Early Childhood Teacher

University of Utah; Utah; On-site; USD 21,000 - 25,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Excellent benefits package

Public transportation pass

Tuition reduction

Paid holidays and leave

Retirement options

Job summary

University of Utah’s Student Parent Support Center seeksEarly Childhood Teachers for campus childcare programs. These roles support infants to preschoolers through a nationally recognized curriculum, emphasizing play-based learning, social, physical, verbal, and cognitive development.

Responsibilities include leading classroom teams, developing lesson plans, and guiding staff with positive discipline while maintaining safety and institutional standards.

Qualifications

• At least 18 years of age with a high school diploma or GED.
• Minimum of 1 year of related experience working with children in a child care, Head Start, or preschool.
• Current CPR and First Aid certification, or must obtain within 3 months of hire.
• Current Food Handler’s Permit or must obtain upon hire.
• Must be able to lift and carry small children (10–50 lbs) for short distances.
• Must meet physical characteristics incl. vision, hearing and mobility.
• Must communicate effectively with children and parents/guardians, verbally and in writing.
• Twenty hours of continuing education each year in early childhood education, per Utah Licensing rules and regulations.

Responsibilities

• Promotes leadership within a classroom team and oversees classroom assistants to interpret behaviors.
• Models appropriate behavior and teaching techniques for teaching assistants.
• Develop and implement lesson plans to stimulate developmental progress with infants to preschoolers.
• Use positive guidance techniques to minimize inappropriate behavior.
• Support staff in activities, supervise ratios at all times, and assist with daily routines.
• Assist children with physical needs and life skills, including feeding and toileting.
• Maintain records of program usage for licensing and NAEYC compliance.

Skills

Classroom leadership

Team coordination

Lesson planning

Positive guidance

Child development

Education

High school diploma or GED

CPR/First Aid certification

Food handler permit

Job description

• Monday through Friday between 7:00 am and 7:00 pm
• Schedules may vary
• 20 – 40 hours/week (0.50-1.00 FTE ), depending on hiring needs and incumbent schedule

VP Area

VP Area President

Department

Department 00291 - Student Parent Support Center

Location

Location Campus

City

City Salt Lake City, UT

Type of Recruitment

Type of Recruitment External Posting

Pay Rate Range

Pay Rate Range $15.50 - $18.00/hour including an excellent benefits package

Close Date

Close Date 01/15/2027

Priority Review Date (Note - Posting may close at any time)

The Student Parent Support Center provides information, support, and family resources for university students, faculty, staff, and patients. Student Parent Support Center childcare programs are NAEYC accredited and serve children birth to six years. We offer part-time and full-time programming in three campus childcare programs for students, faculty, and staff and drop-in childcare for patients visiting the three U Health Centers throughout the Salt Lake Valley. These include Campus Child Care Programs ( UKids – Presidents Circle , UKids – East Village , and UKids-Guardsman Way ), South Jordan Health Center Program , Farmington Health Center Program , and Sugar House Health Center Program . Multiple openings and continuous hiring.
Our teachers bring kindness, patience, and mastery to the classroom every day, fostering children’s natural curiosity to learn through play and discovery. They encourage children to be lifelong learners using our nationally recognized curriculum that promotes active learning, social, physical, verbal, and cognitive development. We invest in our teacher’s education by providing a minimum of twenty hours of annual professional development in early childhood education, Utah State Licensing rules and regulations, and NAEYC best practices. Join our team and grow with us!
An excellent benefits package is included (see here for a full description of the benefits package): Generous retirement options, paid parental leave (in addition to FMLA ), Paid holidays per year plus vacation accruals each month. Wonderful health insurance options that are both affordable and allow access to care through the University of Utah health system. Tuition reduction for employees and family members. Options for short-term and long-term disability insurance, life insurance, and HSA / FSA savings plans are available. Free public transportation pass (see here for more information).

