Early Childhood Education Teacher (Flex Lead)

University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee; Milwaukee (WI); On-site; USD 35,000 - 42,000; Full time

Job summary

University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee is seeking an Early Childhood Education Teacher (Flex Lead) to lead classroom programming, coordinate staffing, mentor student employees, and support center operations ensuring high-quality programming and regulatory compliance. The role requires a Bachelor's in Early Childhood Education, prior experience in ECE, and certified Pediatric First Aid/CPR.

The position involves collaboration with families, staff, and university partners to foster inclusive learning

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education or a closely related field that meets Wisconsin Child Care Licensing qualifications.
• Experience working in an early childhood education setting.
• Knowledge of child development and developmentally appropriate practices.
• Ability to work collaboratively with children, families, students, and colleagues.
• Certification in hands-on Pediatric First Aid, AED and CPR is required upon start date and must be maintained during incumbency.

Responsibilities

• Plan and facilitate developmentally appropriate classroom experiences using an emergent curriculum approach.
• Prepare and implement lesson plans that support children's cognitive, social-emotional, language, and physical development.
• Maintain a safe, healthy, and nurturing classroom environment.
• Observe, document, and assess children's development to support individualized learning goals.
• Collaborate with families and colleagues regarding children's progress and classroom activities.
• Ensure compliance with Wisconsin Child Care Licensing regulations, Wisconsin Model Early Learning Standards, NAEYC accreditation standards, and center policies.
• Utilize observation, documentation, and reflective practices to support children's learning and classroom planning.
• Follow all center health and safety procedures.

Education

Bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education or closely related field

Job description

Current Employees: If you are currently employed at any of the Universities of Wisconsin, log in to Workday to apply through the internal application process.

Position Title

Early Childhood Education Teacher (Flex Lead)

Job Category

Academic Staff

Employment Type

Regular

Job Profile

Early Childhood Education Teacher

Job Duties

The Children's Learning Center is seeking a dedicated, collaborative, and experienced Early Childhood Education Teacher (Flex Lead) to join our team. This position plays a vital role in supporting classrooms across the center by providing high-quality care and education, coordinating daily staffing needs, mentoring student employees, and ensuring compliance with licensing and accreditation standards.

The Early Childhood Education Teacher (Flex Lead) prepares and implements developmentally appropriate learning experiences that foster children's growth in a safe, engaging, and inclusive environment. In addition to teaching responsibilities, this position coordinates daily classroom staffing, mentor’s student employees and new teachers, and supports center-wide operations to ensure high-quality programming and regulatory compliance.

Primary Responsibilities

Classroom Teaching & Child Development

• Plan and facilitate developmentally appropriate classroom experiences using an emergent curriculum approach.
• Prepare and implement lesson plans that support children's cognitive, social-emotional, language, and physical development.
• Maintain a safe, healthy, and nurturing classroom environment.
• Observe, document, and assess children's development to support individualized learning goals.
• Collaborate with families and colleagues regarding children's progress and classroom activities.
• Ensure compliance with Wisconsin Child Care Licensing regulations, Wisconsin Model Early Learning Standards, NAEYC accreditation standards, and center policies.
• Utilize observation, documentation, and reflective practices to support children's learning and classroom planning.
• Follow all center health and safety procedures.

Staffing Coordination & Classroom Support

• Coordinate daily staff absences beginning at approximately 6:45 a.m.
• Monitor staffing levels to ensure required classroom ratios and compliance with licensing and accreditation requirements.
• Provide classroom coverage for planned and unexpected staff absences.
• Collaborate with Assistant Directors to coordinate time-off requests and staffing needs.
• Support Lead Teachers by coordinating classroom coverage during planned absences.
• Maintain absence tracking systems and communicate staffing updates to employees.

Leadership & Supervision

• Mentor new teachers, student employees, and practicum students.
• Conduct orientation for new Flex staff.
• Provide day-to-day coaching and on-the-job training for student caregivers.
• Develop and maintain Flex staff schedules.
• Approve student employee payroll and complete required performance evaluations.
• Address performance concerns in partnership with supervisors.
• Coordinate communications and meetings for Flex staff.

