Early Child Education Teacher

Early Child Education Teacher

The Children's Learning Center is seeking a dedicated, collaborative, and experienced Early Childhood Education Teacher (Flex Lead) to join our team. This position plays a vital role in supporting classrooms across the center by providing high-quality care and education, coordinating daily staffing needs, mentoring student employees, and ensuring compliance with licensing and accreditation standards.

The Early Childhood Education Teacher (Flex Lead) prepares and implements developmentally appropriate learning experiences that foster children's growth in a safe, engaging, and inclusive environment. In addition to teaching responsibilities, this position coordinates daily classroom staffing, mentors student employees and new teachers, and supports center-wide operations to ensure high-quality programming and regulatory compliance.

Primary Responsibilities

• Plan and facilitate developmentally appropriate classroom experiences using an emergent curriculum approach.
• Prepare and implement lesson plans that support children's cognitive, social-emotional, language, and physical development.
• Maintain a safe, healthy, and nurturing classroom environment.
• Observe, document, and assess children's development to support individualized learning goals.
• Collaborate with families and colleagues regarding children's progress and classroom activities.
• Ensure compliance with Wisconsin Child Care Licensing regulations, Wisconsin Model Early Learning Standards, NAEYC accreditation standards, and center policies.
• Utilize observation, documentation, and reflective practices to support children's learning and classroom planning.
• Follow all center health and safety procedures.

Staffing Coordination & Classroom Support

• Coordinate daily staff absences beginning at approximately 6:45 a.m.
• Monitor staffing levels to ensure required classroom ratios and compliance with licensing and accreditation requirements.
• Provide classroom coverage for planned and unexpected staff absences.
• Collaborate with Assistant Directors to coordinate time-off requests and staffing needs.
• Support Lead Teachers by coordinating classroom coverage during planned absences.
• Maintain absence tracking systems and communicate staffing updates to employees.

Leadership & Supervision

• Mentor new teachers, student employees, and practicum students.
• Conduct orientation for new Flex staff.
• Provide day-to-day coaching and on-the-job training for student caregivers.
• Develop and maintain Flex staff schedules.
• Approve student employee payroll and complete required performance evaluations.
• Address performance concerns in partnership with supervisors.
• Coordinate communications and meetings for Flex staff.

Professional Responsibilities

• Participate in weekly staff and professional meetings.
• Attend center-sponsored training, conferences, and professional development opportunities.
• Complete a minimum of 15 hours of professional development annually.
• Maintain current Pediatric CPR, First Aid, and other required certifications.
• Participate in university events and committee work as opportunities arise.

Center Leadership

• Collaborate with colleagues to organize shared classroom materials and educational resources.
• Assist in maintaining shared indoor and outdoor learning environments.
• Serve on center committees and provide leadership for committee initiatives when appropriate.
• Contribute to a collaborative, supportive, and inclusive center culture.

Physical Requirements

This position requires the ability to:

• Lift and carry children weighing up to 50 pounds.

• Sit on the floor for extended periods while interacting with children.

• Frequently walk, bend, kneel, and climb stairs.

• Actively participate in indoor and outdoor play and classroom activities.

• Respond quickly to children's health, safety, and supervision needs.

The Children's Learning Center in Student Affairs is required to conduct Post-Offer Pre-Employment (POPE) physical screening on all selected candidates for Early Childhood Education Teacher positions. The test involves squatting, bending, reaching lifting, carrying, etc. of varying weights to simulate the physical demands you may experience while on the job.…