Responsibilities

Curriculum, Classroom Management Expectations and Guidance

• Promotes leadership skills within a classroom team and oversees classroom assistants to interpret behaviors and ensure that they are working appropriately with children.
• Models appropriate behavior and teaching techniques for teaching assistants.
• Develop and implement lesson plans to stimulate developmental progress as well as provide intentional daily experience, and hands-on activities for infants, toddlers, and preschool children in accordance with Creative Curriculum Developmental Objectives, DAP guidance techniques, and play-based learning.
• Use positive guidance techniques to minimize inappropriate behavior and redirect children to learn how to appropriately manage their own behavior in a positive manner.
• Supports staff in activities such as: playing on the floor with children at their eye level; actively supervising and maintaining ratios at all times; helping children toilet including lifting children to change their diapers, guiding them through the potty training process (as directed by the lead teacher), and washing hands; cleaning the classroom; maintaining safe transitions between indoors and playground (including actively supervising children outdoors year-round)
• Assists children with physical necessities, feeding, toileting/diapering, medical emergencies, and other life skills, to give proper care and, where appropriate, facilitate development.
• Daily routine care of children such as: feeding, diapering, cuddling, playing, singing, talking, picking children up, holding them, and otherwise providing a gentle and nurturing environment. You will need to be available and responsive to the individual needs of children.
• Other duties as assigned.

Professionalism

• Establishes and maintains friendly, professional, and effective working relationships with other employees, parents, and children.
• Works in conjunction with parents and guardians to build and maintain relationships, discuss concerns, provide suggestions and solutions to day-to-day problems, and alleviate concerns.
• Works in a supportive and cooperative manner with all staff
• Work as a team to maintain a cheerful and aesthetically pleasing childcare environment that reflects the interests of the children.
• Follows directives given by Administration, including Director or Director Designee. This may include last-minute changes to ensure the safety and well-being of children are maintained.
• Demonstrate the ability to work independently, but show a willingness to take direction from the supervisor.
• Demonstrates consistent attendance and punctuality.
• Responsible for accurate record keeping and data collection of client’s program usage to maintain compliance with child care licensing and NAEYC .

Problem Solving

Some challenges faced by the Early Childhood Teacher are teaching non-English speaking preschoolers while trying to overcome language and culture differences; and dealing with hyper-activity disorders. Other problems are parents who bring in sick children, those who are unable to leave work to pick up sick children, and those who cannot be reached when their child is sick.

Comments The incumbent must also distribute medication brought in by parents to children appropriately, and collect money for field trips.

Minimum Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications:

• At least 18 years of age with a high school diploma or GED required.
• Minimum of 1 year of related experience working with children, in a child care, Head Start, or preschool.
• Demonstrated interest in learning about child development and guidance.
• Current CPR and First Aid certification, or must obtain within 3 months of hire.
• Current Food Handler’s Permit or must obtain upon hire.
• Must be able to lift and carry small children in arms for short distances (10-50 lbs.).
• Must meet physical characteristics (with or without the use of aids) including:
  • Fine and gross motor skills
  • Sufficient vision to read printed material
  • Sufficient hearing to hear normal and telephone conversations
  • Ability to speak in an understandable voice with sufficient volume to be heard in normal conversation
  • Ability to sit on the floor and move about on hands and knees for long periods of time
  • Ability to walk and stand for long periods of time
• Must be able to communicate effectively with children and their parents/guardians, both verbally and in writing.
• Must be able to complete ongoing written assessments about each child that will be shared with parents/guardians.
• Demonstrated skills in general office duties, computer systems, and technology.
• Must be available for in-person meetings with parents/guardians when requested.
• Must be able to communicate effectively with management and/or dispatch in case of emergency.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently, manage time, evaluate progress, and adjust activities to complete projects within established timeframe.
• Skilled in establishing effective and collaborative working relationships.
• Able to demonstrate skills in effective communication, conflict resolution, and problem-solving.
• Demonstrated skills in general office duties, computer systems, and technology.
• A commitment to providing excellent customer service skills.
• Twenty hours of continuing education each year in early childhood education, per Utah Licensing rules and regulations and NAE