Toddler Teacher

Acorn Academy of Madison; Madison (NJ); Hybrid; USD 40,000 - 56,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical benefits

Paid time off between Christmas and NY

Paid vacation

Paid sick leave

Job summary

Acorn Academy of Madison in New Jersey seeks a dedicated lead teacher to guide the teaching team, drive curriculum collaboration, and oversee day-to-day classroom operations.

You will support children's cognitive, social and emotional development, mentor assistants, communicate with families through conferences and reports, and ensure a safe, well‑ managed learning environment. This full-time role requires strong leadership and interpersonal skills.

Qualifications

• Must clear background check and health screening.
• Ability to take frequent walks, use hands, lift up to 50 pounds.
• Vision abilities including near and distance vision and color perception.
• High energy and ability to work with staff, children and parents.
• Strong oral and written communication skills.
• Infant/child CPR and First Aid certification preferred.
• Minimum of 2 years of professional child care experience.
• Excellent leadership, organizational and interpersonal skills.

Responsibilities

• Develop age-appropriate activities stimulating social, cognitive, and emotional growth.
• Motivate the teaching team by leading by example and coaching.
• Establish and maintain open communication with parents through discussions and conferences.
• Ensure a healthy, clean, and safe classroom while maintaining records.
• Stay updated with personal and professional development plans.
• Plan and execute activities that actively engage children across domains.
• Ensure center policies and state regulations are followed.
• Adhere to center policies, maintaining a clean and safe environment.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Team collaboration

Child development knowledge

Tools

Basic computer skills

Job description

About This Role

The primary objective of the Teacher role is to lead the teaching team, drive curriculum collaboration, and oversee the day-to-day functioning of the classroom. To achieve this, the teacher must possess a deep understanding of children's cognitive, social, emotional, and physical development, ensuring a secure and engaging classroom environment where children are motivated to succeed. Effective communication skills, both with children and adults, are essential for guiding teacher assistants, addressing parental concerns, and meeting the needs of the children.

What You'll Do

• Develop age-appropriate activities that stimulate children's social, cognitive, and emotional growth, while ensuring adherence to developmentally appropriate practices and early learning standards.
• Motivate the teaching team by leading by example, providing coaching and support to ensure their success.
• Establish and maintain open communication with parents through regular discussions, progress reports, and parent-teacher conferences.
• Ensure the classroom environment is healthy, clean, and safe for children, while maintaining accurate records, forms, and files.
• Stay up-to-date with personal and professional development, adhering to personal professional development plans to enhance quality improvement.
• Plan and execute individual and group activities that actively engage children and promote their social, cognitive, and emotional growth.
• Ensure that all center policies and state regulations are strictly followed.
• Adhere to center policies and state regulations, maintaining a clean, safe, and healthy environment for children.

Requirements

• Must clear full background check and must pass health screening.
• Requirements include the ability to take frequent walks, use hands and fingers, handle objects, tools or controls, talk to and hear voices at many levels. May also be required to kneel, bend, squat, crawl and lift up to approximately 50 pounds.
• A specific vision ability will be required including the ability to see up close and up to a certain distance, to see colors, have peripheral vision and depth perception.
• High energy and the ability to work well with others (staff, children, and parents) and to foster a team environment.
• Strong oral and written communication skills and basic computer skills.
• Infant/child CPR and First Aid certification preferred
• Minimum of 2 years of professional child care experience.
• Excellent leadership, organizational, and interpersonal skills.

Nice to Have

First Aid/CPR Training

Reliable transportation

Benefits

• Full-time positions are eligible for Medical Benefits
• Paid time off between Christmas and New Year
• Paid vacation
• Paid sick leave