Early Learning Lead Teacher (All Locations)

YMCA of Metro Atlanta • Atlanta, GA

1d

About The Position

The Early Learning Lead Teacher is a co-teaching position responsible for ensuring the safety and well-being of children ages six weeks to three years by providing a safe, healthy, and high-quality early childhood learning environment. Under the supervision of the Program Director, the teacher collaborates in delivering developmentally appropriate, individualized, inclusive learning experiences and helps oversee classroom associates and day-to-day classroom operations. The role includes planning and implementing lessons, maintaining a clean and organized classroom, supervising children indoors and outdoors, supporting children’s development and health needs, documenting observations and assessments, and partnering with families through conferences and home visits. The position also requires compliance with applicable regulations, participation in required meetings and professional development, and adherence to health, safety, sanitation, and mandatory reporting practices.

Requirements

• Child Development Associate Credential (CDA) in Infant and Toddler Education or higher.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to kneel, bend, squat, lift, push, pull, and carry objects or children weighing up to 50 pounds.
• Ability to pass a pre-employment background check, including criminal record check, drug screening, motor vehicle record check, and reference check according to company policy.
• Must be legally eligible to work in the United States without current or future sponsorship.

Nice To Haves

• Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education.

Responsibilities

• Directly supervise and develop classroom associates and manage day-to-day classroom operations.
• Plan and implement learning experiences that advance children's intellectual and physical development.
• Use developmentally appropriate practices that are individualized, inclusive of children with disabilities, age appropriate, and integrated across developmental areas.
• Meet federal, state, local, and program regulations and timelines for compliance, implementation, and documentation.
• Meet performance standards, monitoring guidelines, licensure regulations, and disability service requirements; complete developmental assessments, parent conferences, and home visits.
• Actively participate in teaching by moving around indoor and outdoor learning environments.
• Maintain constant supervision of children during activities and whenever they are under the teacher's direct care.
• Redirect inappropriate behavior positively and non-punitively.
• Respond promptly and nurture children who are distressed or crying.
• Use developmentally appropriate feeding, toileting, cleaning, and health care practices, including for children with special health care needs.
• Model appropriate language, including grammatically correct verbal and written usage.
• Prepare lesson plans, materials, and a clean, safe, organized, interactive, appropriate, hands-on learning environment in advance.
• Plan and implement transitions for daily activities.
• Organize classroom space into recognizable, functional, and clutter-free areas, such as interest centers.
• Conduct and record ongoing observations of each child's development and milestones.
• Maintain professional, cordial, family- and child-centered conduct in the best interest of the program.
• Attend and participate in required team, site, and agency meetings, trainings, professional development, and continuing education.
• Follow site health, safety, classroom organization, aesthetics, and sanitation guidelines.
• Report suspected abuse, unsafe conditions, repair needs, complaints, accidents, and injuries as required.

Benefits

• The YMCA of Metropolitan Atlanta offers an excellent benefits and career opportunities as part of its culture of excellence; specific benefits are not listed.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: Associate degree