Child Care Teacher

Job Category:
Direct Hire

Job Title:

Child Care Teacher

Utilizing the Reggio education approach, the Child Care Teacher plans, develops and implements child creative and adaptive lesson plans and provides a safe, secure and engaging environment for children six weeks to six years age. As part of a teaching team, Child Care Teacher ensures that interactions with children support their self‑esteem and promote their growth and development. The Child Care Teacher makes learning a fun process that allows and encourages children to explode their full potential.

• Plan, develop and implement lesson plans for assigned classroom.
• Document children’s daily progress and activities and prepare reports to parents.
• Ensure the classroom is clean, neat, free of health hazards or infection control risks.
• Supervise teacher aides and volunteers assigned to their classroom or within their scope of practice throughout the center.
• Provide support for program goals designed to promote autonomy, significant respect for the abilities of children, involvement of parents and enriched experience which aid in maximizing the potential of the developing child and family.
• Demonstrate understanding of how Reggio concepts are implemented in both the indoor and outdoor classrooms.
• Adhere to licensing and/or accrediting body requirements and standards.
• Develop lesson plans/goals designed to nurture and promote cognitive, social and motor development.
• Plan for and promote gross and fine motor development, language skills and independence.
• Focus on enhancing self‑concepts and self‑esteem through positive interactions with children and families.
• Document and provide feedback/observations.
• Prepare, review and maintain assigned written reports and records for each child.
• Follow established policies, procedures and regulatory guidelines to support best practice.
• Participate in staff meetings, special sessions and mandatory CE events for continuing education.
• Maintain collaborative team relationships with other teachers/staff.
• Meet with teachers, team leader, site supervisor or director to communicate needs of children, staff and area.
• Review data for each child to provide a smooth transition into and out of the area for parents and children.
• Utilize infection control procedures and demonstrate safe consciousness in assessing environmental needs.
• Ensure classroom items are cleaned routinely to minimize infection control risks.
• Clean and sweep floors to remove materials that may pose a safety hazard.
• Remove broken toys, report unsafe surfaces or running surfaces.
• Ensure staff are stationed on the playground to allow for adequate supervision and response time and consistent coverage.
• Ensure bleach and cleaning solutions are prepared correctly, labeled with date/time and kept in a locked area.
• Assist in coordinating environmental needs with the team to ensure a safe, clean, well‑stocked area that meets children and family needs.
• Perform other duties or participate in special projects to support the mission of VCUHS and department.
• Accept alternate assignments as required.

• Previous experience working with children ages six (6) weeks to six (6) years of age (paid or unpaid).
• Two (2) years of formal experience.
• Frequent bending, climbing (steps, ladder, etc.).
• Reasoning abilities.
• Problem‑solving abilities.
• Ability to hear effectively.
• Ability to speak clearly.
• Ability to write legibly.
• Reading and comprehension abilities.
• Logical thinking abilities.
• Ability to work in a fast‑paced environment.
• Ability to manage frequent and intense customer interactions.
• Ability to adapt to frequent change.
• Ability to handle multiple priorities.
• Ability to work in a noisy environment.

• Experience specifically working with children six (6) weeks to two (2) years old.
• Familiarity with the Reggio philosophical approach to education for children.

• Two (2) year degree in early childhood education, child psychology, psychology or a closely related field.
• High School Diploma or equivalent.
• Minimum 40 hours of coursework in early childhood education or related field (e.g., child psychology, children’s literature).

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Early Childhood Education or Elementary Education.

• N/A

• Child Development Associate (CDA) Certificate.

Education

Early childhood education

Reggio Emilia

Child care