Lead Teacher

Children's Lighthouse of Olathe; Gardner (KS); On-site; USD 21,000 - 23,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k)

Dental insurance

Employee discount

Flexible schedule

Health insurance

Life insurance

Paid time off

Professional development assistance

Tuition reimbursement

Vision insurance

Job summary

Children's Lighthouse of Gardner is seeking a Lead Qualified Early Childhood Educator for a floating/substitute role. You will move between classrooms across all age groups, stepping in to lead a classroom with consistent quality, becoming a trusted member of our center.

This is a long-term career path in early childhood education, with regular curriculum training and supportive admin. We offer a competitive hourly rate, 30–40 hours per week, in-person at our Gardner location.

Qualifications

• Meets Kansas state qualifications for Lead Teacher (CDA, associate's or bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education or related field, or equivalent qualifying experience).
• Experience with multiple age groups preferred.
• Flexible and adaptable with a warm, upbeat personality.

Responsibilities

• Step into lead teacher roles across infant, toddler, preschool, and/or school-age classrooms as needed.
• Implement our curriculum consistently, maintaining quality care in every room you cover.
• Build genuine relationships with children and communicate warmly with families.
• Maintain a safe, clean classroom environment in compliance with state licensing requirements.
• Manage classroom behavior with positive guidance techniques appropriate to each age group.
• Keep accurate records (attendance, incident reports, developmental observations)

Skills

Team player

Strong communication

Punctual and reliable

Flexible/adaptable

Education

CDA or ECE degree

Job description

Lead Qualified Early Childhood Educator — Floater

Do you have the right skills and experience for this role Read on to find out, and make your application.

Children's Lighthouse of Gardner

125 N Moonlight Road, Gardner, KS 66030

About Us

Children's Lighthouse of Gardner is a licensed childcare center providing a safe, nurturing, educational environment for children to learn and grow. We're looking for a Lead Qualified Early Childhood Educator for a floating/substitute role — someone building a career in early childhood education, not just picking up temporary hours.

About the Role

You'll move between classrooms across all age groups, stepping in wherever you're needed to keep our curriculum and routines on track. You'll be a full member of our team — not a fill-in — trusted to lead a classroom with the same quality and consistency as any permanent lead teacher, while getting to know every room, family, and staff member in our center.

We're looking for someone who sees this as the start of (or next step in) a long-term career in early childhood education. It's a great way to learn every age group in our program before moving into a permanent lead position as openings arise.

What You'll Do

• Step into lead teacher roles across infant, toddler, preschool, and/or school-age classrooms as needed
• Implement our curriculum consistently, maintaining quality care in every room you cover
• Build genuine relationships with children and communicate warmly with families
• Maintain a safe, clean classroom environment in compliance with state licensing requirements
• Manage classroom behavior with positive guidance techniques appropriate to each age group
• Keep accurate records (attendance, incident reports, developmental observations)

What We're Looking For

• Meets Kansas state qualifications for a Lead Teacher (CDA, associate's or bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education or related field, or equivalent qualifying experience)
• Experience with multiple age groups preferred
• Flexible and adaptable, with a warm, upbeat personality that puts children and coworkers at ease
• A team-player attitude — willing to jump in and help wherever needed
• Strong communication and classroom management skills
• Reliable, punctual, and able to commit to a consistent schedule
• Must pass all required background checks and meet Kansas licensing requirements

Why This Role Is Different

This isn't a stopgap position — it's a real career path. xzgxqkn We provide regular curriculum training and in-class support from our Curriculum Coordinator, and our admin team is genuinely helpful and easy to work with. If you're looking for a place to grow, not just a paycheck between jobs, we'd love to talk to you.

Pay: $15.00 - $17.00 per hour

Expected hours: 30.0 – 40.0 per week

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• Dental insurance
• Employee discount
• Flexible schedule
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Professional development assistance
• Tuition reimbursement
• Vision insurance

Work Location: In person