EEC Preschool Lead Teacher

About the role

Inspire, nurture, and lead young learners as part of a collaborative preschool team. Bring creativity, initiative, and heart to everything you do—whether you’re rocking a puppet voice, crafting lesson plans that spark curiosity, or calmly cleaning up glitter explosions. At the West Suburban Y, we believe preschool should be full of wonder, and that starts with you. If you’re ready to co-create a joyful, engaging, and supportive environment for our littlest learners, we’d love to have you on board.

Schedule

• Full-time position: Monday through Friday, 8:45 am–5:45 pm
• Preschool hours: 7:45 am–5:30 pm, Monday–Friday
• Year-round program with summer camp transition (Camp Pikati for preschool-aged children)

Pay

Hourly rate: $28.00–$33.00 based on education, experience, and certifications.

Responsibilities

• Design and implement developmentally appropriate curriculum during the school year and summer camp programming
• Nurture children through purposeful programming focused on achievement, belonging, and family relationships
• Supervise children, classroom activities, and ADA accommodations as needed
• Follow all YMCA, state, and local standards (EEC, Department of Public Health) including safety and cleanliness
• Conduct ongoing observations and evaluations of each child; complete child assessments and report outcomes to families
• Cultivate positive relationships with parents; conduct parent conferences and engage parents as volunteers
• Maintain program site, equipment, and required records
• Attend staff meetings, trainings, and family nights; participate in summer camp training
• Plan and implement culturally relevant, developmentally appropriate activities aligned with YMCA values
• Model early childhood best practices and positive classroom management (school year) and day camp techniques (summer)
• Actively support DEIB initiatives and integrate equity, diversity, belonging, and inclusion into daily practice
• Serve as a mentor and role model to teachers, assistants, and camp staff
• Adhere to YMCA and EEC policies, including those related to medical, disciplinary, child abuse prevention, and emergencies
• Perform other duties as assigned; break times may vary based on program needs

Requirements & Qualifications

• 3 credits in Child Development plus 9 credits across three different Early Childhood Education categories
• Minimum experience:
  • 9 months with a Bachelor’s in a related field
  • 18 months with an Associate’s in a related field or unrelated Bachelor’s
  • 27 months with an EEC certificate or unrelated Associate’s
  • 36 months with a high school diploma
• Child CPR, First Aid, and AED certifications required within 30 days of hire
• EEC Lead Teacher Certification required
• Commitment to anti-racist work and ability to discuss DEIB initiatives with members
• Ability to plan, organize, and implement age-appropriate activities in collaboration with staff
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills; proven ability to build authentic relationships across diverse backgrounds
• Reliable attendance and punctuality
• Understanding of ADA compliance and YMCA’s inclusive public accommodation commitment
• Flexible, creative, and visionary with sound judgment in educational decision-making
• Maintains a positive, calm, and enthusiastic demeanor at all times

Benefits

• Paid vacation and holidays
• Group health insurance including vision and prescription drug coverage
• Dental and life insurance
• 12% retirement contribution once vested
• YMCA membership
• Access to child care services
• Tuition reimbursement and professional development opportunities