Position Overview:
We are seeking a caring, energetic, and reliable Early Childhood Educator to join our professional team of educators. The ideal candidate will have experience working with children in a licensed childcare setting for at least three years, possess strong classroom management skills, and a genuine passion for helping children grow and succeed. Classrooms include children with diverse needs, including those with special needs, so patience, flexibility, and creativity are essential. This position will require a candidate that is physically active, able to get in the floor for group times and during free play as well as join in with play outdoors and gardening with the children. The applicant should have a strong belief that even the youngest children have the ability to learn new things daily including but not limited to, self-help skills, kindness, self-regulation, and age-appropriate curriculum. The applicant may will need to be capable of lesson plan implementation, facilitating group times, supervising and actively participating during play time both indoors and out, assisting children that are potty training following a pre-set schedule as well as changing diapers following state guidelines for sanitation, discussing children's progress or struggles with other teaching staff in the classroom, director, and/or parents, assisting children during meal and snack times, monitoring and responding to children's behavior, classroom housekeeping, tracking child progress, working as a team, daily recordkeeping for attendance, meal counts, and supply requests etc.
Responsibilities:
- Create a warm, welcoming, and structured classroom environment.
- Daily care and supervision of the children for both indoor and outdoor activities, this includes active play and participation.
- Implement engaging activities that promote social, emotional, and cognitive growth.
- Support children with challenging behaviors and special needs using positive guidance and individualized strategies.
- Maintain clear routines and expectations to promote positive behavior.
- Foster respectful and supportive relationships with children, families, and team members.
- Ensure safety, cleanliness, and organization of the classroom.
- Maintaining daily/monthly attendance records.
- Maintaining professionalism and confidentiality.
- Working closely with administrators and co-teachers to ensure all program needs are met.
- Attending required trainings and staff meetings.
- Participating in ongoing staff training to further advance skills and knowledge.
Qualifications:
- Experience working with young children (required).
- Ability to maintain strong classroom management in a nurturing, supportive way.
- Passion and drive to help children succeed in all areas of development.
- Understanding of child development and positive behavior strategies.
- High school diploma or equivalent required; degree or coursework in Early Childhood Education is a plus but not required.
- Must be dependable, compassionate, and a team player.
- NC Early Childhood Credentials is required, or the applicant must be willing to enroll in the class within six months and pass the class within one year of hire.
- Minimum of 2-years of childcare experience in a licensed childcare setting.
- Infant, child, and adult CPR & First Aid or be willing to obtain within 90 days of employment.
- Negative TB test required before start date.
- NC Criminal Records Qualification Letter from NC Division of Health and Human Services required before start date.
- Staff health assessment required before start date.
Schedule & Benefits:
- Full-time: Monday – Friday
- Paid time off
- Professional development provided
- Tuition assistance for job related education
- Employee discount