Lead Child Care Teacher

About the Role

We are not your traditional child care center. If you enjoy activities like painting, singing, knitting/crocheting, needle/wet felting, gardening, or want to learn, our center might be the right place for you. Join us in nurturing children's imaginations and exploring nature in a multi-age classroom environment. We are seeking a co-lead teacher to work Monday, Wednesday 8am-5pm and Friday 7am-4pm.

Our center features 3 large outdoor play spaces and access to 100 acres of forest exploration. We pride ourselves on community involvement, including story time at the library, FFA petting zoo visits, ornament-making for the town square, park walks, and Mother’s Day flower baskets made with high school agriculture students.

About Us

The Climbing Tree Child Care and Family Education Center is dedicated to providing a family-style, home-like environment that offers nurturance, warmth, safety, and gentle sensory stimuli for young children. We emphasize an interactive outdoor life and interconnectedness with the natural world. Our primary goal is for staff and families to work cooperatively to help each child develop physically, emotionally, socially, and cognitively at their own pace. We aim to foster self-reliance in work and play as a foundation for joyful self-esteem.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate and implement educational curriculum by developing classroom activities based on developmentally appropriate practices and early learning standards.
• Lead by example; encourage teaching team success through modeling and coaching.
• Plan individual and group age-appropriate activities to actively engage children and encourage social, cognitive, and emotional growth.
• Maintain frequent communications with parents through informal discussions, progress reports, and parent-teacher conferences.
• Ensure all center policies and state regulations are met.
• Maintain a healthy classroom environment, including hygiene, cleanliness, safety, and security of children.
• Set up and care for the environment to ensure comfort, safety, and motivation for all ages.
• Supervise teacher assistants and classroom volunteers to ensure they follow planned activities, hygiene, and safety standards.
• Maintain accurate records, forms, and files.
• Maintain a personal professional development plan to ensure continuous quality improvement.
• Tend to our gardens and help maintain our play yards.
• Attend regular monthly staff meetings.
• Help plan and attend 4 festivals per year.
• Complete two parent-teacher conferences per year.
• Complete annual continuing education training as required by state (25 hours).
• Help plan and attend 1 work day per year.
• Mentor and facilitate professional growth for assistant caregivers.
• Provide a summary of your suite activities to the Director for inclusion in the quarterly newsletter.

Requirements

• Flexible and able to adapt to change.
• Strong oral and written communication skills and basic computer skills.
• Positive attitude and ability to work well with others (staff, children, and parents) to foster a team environment.
• Strong understanding of child development.
• Infant/child CPR and First Aid certification (training provided if needed).
• SBD, SIDS, CAN trainings (training provided if needed).
• Must clear full background check and pass health screening.
• Strong leadership, organizational, and interpersonal skills.

Nice to Haves

• 1+ years of professional child care experience.
• Degree in early childhood education or related field with a minimum of 30 credits in ECE.
• Experience in gardening/nature.
• Creative art/hand skills (crocheting, knitting, sewing, needle felting, watercolor painting, drawing, etc.).
• Musical talent (instrument and/or singing).

Benefits

• Paid professional development.
• Tuition reimbursement & scholarships available.
• Paid curriculum planning time per week.