Toddler Teacher

Commonpoint; New York (NY); On-site; USD 44,000 - 46,000; Full time

Job summary

Commonpoint is hiring a lead toddler teacher in the Early Childhood Department to create curriculum and manage the classroom at the Samuel Field Center. You will oversee babies and toddlers, planning age-appropriate activities, supporting social-emotional development, and maintaining a safe, engaging environment.

The role requires a background in early childhood education (degree preferred), a minimum age of 21, and the ability to lift up to 40 pounds.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in early childhood education preferred.
• Must be 21 years of age or older.
• AA or AS in early childhood education or CDA with plan to AA within 7 years.
• High school diploma or GED with early childhood coursework and plan to AA within 7 years.
• CPR certified and trained preferred.
• Meet annual professional development requirements per health department.
• Background check including fingerprinting and health exam.
• Passion for working with babies and toddlers.
• Good communication skills.
• Must lift up to 40 pounds and sit on floor for extended periods.

Responsibilities

• Supervise children and ensure safety and well-being.
• Plan and facilitate age-appropriate activities and play.
• Support children's social-emotional development and positive behavior.
• Manage meals, snacks, bathroom routines, and transitions.
• Maintain a clean, safe, and engaging environment.
• Follow attendance and authorized pickup procedures.
• Communicate with families and collaborate with staff.
• Follow all center policies and safety regulations.

Skills

Communication skills

Patience

Nurturing

Flexibility

Physical stamina

Education

Bachelor’s degree in early childhood education

AA/AS in early childhood education or CDA with study plan to AA in 7 years

High school diploma or GED with coursework in early childhood education

CPR certified and trained (preferred)

Job description

ABOUT COMMONPOINT:

At Commonpoint, community is at the heart of everything we do. With more than 90 program sites and flagship locations in Little Neck, Bayside, Forest Hills, East Elmhurst, and Jamaica, we proudly serve over 125,000 individuals each year. From early childhood to older adulthood, we support people from all walks of life on their journeys from crisis to stability and empowerment. Our wide range of programs, spanning social services, education, and recreation, reflects our mission to build a more connected, inclusive, and thriving community for all.

ABOUT THE ROLE:

To continue advancing the impact we have across the communities we serve, Commonpoint is hiring a lead toddler teacher situated within the Early childhood Department. The Early Childhood Department plays a vital role in caring for and educating young children. The individual hired as a lead toddler teacher will create the curriculum and manage the classroom environment. They should possess high energy and the ability to handle the demands of babies and toddlers with different personalities and needs. This role reports directly to the Director of the Early Childhood Center at the Samuel Field Center under Commonpoint.

Across the agency, our staff play a crucial role in driving our initiatives forward by supporting daily operations, program delivery, and organizational goals.

ROLE RESPONSIBILITIES:

Agency Expectations:

• Support agency initiatives by carrying out assigned duties accurately and efficiently, while following established processes and contributing to basic data collection, reporting, or documentation as required.
• Use agency resources responsibly by following established procedures, safeguarding equipment and materials, and/or supporting cost-effective operations.
• Work effectively with supervisors, coworkers, and cross-department teams to ensure clear communication, timely task completion, and a positive, respectful work environment.
• Follow all safety protocols, policies, and procedures to maintain a safe work environment for staff, partners, and the public, and promptly report concerns or incidents.

Role Expectations:

• Supervise children and ensure their safety and well-being.
• Plan and facilitate age-appropriate activities and play.
• Support children's social-emotional development and positive behavior.
• Manage meals, snacks, bathroom routines, and transitions.
• Maintain a clean, safe, and engaging environment.
• Follow attendance and authorized pickup procedures.
• Communicate with families and work collaboratively with staff.
• Follow all center policies and safety regulations.

QUALIFICATIONS & KEY ATTRIBUTES:

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s degree in early childhood education preferred.
• Must be 21 years of age or older.
• Associate degree (AA or AS) in early childhood education or Child Development Associate (CDA) certification with a study plan leading to an associate’s degree in early childhood education within 7 years.
• High school diploma or GED: nine college credits in early childhood; two years’ experience caring for children and a study plan leading to an associate’s degree in early childhood within 7 years.
• CPR certified and trained preferred.
• Meet annual professional development requirements, per Department of Health.
• Complete background check including fingerprinting and health examination.
• A passion for working with babies and toddlers.
• Patient, nurturing and thoughtful.
• Good communication skills.
• Maintain discretion around children's records.
• Must be able to bend to a child’s level and lift a minimum of 40 pounds.
• Must be able to spend extended periods of time sitting on the floor.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• CPR certified and trained preferred.
• Associates or Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood Education Preferred.

KEY ATTRIBUTES:

• Consistently shows up prepared, follows through on assigned responsibilities, and meets expectations within established timelines.
• Responds effectively to changing priorities, learns new tasks quickly, and applies feedback to improve performance.
• Adheres to safety protocols, policies, and ethical standards, and represents the agency professionally in all interactions.

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS:

Commonpoint offers competitive base salaries benchmarked against comparable nonprofit organizations in the New York metropolitan area. Salaries are determined based on internal and external equity, as well as each position’s scope, qualifications, and organizational impact. We believe in compensating staff fairly and consistently, ensuring that all salary decisions align with our mission-driven commitment to equity and transparency.

To maintain fairness across the organization, salary offers are set according to established salary bands and are not subject to negotiation. New hires typically start near the beginning of the salary range to allow for growth based on performance, professional development, and tenure.

WORKING CONDITIONS & JOB DETAILS:

WORKING CONDITIONS:

• Indoors.
• Must be able to bend to a child’s level and lift a minimum of 40 pounds.
• Must be able to spend extended periods of time sitting on the floor.

JOB DETAILS:

• Location: 58-20 Little Neck Parkway.
• Full Time Salary Range: $44,000-$46,000.
• Working Schedule: Mon- Fri, 7:30am-3:30pm
• Union Position.
• In Person.

Commonpoint is an equal opportunity employer.