Lead Teacher – Young Two--room

Small Blessings Preschool | Tampa, FL

Schedule: Monday–Friday | 29 hours per week
Classroom: Up to 12 young two-year-olds, supported by an Assistant Teacher

Position Overview
Small Blessings Preschool, a ministry of Hyde Park United Methodist Church, is seeking a warm, nurturing, enthusiastic Lead Teacher who genuinely loves working with young two-year-olds!

We are looking for an educator who understands and embraces the unique developmental needs of toddlers and is passionate about creating a loving, engaging classroom where children feel safe, valued, and encouraged to explore, discover, and grow through play.

The ideal candidate understands that teaching young two-year-olds requires patience, flexibility, creativity, a sense of humor, and a deep appreciation for the tremendous growth that happens during these early years. We value educators who see children’s behavior as communication, recognize that each child develops at their own pace, and are excited to implement developmentally appropriate practices that support the whole child.

Our Young 2’s classroom serves up to 12 children and is staffed by a Lead Teacher and an Assistant Teacher who work collaboratively to create a positive, supportive learning environment.

Qualifications:

• Minimum one year of experience as a Lead Teacher or toddler teacher and at least 9 college credits in Early Childhood Education; OR an Associate’s degree or higher (Early Childhood Education preferred); OR a CDA or higher credential in Early Childhood Education (or willingness to complete a CDA within 12 months).
• 45-hour child development training (or willingness to complete within 12 months).
• Experience working with toddlers, preferably children between 18 and 30 months.
• Understanding of early childhood development and developmentally appropriate practices.
• Ability to lift up to 50 pounds.
• Professional, dependable, flexible, and collaborative.
• Eligible through Florida’s DCF Background Screening Clearinghouse.
• Practicing Christian or comfortable supporting and participating in a Christian early childhood environment.

Key Responsibilities
Nurturing Relationships and Social-Emotional Development

• Create a warm, loving, responsive classroom where children develop trust, confidence, independence, and a sense of belonging.
• Build positive, meaningful relationships with each child, recognizing individual personalities, developmental stages, and needs.
• Respond to challenging behaviors with patience, empathy, and developmentally appropriate guidance, recognizing that young children are still learning to communicate, regulate emotions, and navigate social relationships.
• Support children through separation anxiety, transitions, frustration, and other common developmental challenges with consistency and compassion.
• Model and encourage positive social interactions, emerging language skills, and problem-solving.

Developmentally Appropriate Teaching and Learning

• Plan and implement engaging, hands-on, play-based learning experiences that support language development, sensory exploration, social-emotional growth, physical development, and early cognitive skills.
• Provide meaningful opportunities for children to explore, create, move, investigate, and learn through active play.
• Use observations of children’s interests, abilities, and developmental needs to guide classroom planning and instruction.
• Maintain realistic, age-appropriate expectations for children’s attention spans, behavior, and independence.
• Adapt activities, routines, and teaching strategies to meet the individual needs of children.

Classroom Environment and Daily Routines

• Establish predictable yet flexible routines that help young children feel secure and successful throughout the school day.
• Plan and manage smooth, engaging…