Early Childhood Development Educator - Preschool

Penn State University; University Park (TX); On-site; USD 37,000 - 54,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Tuition discount 75%

Benefits package

Paid time off

Job summary

Penn State University’s Child Care Center at Hort Woods on the University Park campus seeks an Early Childhood Development Educator to work with children ages 3–5. You will create a safe, engaging classroom and partner with families and teaching teams to support development.

Minimum qualifications include a Bachelor's degree with 1+ year of experience or a CDA credential, plus essential clearances. The role offers a comprehensive benefits package, tuition discounts, and opportunities to

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree and 1+ years of relevant experience; or CDA credential.
• Health physical with TB test required prior to starting.
• PA State Police Criminal Background Check, PA Child Abuse History Clearance, FBI Fingerprint Check, NSOR clearance required.

Responsibilities

• Plan and deliver developmentally appropriate experiences for children ages 3–5.
• Prepare lesson plans aligning with state early learning standards.
• Maintain safe, supportive classroom environment and ensure safety regulations.
• Develop assessments to monitor progress and maintain records.
• Communicate with parents and collaborate with families and staff.
• Support accreditation standards (NAEYC, Keystone STARS).

Skills

Classroom management

Family engagement

Collaboration

Education

Bachelor's Degree

CDA Credential

Job description

Approval of remote and hybrid work is not guaranteed regardless of work location. For additional information on remote work at Penn State, see Notice to Out of State Applicants.

Position Specifics

The Child Care Center at Hort Woods, on the University Park campus, is seeking a candidate for an Early Childhood Development Educator (working with children ages 3 - 5 years old). The Early Childhood Development Educator provides and maintains a safe, secure, and stimulating classroom environment. The role fosters positive relationships with families and collaborates effectively with both classroom and center-wide teaching and support teams.

Other responsibilities include:

• Plan, develop, deliver, and facilitate developmentally appropriate and engaging experiences for children in all development and learning areas within the framework of the state early learning standards
• Prepare lesson plans to promote social, physical, and intellectual growth; integrate curriculum into daily routines, lesson plans, developmental experiences, and assessments; individualize curriculum experiences to meet student needs
• Ensure a safe and supportive classroom environment and ensure compliance with safety regulations
• Develop and facilitate assessments to monitor student progress
• Maintain student records and data; prepare reports
• Integrate family culture, language, and ability into classroom curriculum
• Supervise classroom aides and students; complete appropriate evaluations
• Maintain communication with parents; provide guidance, education and suggestions; partner with parents to establish individual student goals
• Maintaining standards in accordance with National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) accreditation and PA Keystone STARS 4 quality standards

Clarification of minimum requirements:

This position minimally requires a Bachelor's degree plus 1 year of relevant experience.

Minimum Education, Work Experience & Required Certifications

Bachelor's Degree 1+ years of relevant experience; or minimum of Child Development (CDA) Credential; see Commonwealth of Pennsylvania PA Career Lattice information and NAEYC guidelines for typical experience and education requirements Required Certifications: None

Prior to starting the position, a health physical with TB test is also required.

Background checks / clearances

This position requires the following clearances in addition to applicable background checks: PA State Police Criminal Background Check, PA Child Abuse History Clearance Form, Federal (FBI) Fingerprint Criminal Background Check, and the National Sex Offender Registry Clearance (NSOR). Additional clearances may be necessary if you resided outside of Pennsylvania in the past five years.

Penn State does not sponsor or take over sponsorship of a staff employment Visa. Applicants must be authorized to work in the U.S.

Salary & Benefits

The salary range for this position, including all possible grades, is $36,888.00 - $53,532.00.

Salary Structure - Information on Penn State's salary structure

Penn State provides a competitive benefits package for full-time employees designed to support both personal and professional well-being.

• comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage
• robust retirement plans
• substantial paid time off which includes holidays, vacation and sick time
• generous 75% tuition discount, available to employees as well as eligible spouses and children

For more detailed information, please visit our Benefits Page.

CAMPUS SECURITY CRIME STATISTICS

Pursuant to the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act and the Pennsylvania Act of 1988, Penn State publishes a combined Annual Security and Annual Fire Safety Report (ASR). The ASR includes crime statistics and institutional policies concerning campus security, such as those concerning alcohol and drug use, crime prevention, the reporting of crimes, sexual assault, and other matters. The ASR is available for review here.

EEO IS THE LAW

Penn State is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to providing employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status. If you are unable to use our online application process due to an impairment or disability, please contact 814-865-1473.

Penn State is committed to and accountable for advancing equity, respect, and belonging. We embrace individual uniqueness, as well as a culture of belonging that supports equity initiatives, leverages the educational and institutional benefits of inclusion in society, and provides opportunities for engagement intended to help all members of the community thrive. We value belonging as a core strength and an essential element of the university’s teaching, research, and service mission.