Floater Teacher - Early Learning - Wonders Early Learning + Extended Day

Why Work for Wonders Early Learning + Extended Day?

Play isn't just fun, It's fundamental! Children need playtime, it is crucial for healthy development. Children learn about the world by exploring ideas, manipulating objects, investigating creative materials, and problem-solving with others. Using imagination and creativity, children take on new roles and test new concepts. Wonders teachers use observation and planning to create learning experiences that are intentional and provide meaningful context for children to practice skills and express ideas.

Join the Wonders family of caring, dedicated, and fun educators!

About Wonders

Our Mission - To create and advance high quality, diverse educational communities that teach children the foundations of life-long learning and social responsibility.

Since our inception in 1976, our goal has been to provide non-profit, quality child care to working families. Over the years, we have grown from a single center in the basement of All Saint's Church in Chevy Chase, Maryland to multiple accredited early learning, extended day, and summer camp programs across the DC Metropolitan Region.

Our programs support today's workforce, while growing the workforce of tomorrow.

Benefits & Compensation

Our benefits package includes paid time off, holidays, winter break, medical with HRA, dental, vision, life insurance, disability, critical illness, accident insurance, 403(b) retirement savings plan, Wonders tuition discounts, and professional development training. Benefits eligibility is dependent on job type status.

We provide paid pre-employment background checks, fingerprinting, medical exams, & drug screens as well as paid New Hire Orientation.

Wonders values its educators and leaders and we invest in our workforce by prioritizing compensation and nurturing meaningful careers. Our educators are regularly engaged in efforts towards continuous improvement in their skills and knowledge in the classroom. Approximately 80% of our annual budget is directed to staff compensation.

Job Summary

The Early Learning Floater Teacher plays a dynamic role at Wonders Early Learning + Extended Day in providing quality services in our ECE programs. They work with our team of teachers to help create a developmentally appropriate learning environment that stimulates, nurtures and leads children's social, emotional, physical and academic growth.

The Floater Teacher plays a vital part in keeping our centers running smoothly. The Floater Teacher must be extremely flexible as day-to-day schedules and responsibilities may change depending on where help is needed. This position has many responsibilities that include assisting the Lead and Assistant Teacher, preparing materials for classroom activities, cleaning and organizing after activities, and preparing lunch and snacks for the classroom.

The Floater Teacher, as part of a team, implements Wonders Early Learning + Extended Day policies, procedures and practices in an organized and thorough manner. Teamwork is a critical component of the Floater Teacher position. Teaching teams meet regularly with other staff and Program Director to develop programs that follow the Wonders Early Learning Curriculum and promote the Wonders philosophy and ideals.

Essential Functions

• Participate in implementing developmentally appropriate program based on Wonders Early Learning + Extended Day philosophy and mission statement
• Demonstrate sensitivity and support of different cultural backgrounds of the children in the facility's care through interactions and program activities with children and families
• Demonstrate understanding of typical and atypical development of infant to five-year-old children. Consult with team, Program Director, parents and other childcare professionals to help develop and follow behavior strategies designed for individual children with atypical and disruptive behaviors
• Participate in planning with Head Teacher and Assistant Teacher
• Participate in regular meetings with your Program Director, staff and team
• Maintain open communication with Head Teacher regarding children, families and team members
• Share teaching responsibilities with all staff members and provide clear and objective feedback
• Plan and participate in special events for children and families to build community partnerships
• Ensure that all spaces used by the program are: physically and emotionally safe / interesting and engaging for children / clean and organized
• Reflect and support the lives and work of the children present
• Introduce children to the diversity of our society
• Support behavior management strategies based on Wonders Early Learning + Extended Day policy, with staff members and Program Director
• Establish and nurture partnership with families
• Communicate with families on a regular basis to: inform them of classroom curriculum and activities and solicit information about their child's development and family events
• Participate in accreditation and re-accreditation processes for your site
• Become familiar with and follow all Maryland child care licensing regulations
• Attend a minimum of 24 hours of MSDE/OCC approved staff training yearly
• Maintain Pediatric First Aid and CPR certification
• Assist with toilet training and diapering as needed
• Maintain a clean, sanitary, healthy and friendly classroom environment following NAEYC guidelines
• Recognize and report signs of illness, child abuse and safety hazard to appropriate authorities
• Follow NAEYC Ethical Code of Conduct
• Become familiar with and abide by all Wonders Child Care policies, including those in the staff handbook, parent handbook and terms of employment.
• Other duties or responsibilities as assigned.

Core Competencies

• Creative, nurturing, and fun
• Dependable and detail oriented
• Thrives in a high-pressure environment
• People oriented - enjoys interacting with people and working on group projects
• Adaptable - enjoys doing work that requires frequent shifts in direction
• Innovative - prefers working in unconventional ways or on tasks that require creativity

Qualifications

• Experience working with children in an educational, recreational, or camp setting.
• Minimum of high school diploma or equivalent is required. BA or AA in Education or related field is preferred.
• Coursework in approved early childhood and/or school-age child development and curriculum planning are a plus.
• CPR and First Aid certification a plus.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Are you worried you don't meet all of our qualifications for this position? We still encourage you to apply!

Additional Information

Job Type: Part-Time / Part-Time No Benefits

Program Length: School Year (24-25)

Work Schedule: 2:00pm to 6:15pm

Work Location: Bethesda, MD