Early Childhood Float Teacher

FamilyForward; St. Louis (MO); On-site; USD 40,000 - 52,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision coverage

Optional short-term disability

Flexible Spending Accounts

Company-paid long-term disability and

Paid time off December 25 to January 1

4-days programming; Fridays off

Education assistance program

Professional development opportunities

Job summary

FamilyForward’s Therapeutic Preschool seeks a dedicated Float Teacher to join a trauma-informed, collaborative team serving three- to six-year-olds with emotional and behavioral needs. You will provide classroom coverage across multiple therapeutic preschool classrooms and help maintain continuity of care within a multidisciplinary team.

The ideal candidate holds a Bachelor’s in early childhood education or child development with at least three years of experience.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in early childhood education or child development required.
• At least three years' experience in ECE; trauma-informed approach preferred.
• Ability to lift up to 45 pounds and physically engage with children.
• Strong communication and teamwork skills; background checks required.

Responsibilities

• Provide classroom coverage across therapeutic classrooms based on staffing needs.
• Adapt to different routines and interventions while maintaining continuity of care.
• Build relationships with children and the classroom team to develop trust.
• Create a play-based, safe environment that supports co-regulation.
• Support Educational and Occupational Therapists during group activities.
• Participate in caregiver conferences and regular case staffing.
• Maintain cleanliness and safety of the classroom environment.

Skills

Bachelors degree in ECE/Child Dev

Trauma-informed interventions

Team collaboration

Strong communication skills

Ability to lift 45 pounds

Education

Bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education or Child Development

Advanced degree in related field (preferred)

Job description

Description

The Therapeutic Preschool at FamilyForward provides a highly structured environment utilizing trauma-informed, developmentally sensitive interventions for children ages three to six years experiencing emotional and behavioral difficulties resulting from histories of developmental trauma. The Therapeutic Preschool Float Teacher is a full-time member of the educational team who provides consistent support across multiple classrooms. This position partners with teachers, educational therapists, and clinicians to ensure continuity of care, maintain therapeutic programming, and provide classroom coverage as needed. The Float Teacher builds positive relationships with children throughout the program and quickly adapts to the unique routines, needs, and therapeutic goals of each classroom.

The Therapeutic Preschool at FamilyForward provides a highly structured environment utilizing trauma-informed, developmentally sensitive interventions for children ages three to six years experiencing emotional and behavioral difficulties resulting from histories of developmental trauma. This role is highly collaborative, partnering with other teachers and supported by a team of therapists to create a custom therapeutic plan for each child. An ideal candidate will be ready to nurture, play, build relationships, teach, and co-regulate with the children in the program. This role is ideal for an educator who enjoys variety, flexibility, and working as part of a multidisciplinary team. Classroom sizes are small to enable staff to provide the individualized support needed to help children thrive. FamilyForward is committed to upholding the Organizational Health Anchors that we have set for the agency, including: safety; mindfulness and self-regulation; relational health; cultural diversity, inclusivity, equity, and anti-racism; clinical lens; vicarious trauma and compassion fatigue.

What Puts FamilyForward Out Front

• Small adult-child ratios and high levels of support for staff in the classroom
• 4-days of programming, Fridays without students for flexible use
• 40-hour work week - No work on weekends
• Brand new facility built intentionally to support the needs of staff and clients
• Paid time off December 25th to January 1st
• Therapeutic service provision based in the Neurosequential Model of Therapeutics
• No on call hours
• Emphasis on professional learning, growth, and development
• This position offers the opportunity to work alongside multiple experienced therapeutic educators and clinicians while developing expertise across various classrooms, age groups, and therapeutic interventions.

How We Wholeheartedly Take Care Of Our People

• Medical, dental, and vision coverage for you and your family
• Optional short-term disability
• Virtual medical and mental health care coverage
• Employee Assistance Program counseling services
• Pre-tax medical Flexible Spending Accounts
• Health Reimbursement Account for deductible expenses over $1000 individual; $2000 for families
• 3% dollar for dollar company-matched 403(b) retirement savings account
• Company-paid long-term disability and life insurance
• 10 paid holidays, including 2 floating holidays for religious/cultural celebrations
• Wellness Week paid time off December 25th - 31st annually
• Paid vacation time and health and wellness leave
• Education assistance program
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness eligible employer
• National Health Service Corps Loan Repayment Eligible Site
• Member and active participant in the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and LGBTQ+ Chamber of Commerce
• Diversity Awareness Partnership Non-Profit Partner

What to expect on a given day as an Early Childhood Center Float Teacher:

