Preschool Childcare Instructor

Department: Child & Youth Services

Supervisor: Preschool/Child Care Manager or Child & Youth Services Assistant Director

About the Role

Provide nurturing, developmentally appropriate care and instruction for preschool and child care participants in a safe, engaging, and inclusive classroom environment. This position supports children’s cognitive, social-emotional, language, physical, and self-help development through structured activities, play, daily routines, and implementation of The Creative Curriculum.

Responsibilities

• Greet children and parents upon arrival and departure and maintain positive, professional communication with families.
• Create and maintain a safe, orderly, nurturing, and stimulating classroom environment that meets all applicable licensing and regulatory requirements.
• Supervise assigned children at all times in the classroom, on the playground, during meals, and on field trips.
• Interact with children at their developmental level during indoor and outdoor activities, including floor play, group activities, and transitions.
• Use positive classroom-management techniques, including calm redirection, clear expectations, and developmentally appropriate guidance.
• Plan and implement daily classroom schedules, activities, and lesson plans using The Creative Curriculum.
• Lead group and individual activities that support cognitive, language, pre-writing, fine-motor, gross-motor, social-emotional, and self-help skill development.
• Balance teacher-directed and child-initiated activities while providing developmentally appropriate choices for children.
• Encourage positive nutrition, dental hygiene, health habits, and social skills during snacks and meals.
• Assist children with meals and model appropriate behavior; food may not be used as punishment or reward.
• Maintain classroom organization, including labeling materials, preparing learning areas, creating bulletin boards, and ensuring materials are ready for daily activities.
• Clean and sanitize classroom equipment and designated areas daily and assist with additional cleaning as assigned.
• Maintain the classroom, playground, supplies, and equipment; promptly report repair needs, safety concerns, and licensing violations to the supervisor.
• Maintain current classroom inventory and communicate supply and equipment needs to the supervisor.
• Work collaboratively with therapists to support implementation of Individualized Education Program (IEP) goals for children with special needs.
• Complete and maintain required daily documentation, including attendance, medication records, food-program records, incident and accident reports, and other center charting.
• Report suspected child abuse through appropriate channels in accordance with agency policy and regulatory requirements.
• Participate in special events, staff meetings, trainings, and other assigned center activities.
• Maintain confidentiality regarding children, families, staff, the center, and Blue River Services, Inc.
• Follow all agency personnel policies, standard operating procedures, center rules, and applicable regulations.
• Perform other related duties as assigned by the supervisor.

Requirements

• High school diploma or equivalent required.
• Must be actively enrolled in coursework toward a Child Development Associate (CDA) credential or higher degree in Early Childhood Education or Elementary Education.
• Must obtain a CDA certification or higher credential within one year of employment, or within the timeframe required by state regulations.
• Previous experience working with children is helpful but not required.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work cooperatively as part of a team with shared responsibilities and outcomes.
• Ability to build positive, respectful relationships with children, families, coworkers, and community partners.
• Strong classroom-management, organization, and time-management skills.
• Ability to plan engaging, age-appropriate activities and respond to individual children’s needs.
• Must be at least 21 years old to be the staff person in charge of an infant/toddler group.
• Must be at least 18 years old to be the staff person in charge when all children in the group are at least 24 months of age.

Physical & Work Requirements

• Ability to lift and carry 40 pounds or more.
• Ability to sit on the floor, use child-sized chairs, kneel, crawl, bend, twist, turn, and otherwise position yourself at a child’s eye level.
• Adequate vision and hearing to supervise children visually and auditorily in classrooms, on playgrounds, and during field trips.
• Ability to actively participate in indoor and outdoor play and safely respond to children’s needs throughout the day.

Schedule

Monday–Friday (7:30am–4pm)