Learning Standards, NAEYC accreditation standards, and center policies.
• Utilize observation, documentation, and reflective practices to support children's learning and classroom planning.
• Follow all center health and safety procedures.
• Coordinate daily staff absences beginning at approximately 6:45 a.m.
• Monitor staffing levels to ensure required classroom ratios and compliance with licensing and accreditation requirements.
• Provide classroom coverage for planned and unexpected staff absences.
• Collaborate with Assistant Directors to coordinate time-off requests and staffing needs.
• Support Lead Teachers by coordinating classroom coverage during planned absences.
• Maintain absence tracking systems and communicate staffing updates to employees.
• Mentor new teachers, student employees, and practicum students.
• Conduct orientation for new Flex staff.
• Provide day-to-day coaching and on-the-job training for student caregivers.
• Develop and maintain Flex staff schedules.
• Approve student employee payroll and complete required performance evaluations.
• Address performance concerns in partnership with supervisors.
• Coordinate communications and meetings for Flex staff.
• Participate in weekly staff and professional meetings.
• Attend center-sponsored training, conferences, and professional development opportunities.
• Complete a minimum of 15 hours of professional development annually.
• Maintain current Pediatric CPR, First Aid, and other required certifications.
• Participate in university events and committee work as opportunities arise.
• Collaborate with colleagues to organize shared classroom materials and educational resources.
• Assist in maintaining shared indoor and outdoor learning environments.
• Serve on center committees and provide leadership for committee initiatives when appropriate.
• Contribute to a collaborative, supportive, and inclusive center culture.
• Evaluates individualized and developmental educational plans for children in collaboration with other stakeholders, as needed
• Mentors new teachers and students
• Maintains and documents effective communication with internal and external stakeholders to relay pertinent information and provide updates of child activities per established guidelines and regulations
• Maintains the safety and physical well-being of children in a designated classroom
• Plans and facilitates classroom programming and schedules daily classroom activities for an early childhood education facility according to established curriculums

Benefits

• Paid holidays
• Professional development opportunities

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level