• You will provide classroom coverage across all therapeutic preschool classrooms based on daily staffing and program needs, flexibility is essential for this position.
• You’ll be able to quickly adapt to different classroom routines, schedules, lesson plans, and therapeutic interventions while maintaining continuity of care.
• You will build relationships with young children and your classroom team to develop rapport and trust.
• You will create an environment in your classroom that supports play, felt safety, and co-regulation.
• You will actively engage students throughout the school day in developmentally appropriate and trauma-informed therapeutic activities.
• You will utilize individualized therapeutic interventions to support children through challenging behaviors and big emotions.
• You will implement all classroom practices including lessons plans, room arrangement, daily schedules, routines, and transitions.
• You will prepare and maintain the classroom environment for the daily activities, ensuring cleanliness and safety of the physical environment
• You will support the Educational Therapist and Occupational Therapist during group therapy throughout the week.
• You will communicate directly and effectively with clients, staff, supervisor, teammates and other professionals, demonstrating an embracement and responsiveness to cultural, familial, socioeconomic and other diverse experiences.
• You will be supported by a co-teacher and assigned educational therapist in the classroom.
• You will support implementation of established classroom lesson plans, room arrangement, routines, practices, and programming.
• You’ll assist with curriculum development and planning when providing extended classroom coverage.
• You will practice regular self-reflective practice and maintain continual curiosity to continue evolving skills and meeting the unique needs of children in your care.
• You will help track ea.ch child's progress, and regularly communicate updates to caregivers and each child’s treatment team.
• You will ensure the safety of students at all times, including utilizing the safe room and/or appropriate restraints (as a last resort) when absolutely necessary.
• You will actively participate in classroom meetings, all-staff meetings, staff development activities, and regular case staffing.
• You will participate in caregiver-teacher conferences twice yearly.
• You’ll prepare and maintain the classroom environment for daily activities; ensure cleanliness and safety of the physical environment.
• You will participate in the planned discharge process for all children, including the IEP process if applicable.
• You’ll perform other duties and projects as assigned.

You would be a good fit for this position if you:

• You hold a bachelors' degree in early childhood education or child development required. Advanced degree in related field (social work, counseling) and credits hours in early childhood education considered.
• You bring at least three years’ experience; with experience in early childhood education preferred.
• You meet the personal qualifications as required in Part 407: Licensing Standards for Day Care Centers.
• Have experience in serving high needs populations; preferably working with children with challenging behaviors.
• You have excellent written and oral communication skills.
• You are committed to trauma-informed interventions with children.
• You have strong self-care and stress management skills.
• You have the ability to perform the essential physical functions of the position, including sitting on the floor, transitioning to and from the floor, assisting children, and lifting up to 45 pounds, with or without reasonable accommodation.
• You have the ability to work effectively in a team-oriented, highly collaborative, and mutually respectful environment.
• You have the personal characteristics and temperament suitable for working with children with challenging behaviors and unique needs.
• You have the ability to adapt to changing assignments and priorities throughout the day.
• You have the ability to quickly establish rapport with children in multiple classrooms.
• You have the ability to successfully complete required criminal background screenings, Department of Education and Department of Social Services required background checking, child abuse and neglect registry checks, and pre-employment drug testing in accordance with agency policy.

Working Conditions

This position requires work in both indoor and outdoor environments in a variety of weather conditions. This position requires sustained periods of work on the computer, including writing/typing. Frequent movement between multiple classrooms throughout the day based on program needs is required. Daily assignments may change with little notice to support staffing, student needs, and continuity of therapeutic services. This position requires frequent communication with others, in-person and via telephone/virtual conferencing. The employee will be asked to move around rooms or within a space with sustained periods of standing, walking, bending, kneeling, crouching, sitting on the floor, and actively engaging in play and therapeutic activities with young children. Responsibilities include frequently lifting, carrying, pushing, pulling, or moving up to 45 pounds, with or without reasonable accommodation. Tasks in this role may involve various visual requirements, such as close and distance vision, color recognition, peripheral awareness, and focus adjustment. The work environment is active, fast-paced, and may include exposure to elevated noise levels and children experiencing emotional or behavioral dysregulation. Children may exhibit behaviors such as aggression, throwing objects, biting, kicking, hitting, elopement attempts, or other behaviors requiring therapeutic intervention. Employees may be required to implement approved behavior management or crisis intervention techniques consistent with agency policy and training.

FamilyForward is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate against employees because of their disability status, race, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, national origin, age, veteran status, or any other status protected under the law. FamilyForward is committed to a diverse and inclusive workplace and will make reasonable accommodations to ensure the success of all employees.

Additional Notes

The statements herein are intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed; but are not to be seen as a complete list of responsibilities, duties, and skills required of employees so classified. Also, they do not establish a contract for employment and are subject to change at the discretion of the employer.