School Age Group Leader

Playful Minds; Chicopee (MA); On-site; USD 22,000 - 26,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Sick Leave

First Aid, CPR and Background Check 1

Training Expense reimbursements

Job summary

Playful Minds Learning Center LLC in Chicopee, MA is seeking a part-time School Age Group Leader to teach and provide the best environment for children, in collaboration with the Site Coordinator. Responsibilities include maintaining licensing compliance, supervising staff and volunteers, building strong relationships with families, and delivering developmentally appropriate activities.

The role requires eligibility items and ongoing training; benefits include sick leave, CPR/First Aid

Qualifications

• Must be 21 years of age or older.
• Must enjoy working with children.
• Knowledge of child development.
• Classroom management skills.
• Understanding of, and commitment to, best practices in education.
• Strong written and oral communication skills.
• Strong problemsolving skills.
• Medical exam within 1 year of employment and physician's clearance.
• Evidence of mandatory vaccinations or immunity to communicable diseases.
• Background checks required.

Responsibilities

• Uphold the philosophy of Playful Minds and serve as a positive representative of the organization.
• Establish and maintain high quality relationships with children and families.
• Establish and maintain professional relationships with staff.
• Maintain an appropriate and safe environment for children at all times.
• Follow licensing requirements and supervision ratios.
• Maintain documentation and records accurately and timely.
• Attend required staff meetings and trainings.
• Direct, mentor and collaborate with the Group Assistant and volunteers.
• Ensure health and safety of all children.

Skills

Active listening

Written and verbal communication

Classroom management

Child development knowledge

Team collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s Degree or Associate’s Degree + 3 months experience

High School diploma or GED + 6 months experience

9 months experience in school-age program

Job description

Position Summary

The School Age Group Leader’s first responsibility is teaching and providing the best possible environment for the children assigned to their classroom. In collaboration with

Position Summary

The School Age Group Leader’s first responsibility is teaching and providing the best possible environment for the children assigned to their classroom. In collaboration with the Site Coordinator, the School Age Group Leader is responsible for ensuring compliance with all regulations, Playful Minds policies and procedures, and for striving for continual improvement.

Reports To Site Coordinator

Supervisory Responsibility Group Assistant & Volunteers

Schedule Part Time

Starting Salary Range $16.00-$19.00/hour

Benefits

• Sick Leave
• First Aid, CPR and Background Check reimbursements
• Training Expense reimbursements

Education & Experience

• Option 1: o Bachelor’s Degree or Associate’s Degree and 3 months of experience working with school-age children
• Option 2: o High School diploma or GED and 6 months of experience working with school-age children, including 3 months of supervised experience at a school-age childcare program
• Option 3: 9 months of experience working with school-age children, including 3 months of supervised experience at a childcare program.

Additional Eligibility Requirements

• Must be 21 years of age or older
• Must enjoy working with children
• Knowledge of child development
• Classroom management skills
• Understanding of, and commitment to, best practices in education
• Strong active listening skills: ability to give full attention to what others are saying, take time to understand, ask questions as appropriate and respond at the appropriate time.
• Strong written and oral communication skills
• Strong problemsolving skills
• Documented completion of medical exam within 1 year of employment and statement from a physician that the applicant is physically capable of doing the job
• Must provide evidence of mandatory vaccinations, including MMR, or immunity to communicable diseases, including TB
• Background checks required

Playful Minds Learning Center LLC, SA Group Leader Job Description Updated 6/2026

Key Responsibilities

All Staff Responsibilities

• Uphold the philosophy of Playful Minds and serve as a positive representative of the organization
• Establish and maintain high quality relationships with children and families
• Establish and maintain strong, professional relationships with other Playful Minds staff
• At all times, speak to children with respect
• Maintain an appropriate and safe environment for children at all times
• Consistently implement all licensing requirements, including but not limited to maintaining supervision ratios at all times
• Maintain all required documentation and record keeping accurately and in a timely manner including, but not limited to, attendance records, Incident & Injury Reports, meal records and progress reports
• Consistently follow all Playful Minds’ policies & procedures
• Consistently attend work according to your established schedule
• Attend all required staff meetings and trainings
• All staff are Mandated Reporters
• Ensure the health and safety of all children

Health & Safety

• Maintain safety, organization and cleanliness of the classroom: includes washing, vacuuming and other light housekeeping tasks, keeping all dangerous materials out of children’s reach and reporting any broken equipment
• Follow all dismissal procedures, including but not limited to, only dismissing children to approved pickup adults
• Report all health or safety related incidents, including but not limited to medical and behavioral issues, to the Site Coordinator
• Administer medication to children in accordance with licensing regulations and Playful Minds policies and procedures
• Assist with food program preparation, set up and clean up as assigned

Playful Minds Learning Center LLC, SA Group Leader Job Description Updated 6/2026

Curriculum

• Establish a classroom environment which is content and sensory rich, intentional, organized, appealing, responsive to the needs and interests of the children and approved by the Site Coordinator
• Through careful, documented observations, get to know the individual children in your group, including their needs, skills and interests, and individualize your teaching and interactions accordingly
• Implement the recommendations of specialists for individual support, as approved by the Site Coordinator
• Support the growth of all developmental skills, meeting each child where they are developmentally
• Help children to properly utilize classroom materials
• Assist Site Coordinator with creating highquality, developmentally appropriate, engaging lesson plans which are aligned with best practices, PMLC curriculum guidelines, state and federal licensing regulations, and tailored to the needs, skills and interests of the children in the group
• Share lesson plans with the Group Assistant and any volunteers, and provide implementation guidance
• Implement child guidance in accordance with PMLC policies and procedures, individualizing your responses based on the needs and abilities of each child
• Create a community of inclusion and respect among the children and adults in the classroom

Communications

• Conduct parentteacher conferences as needed or assigned
• Assist Site Coordinator with updating classroom bulletin board at least monthly, according to schedule
• Notify the Site Coordinator or Program Director of any parent complaints
• Direct, mentor and collaborate with the Group Assistant and any volunteers

Other Duties as Assigned

Additional Information

Work Environment

• Classroom
• Outside play areas
• Office

Physical Demands

• Must be able to lift children (up to 75 lbs.), speak to children at eye level, sit on the floor, run and engage in active play

Ongoing Training & Certification Requirements

• Annual First Aid & CPR
• Maintain certification with MA EEC and/or CT OEC
• Annual professional development

Playful Minds Learning Center LLC, SA Group Leader Job Description Updated 6/2026

Limitations & Disclaimer

The above job description is meant to describe the general nature and level of work being performed; it is not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required for the position. This job description reflects PMLC administration’s assignment of essential functions; and nothing in this herein restricts PMLC administration’s right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time. All job requirements are subject to possible modification to reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities. Some requirements may exclude individuals who pose a direct threat or significant risk to the health and safety of themselves or other employees. This job description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by the employee occupying this position. Employees will be required to follow any other job-related instructions and to perform other job-related duties requested by their supervisor in compliance with Federal and State Laws. Requirements are representative of minimum levels of knowledge, skills and/or abilities. To perform this job successfully, the employee must possess the abilities or aptitudes to perform each duty proficiently. Continued employment remains on an “at-will” basis.