Toddler Teacher | South San Francisco

Strata Learning is seeking a Full-Time Toddler Teacher to join our early childhood education team.

The ideal candidate is nurturing, patient, dependable, and passionate about supporting the unique developmental needs of toddlers ages 18–36 months. This role requires an educator who understands that toddlers learn through relationships, movement, play, repetition, and hands‑on exploration. The Toddler Teacher will help create a warm, predictable, and engaging classroom where children feel safe and supported as they develop independence, communication skills, emotional regulation, and confidence.

Strata Learning (Formerly Happy Hall Schools Inc.) is an iconic and progressive early childhood organization serving families since 1951. We operate a range of programs for children 18 months through 8th grade at 10 locations in San Bruno, South San Francisco, Millbrae, and Pacifica.

• Nurturing & Supportive– Builds warm, responsive relationships with toddlers and helps each child feel safe, secure, and valued.
• Patience & Understanding– Demonstrates patience and compassion while supporting toddlers through transitions, big emotions, emerging independence, and developing communication skills.
• Toddler Development Knowledge– Understands the developmental needs and milestones of children approximately 18–36 months old.
• Positive Guidance– Uses age‑appropriate redirection, modeling, consistency, and positive reinforcement to support toddler behavior and social‑emotional development.
• Communication– Communicates clearly and professionally with children, families, and colleagues.
• Interpersonal Skills– Develops positive relationships with children, parents, teachers, and other staff.
• Professionalism– Maintains professional standards, follows school policies, and is reliable and punctual.
• Flexibility– Adapts to changing classroom needs, routines, and individual children’s needs.
• Confidentiality & Tact– Exercises discretion and maintains confidentiality regarding children, families, and staff.
• Cultural Sensitivity– Respects and values cultural, developmental, and individual differences.
• Safety Awareness– Maintains active supervision and follows health and safety practices appropriate for toddlers.
• Observational Skills– Observes children’s development, behavior, interests, and emerging skills and communicates relevant information to the teaching team.
• Creativity– Creates engaging, sensory‑rich, play‑based experiences appropriate for toddler development.
• Organization– Maintains a clean, welcoming, organized, and developmentally appropriate toddler classroom.
• Technological Proficiency– Comfortable using basic educational and communication technology.

• Provide attentive, active supervision to toddlers, ensuring their safety and well‑being throughout the day.
• Build nurturing and responsive relationships that help toddlers develop trust and a sense of security.
• Support children with daily routines, including meals and snacks, diapering and toileting, handwashing, rest time, transitions, and other personal care needs.
• Encourage growing independence by allowing toddlers to practice age‑appropriate self‑help skills.
• Respond calmly and compassionately to toddlers' physical and emotional needs.

• Plan and implement developmentally appropriate, play‑based experiences that support toddlers' social‑emotional, physical, cognitive, and language development.
• Provide opportunities for sensory exploration, music and movement, art, early literacy, outdoor play, dramatic play, and hands‑on discovery.
• Encourage emerging language by talking, singing, reading, asking simple questions, and modeling words throughout daily routines and play.
• Support toddlers as they learn early social skills such as sharing space, taking turns, expressing needs, and interacting with peers.
• Recognize that toddler learning happens throughout the entire day and use routines, transitions, and play as opportunities for connection and development.

• Help toddlers identify and express emotions in developmentally appropriate ways.
• Use positive guidance, redirection, modeling,…