Professional Responsibilities

• Participate in weekly staff and professional meetings.
• Attend center-sponsored training, conferences, and professional development opportunities.
• Complete a minimum of 15 hours of professional development annually.
• Maintain current Pediatric CPR, First Aid, and other required certifications.
• Participate in university events and committee work as opportunities arise.

Center Leadership

• Collaborate with colleagues to organize shared classroom materials and educational resources.
• Assist in maintaining shared indoor and outdoor learning environments.
• Serve on center committees and provide leadership for committee initiatives when appropriate.
• Contribute to a collaborative, supportive, and inclusive center culture.

Physical Requirements

This position requires the ability to:

• Lift and carry children weighing up to 50 pounds.
• Sit on the floor for extended periods while interacting with children.
• Frequently walk, bend, kneel, and climb stairs.
• Actively participate in indoor and outdoor play and classroom activities.
• Respond quickly to children's health, safety, and supervision needs.

The Children’s Learning Center in Student Affairs is required to conduct Post-Offer Pre-Employment (POPE) physical screening on all selected candidates for Early Childhood Education Teacher positions. The test involves squatting, bending, reaching lifting, carrying, etc. of varying weights to simulate the physical demands you may experience while on the job. Employment is contingent upon successfully passing the screening

Key Job Responsibilities

• Plans and facilitates classroom programming and schedules daily classroom activities for an early childhood education facility according to established curriculums
• Maintains the safety and physical well-being of children in a designated classroom
• Maintains and documents effective communication with internal and external stakeholders to relay pertinent information and provide updates of child activities per established guidelines and regulations
• Mentors new teachers and students
• Evaluates individualized and developmental educational plans for children in collaboration with other stakeholders, as needed

Department

Children's Learning Center

Compensation

$38,506

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education or a closely related field that meets Wisconsin Child Care Licensing qualifications.
• Experience working in an early childhood education setting.
• Knowledge of child development and developmentally appropriate practices.
• Ability to work collaboratively with children, families, students, and colleagues.
• Certification in hands-on Pediatric First Aid, AED and CPR is required upon start date and must be maintained during incumbency.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience mentoring or supervising staff or student employees.
• Experience with staffing coordination or scheduling.
• Knowledge of NAEYC accreditation standards.
• Experience implementing emergent curriculum and authentic assessment practices.

Education

Bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education or a closely related field

Contact Information

Luke Messmann

[e-mail]

HR Coordinator

Reasonable Accommodations

Pursuant to university policy, UWM provides reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities who are employees or applicants for employment. Employment opportunities will not be denied because of the need to make reasonable accommodations for a qualified individual with a disability. If you need assistance or accommodation in applying because of a disability, please contact [e-mail] or 414-229-4463. This job announcement and other material on this site will be made available in alternate formats upon request to an individual with a disability.

Confidentiality of Applicant Materials

UWM is a State agency and subject to Wisconsin’s Open Records Law. UWM will not, however, reveal the identities of applicants who request confidentiality in writing except as may be required by Wisconsin’s Open Records law. In certain circumstances, the identities of “final candidates” and/or the identity of the appointed applicant must be revealed upon request.

CBC and Reference Check Policy

Employment will require a criminal background check. UWM takes the prevention of sexual misconduct seriously. As such, you and your references will be required to answer questions regarding any past findings of sexual violence and sexual harassment or any pending allegations of sexual violence or sexual harassment.

Annual Security and Fire Safety Report (Clery Act)

For the UWM Annual Security and Fire Safety Reports (i.e., Clery Report), which includes statistics about reported crimes and information about campus security policies, see http://www.cleryact.uwm.edu/, or call UWM’s Dean of Students Office, Student Union 345 at [phone] for a paper copy.

Employment Authorization

In compliance with federal law, all persons at the time of their start date will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification form upon hire.

UW is an Equal Opportunity Employer

Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, pregnancy, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other bases protected by applicable federal or State law and UW System policies. We are committed to building a workforce that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills, and encourage all qualified individuals to apply.