Lead Teacher

BrightPath Early Learning & Child Care Career Center; Budd Lake (NJ); On-site; USD 45,000 - 58,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Childcare discount

401(k) with company match

Professional development

Paid time off

8 paid holidays

Health, dental, vision insurance

Life insurance

Job summary

BrightPath Kids in Budd Lake, NJ, is seeking a Lead Teacher to support children from 6 weeks to 12 years, working with families and staff under NAEYC guidelines to provide a safe, nurturing home-like environment.

The role requires an Associate Degree or CDA/Head Teacher certification or 15 ECE credits, plus 2+ years in a licensed childcare setting. You’ll multitask, stay organized, and meet state employment criteria. No evenings or weekends; full-time with competitive benefits.

Qualifications

• Associate degree in Early Childhood Education or related field, CDA, Head Teacher certification, or 15 ECE credits.
• At least 2 years of licensed child care facility experience.
• Strong customer service and organizational skills.
• Must meet state childcare employment criteria.

Responsibilities

• Ensure safety and supervision of children ages 6 weeks–12 years in assigned classroom.
• Create developmentally appropriate curriculum per NAEYC standards.
• Curate programs and activities based on children's interests.
• Maintain a warm, safe environment for growth and exploration.
• Partner with families to plan for best care and education.
• Communicate effectively with parents/guardians.

Skills

Customer service

Multitasking

Organization

State childcare eligibility

Education

Associate Degree in ECE / related field

CDA credential

Head Teacher certification

15 ECE credits

Job description

Center: Budd Lake, NJ

Job Type: Full-Time

No evenings or weekends!

Build your career in the early childhood education field and become a valued member of our team at BrightPath Kids! As a proud member of the Busy Bees global childcare community, we offer exceptional opportunities for your career to thrive. Join our diverse community of over 5,000 dedicated employees, and experience competitive pay and benefits, including a childcare discount. With our rapid growth, now is the perfect time to apply and shape an extraordinary future with us. Unleash your potential and join BrightPath!

What will you be doing?

As a Lead Teacher, you will work side-by-side with teachers and families to provide a home away from home for children in our care, according to NAEYC guidelines. Responsibilities include:

• Ensuring the safety and supervision of children ages 6 weeks – 12 years in one assigned classroom.
• Creating developmentally appropriate curriculum according to NAEYC standards.
• Curating programs and activities based on children’s interests and learning styles.
• Maintaining a warm and safe environment that is clean and permits children to grow and explore.
• Partnering with families to create plans to provide the best care and education for their children.
• Providing effective communication with parents/guardians about their child.

Top Reasons to join BrightPath:

• We offer a 60% child care discount to ALL employees so that your family can take advantage of our great learning environment!
• All staff are eligible to participate in the 401(k) program which offers a company match – this is free money!
• We will support your long-term career goals by offering opportunities for professional development.
• Full-time staff accrue paid time off in their first year.
• Full-time staff are given 8 paid holidays off.
• Full-time staff are offered health insurance, dental insurance, vision insurance and $10,000 of company-paid life insurance.

Requirements:

• Associate Degree in Early Childhood Education/related field OR Child Development Associate (CDA) credential OR Head Teacher certification OR 15 credits in Early Childhood Education courses required
• 2+ years of experience in a licensed child care facility preferred
• Strong customer service skills
• Ability to multitask and remain organized
• Ability to work within regular operating hours
• Must meet state criteria for child care employment