Infant-Toddler Teacher

Chautauqua Opportunities, Inc.; City of Dunkirk (NY); On-site; USD 32,000 - 39,000; Full time

Job summary

Chautauqua Opportunities, Inc. in Dunkirk, NY is expanding a Head Start classroom for children aged six weeks to three years. The position offers a unified co‑teaching team and developmentally appropriate lesson planning.

Starting pay varies by degree: NYS certified teachers start at 27.66/hr; Bachelor's start at 25.81/hr; Associate start at 23.95/hr. Master's adds 1,400; school year salaries listed. This full-time role requires meeting OCFS training requirements, provides opportunities to

Qualifications

• Requires NYS certification as an early childhood educator.
• Experience in Head Start and early childhood settings preferred.
• Ability to plan developmentally appropriate lessons with a co‑teacher.

Responsibilities

• Supervise and educate a classroom of up to 8 children aged 6 weeks to 3 years.
• Plan developmentally appropriate lesson plans with a co-teacher.
• Provide language, literacy, math, science and social-emotional activities.
• Maintain safe, healthy learning environments and daily routines.
• Engage families with regular communication and parent conferences.
• Support staff and volunteers in classroom activities.
• Conduct health checks and complete required screenings.
• Utilize child records and assessments to inform planning.
• Meet OCFS training requirements and maintain logs.

Skills

Teamwork

Verbal communication

Written communication

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Early Childhood Education or related

Job description

We are expanding and opening a new classroom!

Basic Function or Position Summary:

Responsible for the supervision, care and education of a classroom of up to 8 children, ages six weeks - 3 years, planning and implementing developmentally appropriate lesson plans with a co‑teacher. This classroom is located in Dunkirk, NY at a Head Start child care center.

NYS Certified Teachers start at $27.66/hr - $45,639 for the school year.

$1,400 additional for Master's degree

Bachelor's Degree in Early Childhood start at $25.81/hr - $42,586 for the school year while working towards NYS certification.

Associate's Degree in Early Childhood start at $23.95/hr - $39,517 for the school year.

Position Responsibilities and Specific Duties:

• Utilize nurturing and responsive practices and interactions that foster trust and emotional security; are communication and language rich;
• Include developmentally appropriate learning experiences in language, literacy, social and emotional development, math, science, social studies, creative arts, and physical development
• Provide a program of self-initiated, group-initiated and teacher-initiated activities which are intellectually stimulating and foster self-reliance and social responsibility.
• Implement well-organized learning environments with developmentally appropriate schedules, lesson plans, and indoor and outdoor learning experiences that provide adequate opportunities for choice, play, exploration, and experimentation
• Establish and implement a daily schedule of program activities that offers reasonable regularity in routines.
• Promote learning through approaches to rest, meals, routines, and physical activity.
• Serve meals to children ensuring dietary restrictions and safety for allergies are followed; model eating new and diverse food options.
• Complete or obtain a current developmental screening within 45 calendar days of when the child first attends the program.
• Conduct standardized and structured assessments for each child that provide ongoing information to evaluate the child's developmental level and progress.
• Integrate child assessment data in individual and group planning.
• Regularly communicate with parents to ensure they are well-informed about their child's routines, activities, and behavior.
• Implement IEP's and behavior plans with fidelity.
• Hold parent conferences two times per program year, for each child.
• Conduct at least two home visits per program year for each family.
• Develop opportunities for parents and family members to volunteer in the class.
• Ensure the health and safety of children by ensuring competent supervision of all children in care.
• Prepare necessary materials for activities in the classroom.
• Guide the work of Teacher Assistants, other staff and volunteers in support of classroom activities and supervision.
• Performs daily health checks on each individual child, following up when needed.
• Utilize software for tracking and maintaining all children records along with documentation of individual family contacts.
• Assist families in creating age-appropriate school readiness goals and provide information to achieve identified goals.
• Provide a safe and healthy learning environment.
• Support the planning and implementation of family events
• Maintains confidentiality and complies with the code of ethics.
• Other duties as designated by supervisor

Knowledge, Skills Required:

• Ability to work on a team.
• Good verbal and written communication skills.

Physical:

• Ability to lift up to and including 25-50 pounds of physical effort

Special Requirements:

• Meets OCFS training requirements and maintains training logs.

Job Attachment

Salary Competitive Y

Position Status Full time

Start Date 12/1/2026

Required Certification Type Special Education {9010}, Pre K-6 {3011}, Early Child (Pk3) Annotation {3012}, Nursery, Kindergarten Grades 1-6 - 3010, Students with Disabilities (All Grades) {0254}, Early Childhood Education Birth - Grade 2 {3013}, Literacy Birth - Grade 6 {7061}, Students with Disabilities Birth - Grade 2 {9013}

Contact Person's Name William Vogt

Contact Person's Title Early Care & Education Director

Contact Person's Phone [phone]

Contact Person's Email [e-mail]