Early Head Start Co-Teacher

Black River Area Development, Corp.; Walnut Ridge (AR); On-site; USD 30,000 - 45,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Sick, annual, and holiday pay

Employer matched 401k

Health, dental, and vision insurance after 60 days

Job summary

Black River Area Development, Corp. is seeking a dedicated professional to work at the Walnut Ridge Child Development Center, focusing on the developmental needs of children ages six weeks to three years. The role involves planning educational activities, conducting assessments, and collaborating with families to support children's growth.

The successful candidate will require a Child Development Associate credential and must demonstrate experience in early childhood education along with effective communication skills. This position comes with benefits including employer-matched 401k and health insurance after 60 days.

Qualifications

• Must have Child Development Associate credential and experience teaching infant/toddler-age children.
• Ability to communicate effectively with infants, toddlers, and parents.
• Flexibility to work overtime for after-school programs.

Responsibilities

• Plan and organize classroom activities for children ages six weeks to three years.
• Conduct developmental screenings and assessments for children.
• Create a safe and nurturing environment for learning.

Skills

Child Development Associate credential

Experience teaching infant/toddler-age children

Ability to read and interpret documents

Effective communication skills

Flexibility in working hours

Ability to provide positive support

Education

Child Development Associate credential

Job description

• at the Walnut Ridge Child Development Center
• Date Posted: May 19, 2026

Job Responsibilities

Summary:

Carry out the mission statement of BRAD Child Development Programs: Close the achievement gap by focusing on positive child and family outcomes; resulting in a better future for children, families and communities. Instruct children in activities designed to promote social, physical, and intellectual growth needed for later success in life.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities include the following. (Other duties may be assigned.)

Plans and organizes center classroom activities that are aligned with specified early childhood practices to address the needs of children ages six weeks to three years.

Education:

• Plan, implement and individualize learning experiences that advance the development of the whole child using the Creative Curriculum in a nurturing, learning environment.
• Improve school readiness for children in literacy and math with classroom experiences that enrich social, cognitive, physical and emotional development utilizing appropriate early childhood education practices.
• Utilize the online Teaching Strategies Gold platform for documenting and assessing each child’s development to ensure that appropriate activities are planned and executed to meet individual needs.
• Maintain an environment that allows children to explore and learn by utilizing lesson plans and creating meaningful experiences.
• Use provided professional development opportunities to grow teaching practices in addition to working with assigned mentor coaches.
• Create a partnership with families that allows for learning opportunities to occur in the home.
• Conducts and documents developmental, speech, behavioral, and growth screenings for children.
• Develop an understanding of the assessment tools used to monitor classrooms at the state and federal level.
• Plans, schedules and conducts parent conferences and home visits.

Health & Safety:

• Follow Mandated Reporter protocols in an effort to protect young children from suspected neglect/abuse
• Maintain confidentiality regarding children’s health at all times
• Prioritize the safety of children using active supervision at all times
• Maintain and follow Emergency Healthcare plans for children
• Complete required protocol for health practices with and for children.
• Extend learning opportunities in small groups about health and safety
• Maintain a safe, healthy learning environment through cleaning & sanitation

Family Services/ERSEA:

• Serves as the Family Advocate for the four children on assigned caseload.
• Collaborate with families in a partnership that identifies needs, interests, strengths, goals, services and resources that support family well-being
• Encourage attendance and participation in Parent Meetings and Parent Engagement Activities
• Track Volunteer hours for non-federal match
• Encourage parents to read at home and track lending library books
• Recruit and promote regular attendance
• Maintain accurate daily meal count records according to Child Adult Care Food Program
• Assist children and model family style dining (setting the table/ serving)
• Encourage healthy food habits among children.
• Extend learning opportunities at meal times by engaging children in conversation
• Maintain and monitor accurate height/weight charts for all children

Mental Health:

• Implement trauma-informed social-emotional curriculum, Conscious Discipline, in the classroom setting.
• Conduct social-emotional assessments per agency regulations.
• Provide positive support in teaching practices with children and families.

Professional Development:

• Complete and/or maintain all applicable certifications as required for the position
• Provide guidance to volunteers and other classroom personnel.
• Actively participate in center-based meetings, as applicable.
• Attend workshops and training programs to improve skills, increase awareness and enhance knowledge.
• Participate in cross-training initiatives for various roles to promote a well-rounded understanding of departmental functions.

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notices.

Requirements

Qualifications

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Education and/or Experience: Child Development Associate credential and experience teaching infant/toddler-age children.
• Language Skills: Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals. Ability to write routine reports and correspondence. Ability to speak effectively before groups of employees of the organization.
• Mathematical Skills : Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals. Computes accurate numerical reports such as in-kind, mileage forms, and timesheets.
• Reasoning Ability: Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of situations. Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.
• Computer Skills & Technology: To perform this job successfully, an individual should be willing to advance computer skills as needed for the job.
• Certificates, Licenses, Registrations: Current driver’s license, First Aid and CPR certification, & Health Assessment.
• Other Skills and Abilities: Skilled at reading aloud to children, using expression and emotion. Skilled at communicating and working with infants, toddlers and adults. Must be able to work flexible hours and/or overtime if necessary for after-school programs and parent meetings as needed.
• Training & Safety Culture: Flexibility to attend evening greetings or training as needed; willingness to travel for training and conferences. Completion of all required training is mandatory. Completion of all required training is mandatory. Employees must consistently adhere to and support the organization’s culture of safety by following safety policies, participating in safety-related training, and contributing to a safe work environment.
• Physical Demands: 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. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this Job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee is frequently required to stand; walk; sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms and stoop, kneel, crouch, and sit on the floor with children. The employee is occasionally required to climb or balance. The employee must regularly lift and /or move up to 10 pounds, frequently lift and/or move up to 25 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and distance vision.
• Work Environment: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

Schedule

Monday – Friday 7:30AM – 4:00PM

Ready to Apply?

Submit your application and take the first step toward making a difference with BRAD.

BRAD Child Development Programs provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

BRAD Child Development Programs offers sick, annual, and holiday pay. Employer Matched 401k. Also eligible for health, dental, vision, and life insurance after 60 days of employment. BRAD requires pre-employment background checks and drug screening.