Early Childhood Lead Teacher & Program Leader

HEALTHY KIDS PROGRAMS • Hillsdale, MI

3d • $20 - $22 • Onsite

About The Position

Healthy Kids Programs is hiring an Early Childhood Lead Teacher & Program Leader at Taconic Hills Elementary School in Craryville, New York. The role leads a classroom serving children ages 10 months through 3 years and combines hands-on teaching and caregiving with limited blocks of center leadership and administrative work. The schedule is approximately 25–30 hours per week, scheduled within the center’s hours of 6:30 AM–6:30 PM. The position is part-time and non-exempt.

The Lead Teacher creates a nurturing, safe, and engaging environment and provides responsive care and developmentally appropriate learning experiences. The role includes planning activities across developmental domains, following children’s routines and individual needs, conducting observations and assessments, supporting daily care routines, and using CLASS strategies, Creative Curriculum, and other early childhood practices. The position also involves family communication and engagement, program-quality observations and improvement, required training, regulatory compliance, recordkeeping, scheduling, staff onboarding and supervision, and coordination with internal teams.

Eligible children of all ages served by Healthy Kids Programs may receive employer-paid childcare during the employee’s working days and hours. Healthy Kids Programs operates Early Learning, Before and After School, and Summer Camp programs at more than 150 locations. The organization identifies as a certified Benefit Corporation and states that its mission is to make childcare accessible and affordable while creating meaningful opportunities for children, families, and team members.

Requirements

• Meet one of the following education and experience pathways: a bachelor’s degree with 12 or more credits in early childhood, child development, or a related field, plus 1 year of teaching and 1 year of supervisory experience; a NYS Children’s Program Administrator Credential plus 1 year of teaching and 1 year of supervisory experience; an associate’s degree in early childhood or a related field with a plan toward a bachelor’s degree or administrator credential, plus 2 years of teaching and 2 years of supervisory experience; or a CDA or OCFS-recognized credential with a plan of study, plus 2 years of teaching and 2 years of supervisory experience.
• Be medically cleared to work in a childcare setting and free of communicable diseases, including TB.
• Have strong leadership, communication, and organizational skills.
• Be dependable, professional, and able to work collaboratively with staff and families.
• Be physically able to lift up to 50 lbs. and actively engage with children.
• Be able to balance hands-on teaching and caregiving with leadership responsibilities.

Responsibilities

• Serve as Lead Teacher in a classroom for children ages 10 months–3 years and work directly with children throughout most of the day.
• Provide nurturing, responsive care and developmentally appropriate learning experiences.
• Plan and implement activities that support social, emotional, physical, cognitive, and language development.
• Follow individual children’s routines, interests, developmental needs, and emerging skills.
• Conduct ongoing observations and developmental assessments.
• Maintain a safe, nurturing, clean, and engaging classroom environment.
• Promote positive adult-child interactions using CLASS strategies and other developmentally appropriate practices.
• Support daily routines, including meals, diapering/toileting, rest, transitions, and other care needs.
• Build trusting relationships with children and families and communicate regularly about children’s experiences and development.
• Participate in parent-teacher conferences twice per year.
• Assist with enrollment efforts, open houses, and community outreach activities.
• Use Creative Curriculum and other early childhood practices to support development and learning.
• Participate in CLASS, ECERS/ITERS, and other program quality observations and improvement efforts.
• Participate in professional development and required training.
• Help maintain a high-quality program that meets applicable NYS OCFS requirements.
• Support daily center operations and scheduling.
• Ensure compliance with NYS OCFS Day Care regulations.
• Maintain required child and program records.
• Support staff onboarding, training, and supervision.
• Coordinate classroom supplies and materials.
• Collaborate with HR, enrollment, and regional leadership teams.

Benefits

• Employer-paid childcare for eligible children of all ages served by the programs during the employee’s working hours.
• Telehealth coverage.
• Vision coverage.
• Dental coverage.
• AFLAC supplemental plans.
• 401(k) for eligible employees.
• Paid sick time.
• On-demand pay with access to earned wages before the scheduled payday.
• Career development and growth opportunities.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Part-time
• Career Level: Manager
• Education Level: Associate degree