Early Childhood Teacher

Rooted & Rising; Milwaukee (WI); Hybrid; USD 22,000 - 28,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid time off

403(b) retirement

ICHRA health plan

Life insurance

Onsite childcare discount

Professional development

Short-Term Disability

Job summary

Rooted & Rising - Washington Park’s Growing Tree Children’s Center in Milwaukee, WI is seeking an Early Childhood Educator for infant care and developmentally appropriate activities. You will build trusting relationships with children and families while guiding holistic growth—social, emotional, cognitive, and physical.

Core duties include daily activity planning, outdoor learning, portfolio maintenance, safety, and collaboration with staff and families to support each child’s progress and

Qualifications

• Minimum of 1 year of experience working with children in preschool or similar setting.
• Strong lesson planning, problem solving and classroom/group management skills.
• Excellent oral and written communication and basic computer proficiency.
• Ability to work outdoors for extended periods and lead physical activities.
• Current CPR and First Aid certification or willingness to obtain within 60 days.
• Ability to pass background checks and health screenings.

Responsibilities

• Plan and execute daily activities in art, music, language, and motor development.
• Plan weekly activities in science, math, and multicultural experiences.
• Maintain portfolio with observations and growth data.
• Ensure welfare, health, and safety for all children in the Center.
• Meet individual needs and participate in ongoing training.
• Document progress and share reports with parents at conferences.

Skills

Lesson planning

Classroom management

Communication

Organizational skills

Outdoor activities

Team collaboration

Problem solving

Education

ECE Technical Degree

Infant & Toddler Credential

12 ECE credits coursework

Job description

Location: Milwaukee, WI - Washington Park Neighborhood

Position Type: Full-Time, Non-Exempt
Reports to: Director of Early Childhood Education
Compensation: $16-20 per hour (based on experience and qualifications)

Agency: Rooted & Rising - Washington Park's Growing Tree Children's Center

Overview

Established in 1962, Rooted & Rising - Washington Park (formerly United Methodist Children's Services/UMCS) has a deep commitment to and long-standing presence in Milwaukee's Washington Park neighborhood, where it has provided a wide range of social service programs and assistance to individuals and families, including supportive housing, community organizing, emergency food resources, social work and early childhood education.

Having served as a staple in the Washington Park neighborhood since 1998, The Growing Tree Children's Center looks to take on new initiatives as we continue to grow. Our goal is to transition from a traditional childcare to early education with an emphasis on outdoor education, a move that requires a shift in focus to intentional, structured planning and environments as we immerse ourselves in holistic learning using the world around us.

Rooted & Rising's Growing Tree Children's Center is looking for an Early Childhood Educator to serve in its infant room and make a positive, life-long impact on children, supporting their learning by providing age-appropriate activities and materials that children find engaging and that supports their developmental growth. The ECE Teacher will build caring, trusting, and respectful relationships with children and their families while nurturing each child in all aspects of development; socially, emotionally, cognitively, and physically.

Primary Responsibilities and Essential Job Functions

• 1. In collaboration with other teachers and staff, plans and executes appropriate activities for the children each day in art, music, language, and motor development, including outdoor play.
• 2. Plans and executes appropriate activities for the children each week in science, math, and multicultural experiences
• 3. Maintain portfolio with observations, assessments, and collections of children's growth and development
• 4. Assures the welfare, health, and safety for all children in the Center
• 5. Actively meets the individual needs of all children, participating in training when necessary to meet these needs
• 6. Evaluates each child's progress and provide a written report using data obtained from observations, interactions and assessments, maintained in child's portfolio, and shared with parents at least twice per year during parent conferences
• 7. Provides for safety, security and confidentiality of all children
• 8. Works flexibly and cooperatively with staff members, administration and parents
• 9. Participates in parent conferences as necessary
• 10. Attends staff meetings and parent functions
• 11. When in classroom, eats meals with children
• 12. Meets training and continuing education requirements established by licensing standards and Agency policy
• 13. Meets all reporting requirements of the position
• 14. Responsible for adherence to established standards of courtesy, discipline, attendance and dress code
• 15. Contributes to growth/development/mission/vision of Rooted & Rising - Washington Park
• 16. Additional assignments and tasks as designated by Growing Tree and/or Rooted & Rising administration

Requirements, Qualifications and Skills

• Dedication to the mission of Rooted & Rising and the people we serve
• Minimum of 1 year of experience working with children in a preschool, childcare, or other educational setting
• Strong lesson planning, problem-solving and classroom/group management skills
• Strong oral and written communication skills and basic computer proficiency
• Strong organizational and time-management skills
• High energy level and the ability to work collaboratively with staff, children and families
• Demonstrated understanding of child development
• Demonstrated awareness of boundary/safety and confidentiality issues inherent to childcare
• Current CPR and First Aid certification (or willingness to obtain within 60 days of employment)
• Ability to work outdoors for extended periods and lead physical activities
• Physical requirements include frequent walking, standing, bending, kneeling, lifting up to 25 lbs. without assistance and the use of hands and fingers to manage equipment and materials
• Vision abilities include close-range and distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision and depth perception
• Excellent leadership, organizational and interpersonal skills
• Ability to manage stressful situations, multi-task and stay on schedule
• Sound judgement and reasoning skills, particularly as it applies to child safety and well-being
• Knowledge of positive behavior guidance and redirection strategies
• Must pass required background checks and health screenings

Preferred Experience

• ECE Technical Degree, Infant & Toddler Credential, or completion of 12 ECE-related credits, Introduction to Child Care Profession, Skills & Strategies for the Child Care Teacher, Infant/Toddler, Child Abuse & Neglect, SIDS and Shaken Baby Syndrome
• Experience with nature-based, outdoor or experiential learning programs
• Proven classroom and behavior management experience with school-age children
• Experience or training in diverse communities and inclusive educational settings
• Previous infant and toddler experience preferred
• Paid time off vacation/holidays; Employer-supported 403(b) retirement/savings plan; Individual Coverage Health Reimbursement Allowance (ICHRA); Life insurance; Discounted onsite childcare available via the Growing Tree Children's Center; Professional development opportunities; Short-Term Disability.

Rooted & Rising - Washington Park is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.