Master Teacher

Your Role

As a Master Teacher at Child Development Schools, you will lead a classroom where children thrive and families feel confident in the quality of care their child receives every day. Your credential is not just a qualification -- it directly expands the number of children our center can serve, making your role one of the highest-impact positions in the building.

Your day-to-day will look and feel like that of a Lead Teacher, with one important distinction: you bring a higher level of demonstrated expertise that sets the standard for your classroom and contributes to the overall quality of the program.

What your day looks like:

• Lead a classroom of children, delivering age-appropriate lessons and activities aligned with developmental milestones
• Maintain a safe, organized, and nurturing classroom environment that meets licensing and ratio requirements
• Observe and document each child's development and communicate progress regularly with families
• Build strong relationships with parents and caregivers through daily communication and scheduled conferences
• Serve as a model of best practice for classroom educators across the center
• Collaborate with your co-teacher and center leadership to maintain program quality and consistency
• Complete required documentation including attendance, incident reports, and developmental assessments

Pay: $15-$17 per hour based on experience. Master Teachers are compensated above our standard Lead Teacher rate in recognition of your credential and its impact on our program capacity.

Full-time employees receive:

• Medical, dental, vision, life insurance, and short- and long-term disability
• 401(k)
• 9 company-paid holidays and 8 days of PTO
• 50% tuition discount for your own children enrolled at a CDS center
• Up to $5,250 in annual tuition reimbursement for continued education
• Access to Perk Spot for discounts on major brands and services
• Coaching, mentoring, and ongoing professional development

#CDSC

To qualify as a Master Teacher in Oklahoma, candidates must hold a credential at PDL Level 4 or above on the Oklahoma Professional Development Ladder. Qualifying credentials include:

• PDL Level 4:
  Oklahoma Competency Certificate in Early Care and Education (960 hours of child care training plus passing the Master Teacher competency exam)
• PDL Level 5: CDA Credential (Child Development Associate), CCP Credential, or 12 college credit hours in Early Childhood Education, Child Development, or School Age
• PDL Level 6:
  Oklahoma Certificate of Mastery in ECE or Child Development (15 college credit hours in ECE/CD plus 3 hours of English composition)
• PDL Levels 7 through 11:
  Various college coursework and degree programs in Early Childhood Education or related fields

Additional requirements:

• At least 18 years old
• High school diploma or GED
• Ability to pass a background check
• Genuine care for children and a commitment to their safety and well-being
• Strong communication skills and the ability to build relationships with families
• Physical ability to meet the demands of working with young children