Early Childhood Teacher - Infant

Nebraska Children's Home Society; Omaha (NE); On-site; USD 21,669 - 26,436; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

9 paid holidays

Generous vacation

5 well-being days

5% contribution to 401(k)

Medical, dental, vision insurance

Career development

Job summary

Nebraska Children's Home Society is looking for an Early Childhood Teacher in Omaha, NE. This role involves creating a safe and nurturing environment for young children, implementing lesson plans, and ensuring compliance with licensing regulations.

The ideal candidate must have a high school diploma and significant experience working with children. Benefits include paid holidays, flexible vacation, and health insurance.

Qualifications

• Minimum 18 years of age.
• Must have a high school diploma or GED and 1500 verified hours of experience.
• Knowledge of early childhood education principles and practices.

Responsibilities

• Supervise children and maintain safety protocols.
• Implement and document curriculum and assessments.
• Maintain compliance with licensing regulations and policies.

Skills

Understanding developmental milestones

Lesson planning

Positive behavior guidance

Communication with families

Education

High school diploma or GED with 1500 hours of experience

Job description

Position Summary

The Early Childhood Teacher is responsible for creating a safe, nurturing, and developmentally appropriate learning environment for young children. This position includes developing and implementing lesson plans, leading group activities, and ensuring children are supervised and well cared for throughout the day. The teacher builds positive interactions with children, families, and team members while maintaining a supportive and inclusive classroom atmosphere. They follow all safety protocols and program guidelines, ensuring compliance with licensing regulations and accreditation standards. Through meaningful learning experiences, the teacher upholds the philosophy and mission of NCHS.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

1. Child Supervision & Safety
   • Supervises children, conducts health and safety checks, and maintains child-to-staff ratios.
   • Prioritizes health and safety, responds to emergencies, and monitors special health and dietary needs.
   • Follows cleaning and sanitation guidelines to maintain a safe and hygienic environment.
   • Supports daily care in the classroom, ensuring children’s physical, cognitive, and emotional needs are met (e.g., feeding, toileting, comforting).
2. Curriculum & Child Development
   • Participates in the planning, implementation, and documentation of curriculum and assessments.
   • Monitors child development and provides feedback to families in conferences.
   • Builds positive relationships with children and families to foster a supportive learning environment.
   • Applies developmentally appropriate behavior management strategies.
   • Supports children and families during transitions (e.g., enrollment, classroom changes, daily routines).
3. Compliance and Documentation
   • Maintains compliance with NE DHHS licensing regulations, accreditation standards, and NCHS Early Childhood policies and procedures.
   • Completes required annual professional development.
   • Uses center resources efficiently and reports issues with materials and equipment to the director.
   • Accurately completes daily classroom attendance and meal logs, accident, daily activity reports, and other required documentation on time while ensuring confidentiality.

Supplemental Duties and Responsibilities

• Commitment to NCHS mission, vision, values, CQI initiatives, and strategic plan goals.
• Maintain a positive and cooperative relationship with internal and external professionals.
• Participation in agency committees as assigned.
• Positive representation of NCHS in all community settings.
• Ability to interpret and abide by NCHS policies and procedures.
• Embracing and championing NCHS’s mission, values, and culture.
• Other duties as assigned by the supervisor and/or director.

Qualifications and Requirements

1. Minimum Education and Experience
   • Must be at least 18 years of age.
   • Have a high school diploma or GED and 1500 verified clock hours of experience in organized group activities for young children as indicated by a positive reference from a former employer or supervisor.
2. Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
   • Understanding developmental milestones, early childhood education principles, and best practices to support cognitive, social‑emotional, and physical growth.
   • Familiar with developmentally appropriate curricula, lesson planning, and assessment tools.
   • Knowledge of positive behavior guidance strategies and conflict resolution techniques.
   • Awareness of sanitation/health guidelines for childcare environments.
   • Ability to build relationships with families, effectively communicate, and support their involvement in their child’s learning.
3. Physical Demand
   • The ability to frequently communicate with NCHS team members and community partnerships.
   • Able to inspect written communication and respond to directions and hazards.
   • Able to move equipment weighing up to 35 pounds.
   • Occasionally ascends/descends stairs in the building.
   • Able to operate a computer and other office equipment.
   • A copy of insurance and registration will be required upon hiring.
   • Requires active engagement, including standing, bending, lifting, and moving around the classroom and outdoor play areas.
4. Schedule Demands
   • Full time schedule follows a standard weekday schedule (Monday–Friday), may require early morning, evening, or occasional weekend availability for staff meetings, professional development, or family events.
   • Consistent attendance: reliable and punctual attendance is essential to maintaining staff‑to‑child ratios and ensuring a stable learning environment.
5. Site Factors
   • Work in an early childhood center setting.

Compensation and Schedule

Salary: $15.73 - $19.19 per hour, depending on education and experience. Hours: Monday – Friday, 8:30AM – 5:30PM.

Benefits

• 9 paid holidays each calendar year.
• Generous and flexible vacation.
• 5 well‑being days each year.
• Additional paid time for sick, bereavement, or new child leave.
• Fair and equal pay.
• 5% contribution to 401(k) after one year; full vesting after 5 years.
• Referral bonuses for employees who refer qualified candidates.
• Medical, dental, vision, disability, and life insurance.
• 5 free counseling sessions each year through our Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
• Career development.

Note: The physical demands and work environment characteristics described above are representative of those that will be encountered by a person performing the essential duties and responsibilities of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential job functions.