Daycare Teacher

Mt. Washington Pediatric Hospital; Virginia Beach (VA); On-site; USD 17,000 - 22,000; Full time

Job summary

Mt. Washington Pediatric Hospital is seeking a Daycare Teacher to provide attentive, nurturing care for infants through age three in a safe, respectful setting.

You will work closely with families and staff and adapt to changing classroom assignments to meet children’s needs. Responsibilities include supervising children, implementing developmentally appropriate activities, maintaining hygiene, following center procedures, and communicating with families and the Center Director.

Qualifications

• Must have a high school diploma or equivalent.
• Ability to supervise young children at all times.
• Willingness to follow center policies and procedures.

Responsibilities

• Provide attentive, nurturing care for infants through age three.
• Supervise children and maintain safety and ratios at all times.
• Follow feeding, diapering, sleep, and hygiene routines as directed.
• Create and implement developmentally appropriate activities and lesson plans.
• Communicate with families and the Center Director about children’s day.
• Maintain a clean, organized classroom and complete required records.

Skills

Classroom supervision

Childcare

Safety awareness

Communication with families

Education

High school

Job description

• Job Category Eastern
• Employee Type FT Hourly
• Required Degree High school

Description

Position Summary.

The Daycare Teacher provides attentive, nurturing, developmentally appropriate care for infants through three-year-olds in a safe, respectful, and welcoming environment. Teachers work cooperatively with families, coworkers, and the Daycare Director and must remain flexible as classroom assignments and schedules may change to meet the needs of children and the center.

Child Supervision, Safety & Well-Being

• Maintain active supervision of children at all times. Children must remain within required sight and sound supervision, and applicable staff-to-child ratios must be maintained.
• Never leave children unattended. Before leaving a classroom or supervised area, obtain an approved replacement staff member so supervision and ratios are maintained.
• Conduct frequent head counts and accurately account for children during classroom activities, transitions, outdoor play, meals, rest periods, and emergency procedures.
• Follow all center procedures for child arrival, departure, authorized pickup, visitor access, and the transfer of children between staff members or classrooms.
• Maintain a classroom free of hazards. Keep medications, cleaning products, chemicals, and other potentially dangerous materials secured and inaccessible to children.
• Immediately report injuries, accidents, suspected hazards, broken equipment, maintenance concerns, or other safety issues to the Center Director and complete required documentation.
• Follow all emergency, fire, severe-weather, evacuation, shelter-in-place, and lockdown procedures, including attendance/accountability procedures.

Caregiving & Daily Routines

• Provide responsive, nurturing care appropriate to each child's age and developmental needs, including feeding, diapering/toileting, handwashing, rest, comfort, and transitions.
• Follow individual feeding, allergy, dietary, sleep, and care instructions as documented by the center and family and as permitted by center policy.
• Follow safe sleep procedures for infants and all applicable center requirements for cribs, sleep positioning, bedding, and monitoring.
• Use proper sanitation and hygiene practices, including handwashing, diapering procedures, cleaning and sanitizing surfaces, toys, and equipment, and infection-control practices.
• Do not administer medication or apply medicated or topical products unless all required parent authorization, documentation, and center procedures have been completed and approval has been obtained as required.

Learning & Development

• Prepare and implement weekly lesson plans and developmentally appropriate experiences that support physical, cognitive, language, social, emotional, sensory, and creative development.
• Provide a balanced variety of individual, small-group, and large-group experiences appropriate to the ages and abilities of the children.
• Create an engaging classroom environment that encourages exploration, play, language development, independence, and positive relationships.
• Observe children's development and behavior and communicate concerns or notable changes to the Center Director in accordance with center procedures.

Positive Guidance & Child Treatment

• Treat every child with dignity, patience, warmth, and respect.
• Use positive reinforcement, redirection, clear age-appropriate expectations, and other approved positive-guidance techniques.
• Physical punishment, rough handling, shaking, hitting, grabbing, humiliation, threats, intimidation, or inappropriate yelling are prohibited.
• Seek assistance from the Center Director when a child's behavior presents an ongoing concern or when additional support is needed.

Family & Staff Communication

• Maintain professional, respectful, and timely communication with parents/guardians, coworkers, and the Center Director.
• Welcome children and families at arrival and departure and communicate relevant information about the child's day in accordance with center procedures.
• Protect the confidentiality and privacy of children, families, and employees. Discuss confidential matters only with authorized individuals and in appropriate settings.
• Work cooperatively as a member of the daycare team and assist in other classrooms or duties when assigned and qualified to do so.

Classroom, Records & Professional Responsibilities

• Keep the classroom, toys, furnishings, and equipment clean, organized, sanitary, and free of unnecessary clutter.
• Complete required attendance, care, incident, injury, medication, feeding, diapering/toileting, and other center records accurately and promptly, as applicable to the classroom.
• Follow all daycare policies, licensing requirements, health and safety procedures, mandated reporting requirements, and instructions of the Center Director.
• Immediately report suspected child abuse or neglect in accordance with applicable law, mandated-reporter responsibilities, and center procedures.
• Maintain required training, certifications, background clearances, and professional-development requirements applicable to the position.
• Use personal electronic devices only as permitted by center policy and never in a manner that interferes with active supervision.
• Maintain professional boundaries and refrain from photographing, recording, posting, or sharing information or images of children except as specifically authorized by center policy.

Requirements

Physical Requirements

• Be able to stand, walk, bend, kneel, sit on the floor, reach, and move throughout the majority of the workday in order to actively supervise and care for young children.
• Be able to lift and carry at least 30 pounds and safely assist children as required by assigned duties.
• Be able to respond promptly to children and emergencies and perform the essential functions of the position, with reasonable accommodation where required by law.