Child Care Teacher

Child Care Center Teacher

At The Salvation Army, we are dedicated to "Doing the Most Good". We are made up of thousands of officers, soldiers, staff, volunteers, donors, and partners working together to holistically meet the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of our most vulnerable neighbors. We do this through programs designed to combat homelessness and hunger, provide safe spaces for youth after school and on the weekends, achieve and maintain sobriety, and give hope to the hopeless.

The Salvation Army North and Central Illinois Division provides these services to people in need.

The Child Care Center Teacher is responsible for creating a safe, nurturing, and engaging learning environment for children ranging from infancy through pre-kindergarten age. This position supports children's cognitive, social, emotional, physical, and language development through age-appropriate activities, play-based learning, and positive interactions. The teacher implements curriculum plans, maintains a structured classroom, ensures compliance with health and safety regulations, and partners with families to support each child's growth and development.

Successful candidates demonstrate patience, creativity, strong communication skills, and a genuine commitment to helping young children thrive in a caring and inclusive environment.

Staff are expected to demonstrate flexibility and willingness to work in different classrooms, age groups, or assignments as needed to support the daily operations and best meet the needs of the program. Staff are expected to collaborate as a team and adapt to changing situations to ensure a high-quality learning environment for all children.

• Plan, supervise and implement in accordance with the polices and philosophies of The Salvation Army, NAEYC, quality rating Illinois and DCFS licensing.
• Provide attentive care and supervision for infants, toddlers, preschoolers, and pre-kindergarten children.
• Plan and implement developmentally appropriate learning activities and curriculum with dedicated and individual goals for each student tracked and managed well.
• Foster a positive, inclusive, and nurturing classroom environment.
• Monitor and document children's progress and developmental milestones, screening developmental goals with referrals as necessary.
• Maintain a clean, safe, and organized classroom consistent with licensing and regulatory requirements.
• Communicate regularly with parents and guardians regarding children's achievements, needs, and concerns hosting a minimum of two parent/teacher conferences per year.
• Support children's social-emotional development and encourage positive behavior.
• Collaborate with center staff and administrators to ensure quality programming and care.
• Gear the program to the needs of each individual child with concern for his/her interests, abilities, special talents, individual style and pace of learning.
• Treat each child with dignity and respect.
• Help each child become aware of his/her role as an integral member of the group.
• Responsible for the ordered arrangement, appearance, décor and learning environment of the classroom.
• Assume an equal share of the joint housekeeping responsibilities of the staff.
• Attend all staff meetings.
• Submit daily lunch count to the kitchen.
• Participate in required training programs, conferences, courses and other aspects of professional growth.
• Implement methods for effectively utilizing the services of classroom assistants, student teachers and volunteers.
• Assist in community-oriented events and activities.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

• Successfully satisfy the training requirements associated to the position and as required by The Salvation Army & DCFS.

This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive list of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Education :

Bachelor's degree in education, human services, business management or related degree preferred; significant related…