Benefits
- Flexible schedule
- Free food & snacks
- Opportunity for advancement
- Training & development
Midday Support Teacher
Part-Time | Monday–Friday | Approximately 10:00 AM–2:00 PM (flexible)
The Red Barn Child Care Center & Preschool is looking for a dependable, energetic Midday Support Teacher to provide additional classroom support during some of the busiest parts of our day.
This position is ideal for someone who enjoys working with young children, is comfortable moving between classrooms, and naturally notices where an extra set of hands is needed. Rather than being assigned to one classroom throughout the entire shift, the Support Teacher will assist teachers and children with transitions, meals, toileting, behavior support, classroom coverage, and rest-time preparation.
Responsibilities
- Provide classroom coverage and support as assigned by administration
- Assist classrooms during indoor/outdoor and playground transitions
- Maintain active supervision of children at all times
- Help maintain required staff-to-child ratios and group supervision
- Assist children with handwashing, toileting, diapering, and other personal-care routines
- Support teachers during lunch, snacks, and mealtime routines
- Assist children who need additional support with transitions, emotional regulation, behavior, or classroom expectations
- Help prepare classrooms and cots for rest time
- Assist with classroom cleaning, sanitizing, organization, and resetting learning areas
- Step into different classrooms and age groups based on the needs of the center
- Follow all Red Barn policies and Tennessee Department of Human Services child care licensing requirements
- Communicate professionally with teachers, administrators, children, and families
- Participate in required training, staff development, and performance evaluations
Required Qualifications
Applicants must:
- Be at least 18 years old for a teaching/assistant teaching role involving children age four and younger
- Possess a high school diploma or equivalent when serving as the educator responsible for a group or otherwise required by Tennessee licensing standards
- Successfully complete all required Tennessee child care criminal history and registry background checks, including fingerprinting, before having unsupervised access to children
- Be eligible to work in a Tennessee licensed child care program
- Complete all required pre-service, orientation, and child-care-specific training
- Complete required training related to child abuse prevention, abusive head trauma/shaken baby syndrome, safe sleep when applicable, emergency procedures, supervision, and other licensing-required topics
- Obtain and maintain CPR and First Aid certification within the timeframe required by Tennessee licensing
- Provide required documentation from a licensed medical provider verifying the ability to safely and appropriately care for children in a group setting
- Meet applicable communicable-disease screening requirements
- Comply with The Red Barn's drug-free workplace and drug-screening policies
- Maintain required annual professional development and training documentation
- Be able to comply with all DHS health, safety, supervision, behavior-management, and reporting requirements
- Have reliable transportation and dependable attendance
Physical Requirements
Because this is an active child care position, applicants must be able to:
- Frequently stand, walk, bend, squat, kneel, sit on the floor, and transition between standing and floor-level activities
- Move quickly when necessary to ensure children's safety
- Regularly lift and carry young children and classroom materials
- Assist children with toileting, diapering, dressing, and other daily-care needs
- Set up and put away cots, classroom materials, and equipment
- Participate in indoor and outdoor activities in varying weather conditions
- Maintain visual and auditory supervision of children throughout the shift
- Perform the essential functions of the position safely, with or without reasonable accommodation
What We're Looking For
Our strongest Support Teachers are:
- Warm, patient, calm, and genuinely enjoy children
- Dependable and punctual
- Flexible and willing to work with multiple age groups
- Comfortable stepping into a classroom without needing constant direction
- Able to recognize when a teacher or child needs additional support
- Team-oriented and willing to help wherever needed
- Able to remain composed during busy transitions or challenging behaviors
- Positive and professional in communication
- Receptive to coaching and feedback
- Committed to providing safe, nurturing, developmentally appropriate care
Preferred Qualifications
- Previous experience in child care, preschool, early childhood education, elementary education, or a related setting
- Familiarity with developmentally appropriate practices
- Experience supporting children's social-emotional development and challenging behaviors
- Current CPR/First Aid certification
- CDA, early childhood coursework, or other child development training
Experience is preferred, but we are willing to train the right person who is dependable, caring, coachable, and committed to children.
Why This Role Matters
The Midday Support Teacher is not simply a \"floater.\" This person helps stabilize classrooms during the busiest portion of the day, gives teachers the support they need, helps children navigate transitions successfully, and allows our classrooms to remain safe, calm, and consistent.
If you love children and enjoy being the person who can walk into a busy situation and make the day run a little smoother, we'd love to meet you.