Early Childhood Lead Teacher

Career Opportunities with YMCA of Rock River Valley YOUR IMPACT

This role is crucial to the mission of the Y, a leading nonprofit focused on strengthening community through youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility. The Early Childhood Lead Teacher will play a critical role in the successful operation of their designated YMCA classroom. This role develops and leads high-quality early childhood activities that foster each child’s growth—physically, intellectually, emotionally, and socially.

The lead teacher provides a positive classroom experience for children and families, implements age‑appropriate curriculum, and supports all age groups as needed within the program.

• Leads and implements developmentally appropriate practices supporting a structured learning environment. Ensures high quality, developmental activities and establishes new interactive learning opportunities.
• Writes and creates lesson plans that support widely held expectations and development.
• Works hands‑on inside the program equipping and leading the children and staff.
• Helps lead and develop program new hires and volunteers. Helps review and evaluate staff performance as needed.
• Develops and maintains relationships with enrolled students. Creates an attentive, nurturing environment for participants in which they can thrive.
• May assist in the marketing and distribution of program information.
• Helps operate program within pre‑determined budget.
• Assures compliance with state and local regulations as they relate to program areas. Ensures that YMCA program standards are met and safety procedures followed.
• Provides for upkeep of assigned program facilities, supplies and equipment and ensures the physical environment is supportive for youth development.
• Develops and maintains effective relationships with parents. Responds to all parent and community inquiries and complaints in a timely manner. Leads parent‑teacher conferences twice per year.
• Helps maintain proper records such as incident reports, developmental screenings, and children’s files. Responsible for developmental screening and milestone assessments, e.g., Ages and Stages questionnaires and Teaching Strategies Gold.
• Helps organize and deliver special events for parents and children.
• Responsible for all cleaning and sanitizing of the classrooms and equipment. Maintains tidiness of all activity spaces and classrooms.
• Provides an environment in which children can feel comfortable, relaxed, happy and involved in play, recreation and other activities.
• Provides active and constant supervision at all times including free play, structured learning and nap time.
• Provides support to all classrooms and age‑groups as needed.
• Ensures a strong focus on character development and diversity, equity and inclusion throughout programming.
• Reports damaged equipment or safety hazards promptly.
• Performs any other functions necessary for the smooth and efficient operation of the YMCA of Rock River Valley.

• All positions provide support to all age groups and classrooms based on staffing needs.

Note:

This position has a lead time of 6‑8 weeks before placement.

Regardless of your primary classroom placement, this role will be expected to assist with all ages in the program.

Full‑Time, Non‑Exempt
Monday‑Friday, 9:00 am - 6:00 pm
$18.50‑$21.50 per hour (includes $15.75 base rate and $2.75 grant‑funded differential)
Wage differentials are contingent upon the continuation of funding received from the Smart Start Workforce Grant which is reviewed quarterly

Full‑Time, Non‑Exempt
Monday‑Friday, 9:00 am - 6:00 pm
$18.50‑$21.50 per hour (includes $15.75 base rate and $2.75 grant‑funded differential)
Wage differentials are contingent upon the continuation of funding received from the Smart Start Workforce Grant which is reviewed quarterly

Full‑Time, Non‑Exempt
Monday‑Friday, 9:00 am - 6:00 pm
$18.50‑$21.50 per hour (includes $15.75 base rate and $2.75 grant‑funded differential)
Wage differentials are contingent upon the…