Early Childhood Educator

Grace Day Care; Lafayette (IN); On-site; USD 28,000 - 36,000; Full time

Job summary

Grace Church seeks an ordained, faith-centered Early Childhood Teacher to manage a classroom and implement developmentally appropriate learning experiences. You will collaborate with directors and mentors to ensure a nurturing, compliant environment aligned with Grace Education Ministries.

The role emphasizes strong classroom management, effective parent communication, and ongoing professional development within a faith-driven setting.

Qualifications

• Support for faith-based education as expressed by Grace Church.
• Ability to plan and implement curriculum with fidelity.
• Attention to detail in licensing and program requirements.
• Positive, professional attitude in all interactions.
• Knowledge of early childhood development and best practices.
• Familiarity with licensing standards and quality initiatives.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement daily lesson plans and classroom duties.
• Lead activities across meals, naps, art, language, music, science, and stories.
• Teach and supervise a class of children with appropriate supervision.
• Ensure a developmentally appropriate, engaging classroom environment.
• Provide responsive care adapting routines to each child and group needs.
• Communicate with parents, children, and staff effectively.
• Prepare materials and manage classroom resources.
• Handle behavioral situations with care and professionalism.
• Maintain welcoming bulletin boards and clean classroom spaces.
• Ensure proper teacher-child ratios and safety compliance.
• Attend events such as staff development days and open houses.

Skills

Faith in Christ

Staff development

Curriculum planning

Attention to detail

Professional attitude

Early childhood knowledge

Developmentally appropriate practices

Licensing standards

Communication & problem solving

Data entry

Organization & planning

Child welfare decision making

Emotional stability

Education

CDA or higher

First Aid/CPR certification

20-hour annual CEUs

Job description

Reports to: Director, Assistant Director, Program Specialist, Mentor teacher

Serves on: N/A

Status and hours: Full-time, Hourly, 40 hr. weekly

Position Description: Responsible for assigned class and students. A teacher will help maintain a safe, healthy environment as well as any tasks determined by the director, assistant director, Mentor teacher or Program Specialist. Interact effectively with children, parents, and fellow staff. Implement programs, policies, and licensing regulations of Grace Education Ministries. Responsible for assuring compliance with codes of all State and local governing contracting agencies. Educate young children instilling values and manners.

Primary objective: To invest in staff and programming to prepare children for the next stage in their education in an environment where the primary message is that they matter to God and have a place in his world.

Major areas of responsibility: Classroom management, maintenance, dependable, and reliable

Specific Responsibilities:

• Effectively develop and implement a daily lesson plan and all classroom duties.
• Perform activities such as meals, naps, bathroom, art, language, music, science and nature, lead group songs, finger plays, and stories with both large and small groups.
• Teach and supervise a class of children.
• Implement a daily lesson plan and other specified duties.
• Provide a developmentally appropriate classroom environment that reflects the children’s learning and growth.
• Provides responsive care to all children by adapting to daily care, giving routines and plans to the interests and needs of the individual child and the group.
• Communicate with parents, children, and staff competently.
• Assist in the preparation of materials and equipment for various activities.
• Deal effectively with behavioral situations.
• Be a positive and supportive role model for the children and fellow staff always.
• Create a welcoming environment with appropriate bulletin board displays.
• Monitor the bathroom and playground as assigned.
• Clean up after all meals and snacks.
• Clean and maintain the classroom and classroom materials.
• Assist in keeping the classroom neat, clean and clutter free.
• Adhere to all policies stated in the personnel handbook and licensing regulations.
• Show evidence of continued training in the early child development field.
• Provides responsive care to all children by adapting to daily care, giving routines and plans to the interests and needs of the individual child and the group.
• Maintain proper teacher-child ratios.
• Communicate with parents concerning each child’s day.
• Complete quarterly student evaluations.
• Demonstrate cultural competency and respect for the child's background by incorporating cultural, linguistic, and familial values and beliefs into the childcare program and lesson plans.
• Adapt to schedule changes, groups, etc.
• Prepare materials and equipment for various activities.
• Complete required naptime cleaning.
• Deal effectively with behavioral situations.
• Always provide a positive and supportive role model for the children.
• Attends all required events such as staff development days, open houses, and church events etc.

Required Knowledge, skills, and abilities:

• Acceptance of and support for faith in Christ as expressed through Grace Church.
• Skills in developing, encouraging, and evaluating staff.
• Ability to plan and implement curriculum.
• Attention to detail.
• Professional and positive attitude.
• Early Child Development knowledge and experience.
• Knowledge in Developmentally Appropriate Practices.
• Knowledge of State Licensing, Paths to Quality and NAEYC Requirements and Standards.
• Effective communication, problem solving, and priority setting skills as well as maintaining an overall positive and professional attitude /disposition.
• Ability to use the computer to input developmental data.
• Ability to effectively plan, organize and implement educational activities.
• Ability to make decisions on behalf of children and protect their well-being.
• All employees, regardless of position, serve as role models for children and adolescents who are served by our agency. Therefore, each employee must always be emotionally stable and able to function effectively with children, adolescents and adults who may have mental or behavioral health problems.
• The staff must be able to demonstrate appropriate daily behavior, appropriate expression of emotions, as well as appropriate role modeling. Hostility, aggression and unnecessary or inappropriate physical actions as well as inappropriate emotional expression are not acceptable.

Physical Expectations:

• The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to:
• Often required to stand and sit; reach with hands and arms; and stoop, kneel, crouch, bend, squat, or crawl.
• Ability to lift and carry up to 30 pounds and in case of emergency a 40-pound child.
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.
• May occasionally be required to drive a motor vehicle.
• Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Education and experience: CDA or higher. 1stAide/CPR certified 20-hour annual CEUs.