Co-Teacher

DOUGLASS COMMUNITY SERVICES INC; Palmyra (MO); On-site; USD 25,000 - 29,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health, dental, and vision insurance

Free life insurance

401(k) with employer contributions

Generous PTO

14 paid holidays annually

Paid inclement weather days

Tuition assistance and professional发展

Job summary

DOUGLASS COMMUNITY SERVICES INC. is seeking a dedicated Co-Teacher for our Early Head Start program in Palmyra, Missouri. You will support infants and toddlers alongside Lead Teacher to create safe, developmentally appropriate learning experiences.

We offer competitive pay by education level, full-time schedule (40 hours/week, 49 weeks/year), no evenings or weekends, generous benefits, paid breaks, and opportunities for tuition assistance and career growth within a welcoming team.

Qualifications

• Infant/Toddler CDA within 18 months of hire.
• Associate’s Degree or higher in Early Childhood Education preferred (or related field per Head Start requirements).
• 1–3 years of experience with young children preferred.
• Ability to obtain Teaching Strategies GOLD Inter-Rater Reliability Certification within 6 months of hire.

Responsibilities

• Ensure a safe, healthy, and nurturing environment for infants and toddlers.
• Support children’s physical, cognitive, social, and emotional development.
• Assist in planning and implementing developmentally appropriate lesson plans.
• Collaborate with Lead Teacher and staff to manage daily activities.
• Support individualized learning based on each child’s strengths and needs.
• Build positive relationships with families to encourage engagement in learning.
• Incorporate health, nutrition, and self-care routines into daily activities.
• Complete required documentation and data entry accurately and on time.
• Support developmental, behavioral, and health screenings and follow-up services.
• Refer to community agencies to support children and families.
• Maintain ongoing communication with families, staff, and providers.
• Follow confidentiality standards and program policies.

Skills

Infant/Toddler CDA within 18 months of

Strong communication skills

Lesson planning

Team collaboration

Reliable transportation

Education

Associate’s Degree or higher in Early Childhood Education

Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood Education

Tools

Teaching Strategies GOLD Inter-Rater Certification

Computer proficiency (data entry, word processing)

Job description

Help Shape Bright Futures

Do you have a passion for early childhood education and a desire to support infants and toddlers during their most important stages of development? Are you looking for a meaningful career where you can help children grow while supporting families and building strong classroom partnerships?

Join our Early Head Start team and become part of a caring, collaborative classroom environment where every child is supported to reach their fullest potential. As a Co-Teacher, you will work alongside teaching staff to create safe, nurturing, and engaging learning experiences that promote growth in all developmental areas.

Why You'll Love Working Here

• Competitive Pay (Level 25)
  • $17.72/hour with Infant/Toddler CDA
  • $19.49/hour with Associate Degree
  • $21.44/hour with Bachelor’s Degree

• Outstanding Work-Life Balance
  • Full-time schedule: 40 hours per week, 49 weeks per year
    
  • No evenings, weekends, or overtime required
  • Paid winter/holiday break

• Exceptional Benefits
  • Health, dental, and vision insurance
  • FREE life insurance
  • 401(k) retirement plan with employer contributions
  • Generous Paid Time Off (PTO)
  • 14 paid holidays annually
  • Paid inclement weather days
  • Tuition assistance and professional development opportunities
  • Career growth and advancement opportunities

What You'll Do

As a Co-Teacher, you'll support the classroom team by:

• Ensuring a safe, healthy, and nurturing environment for infants and toddlers
• Supporting children’s physical, cognitive, social, and emotional development
• Assisting in planning and implementing developmentally appropriate lesson plans
• Working collaboratively with the Lead Teacher and classroom staff to manage daily activities
• Supporting individualized learning experiences based on each child’s strengths and needs
• Building positive relationships with families to encourage engagement in their child’s learning
• Incorporating health, nutrition, and self-care routines into daily classroom activities
• Completing required documentation, assessments, and computer-based data entry accurately and on time
• Supporting developmental, behavioral, and health screenings and follow-up services
• Making appropriate referrals to community agencies when needed to support children and families
• Maintaining ongoing communication with families, staff, supervisors, and service providers
• Following confidentiality standards and program policies at all times

What We're Looking For

• Infant/Toddler CDA required within 18 months of hire
• Associate’s Degree or higher in Early Childhood Education preferred (or related field with relevant experience/credentials per Head Start requirements)
• 1–3 years of experience working with young children highly preferred
• Ability to successfully complete Teaching Strategies GOLD Inter-Rater Reliability Certification within 6 months of hire
• Strong communication skills (written and verbal)
• Ability to write and implement developmentally appropriate lesson plans
• Computer proficiency, including data entry and word processing
• CPR and First Aid certification (or ability to obtain and maintain)
• Reliable transportation required
• Ability to take initiative, exercise sound judgment, and work effectively as part of a team
• Strong commitment to confidentiality and professional ethics

The above description is not a comprehensive listing of all job specific responsibilities, tasks, and duties.

Douglass Community Services is an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE) and Drug-Free Workplace.