Lead Early Learning Teacher — Toddler & s Class

Why Work for Wonders Early Learning + Extended Day?

Play isn't just fun, It's fundamental! Children need playtime, it is crucial for healthy development. Children learn about the world by exploring ideas, manipulating objects, investigating creative materials, and problem‑solving with others. Using imagination and creativity, children take on new roles and test new concepts. Wonders teachers use observation and planning to create learning experiences that are intentional and provide meaningful context for children to practice skills and express ideas.

Join the Wonders family of caring, dedicated, and fun educators!

Our Mission - To cultivate curiosity, resilience, and social responsibility in children by fostering high‑quality, nurturing, and inclusive educational communities led by skilled professionals

Since our inception in 1976, our goal has been to provide non‑profit, quality child care to working families. Over the years, we have grown from a single center in the basement of All Saint's Church in Chevy Chase, Maryland to multiple accredited early learning, extended day, and summer camp programs across the DC Metropolitan Region.

Our programs support today's workforce, while growing the workforce of tomorrow.

Our benefits package includes paid time off, holidays, winter break, medical with HRA, dental, vision, life insurance, disability, critical illness, accident insurance, 403(b) retirement savings plan, Wonders tuition discounts, and professional development training. Benefits eligibility is dependent on job type status.

We provide paid pre‑employment background checks, fingerprinting, medical exams, and drug screens as well as paid New Hire Orientation.

Wonders values its educators and leaders and we invest in our workforce by prioritizing compensation and nurturing meaningful careers. Our educators are regularly engaged in efforts towards continuous improvement in their skills and knowledge in the classroom. Approximately 80% of our annual budget is directed to staff compensation.

The Early Learning Lead Teacher plays a dynamic role at Wonders Early Learning + Extended Day in providing quality child care services in our ECE programs. The Lead Teacher is responsible for creating a developmentally appropriate learning environment that stimulates, nurtures and leads children's social, emotional, physical and academic growth.

The Lead Teacher, as part of a team, implements Wonders' policies, procedures and practices in an organized and thorough manner. Teamwork is a critical component of this position. Lead Teachers regularly meet with their team, other staff, and the Program Director to develop programs that follow the Wonders curriculum and promote the Wonders philosophy and ideals.

• Actively plan learning activities that are balanced in all areas and include: active/quiet, long/short, group/individual, cognitive/physical, large group/small group and child initiated/teacher directed. Attention is given to the children's ideas and curiosities in influencing the direction of daily activities.
• Apply your knowledge and understanding of the following to all the children within the program setting:
  Typical and atypical development of infants to 5‑year‑old children;
  Social and emotional development of children, including children's development of independence and their ability to adapt to their environment and cope with stress;
  Cognitive, language, early literacy, and mathematics development of children through activities in the classroom;
  Cultural backgrounds of the children in the facility's care by demonstrating cultural competence and support through interactions and program activities with children and families.
• Actively participate, contribute, and cooperate in team planning sessions with the Program Director and your team.
• Lead your team in planning and implementing a developmentally appropriate program that is age‑appropriate, process‑oriented, encourages divergent thinking, creativity, and problem‑solving, and is based on Wonders philosophy and mission.
• Maintain open communication with Program Director regarding children,…