Lead Teacher - PRE-K Counts Program / Waterford

YMCA of Greater Erie•Waterford, CT

1d•$39•Onsite

About The Position

The YMCA of Greater Erie is seeking a creative, energetic, and fun-loving Lead Teacher for its PRE-K COUNTS program at the Waterford YMCA for the 2026-2027 school year. This position is responsible for delivering a program that meets the highest Keystone STARS rating. The Lead Teacher assists the Child Care Program Director in ensuring a positive and enriching experience for all children, providing proper supervision and discipline, and acting as a role model. Responsibilities include planning, developing, and implementing curriculum with daily lesson plans and activities, ensuring compliance with regulations, assisting with new child enrollment and parent onboarding, communicating daily with parents, implementing lesson plans based on child development principles, maintaining a clean and orderly classroom, keeping records up-to-date, ensuring compliance with YMCA standards and government regulations, and participating in family events and program activities.

Requirements

At least 18 years of age
BA or BS Degree or higher in Early Childhood Education with PreK - 4 Certification OR BA or BS Degree or higher in any related field w/30 ECE credits with PreK - 4 Certification OR Elementary Education Degree w/18 ECE credits with PreK Certification OR BA or BS Degree in any related field with PreK-4 Certification
Ability to pass a background check (FBI, Child Abuse, State Police, and NSOR)
Ability to pass a physical
Negative TB test
Acquire a minimum of twenty four (24) hours of training annually or as the individual professional plan requires.
Love for children
Understanding of child development and teaching strategies
Patient and able to remain calm when stressed
Enjoy reading and singing with children

Responsibilities

Assist the child care program director in ensuring a positive and enriching experience for all children.
Provide proper supervision and discipline for the children.
Act as a role model for the children at all times.
Plan, develop, and implement the curriculum with daily lesson plans and activities with the help of the Assistant Teacher.
Assure compliance with federal, state, and local regulations in your classroom.
Assist with the enrollment of new children and facilitate the onboarding of each child and his/her parents into the Y Program.
Communicate with parents on a daily basis.
Help implement lesson plans based on child development principles.
Keep the classroom clean and in order.
Keep classroom records up to date and accurate.
Ensure compliance with YMCA standards and government regulations.
Attend and participate in all family events and program activities.