Lead Teacher - Early Learning - Toddler/Two's Class - (Multiple Openings)

Job Description

Job Description

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 cultivate curiosity, resilience, and social responsibility in children by fostering high-quality, nurturing, and inclusive educational communities led by skilled professionals

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 Lead Teacher plays a dynamic role at Wonders Early Learning + Extended Day in providing quality child care services in our ECE programs. The Lead Teacher is responsible for creating a developmentally appropriate learning environment that stimulates, nurtures and leads children's' social, emotional, physical and academic growth.

The Lead Teacher, as part of a team, implements Wonders' policies, procedures and practices in an organized and thorough manner. Teamwork is a critical component of this position. Lead Teachers regularly meet with their team, other staff, and the Program Director to develop programs that follow the Wonders curriculum and promote the Wonders philosophy and ideals.

Essential Functions

• Actively plan learning activities that are balanced in all areas and include: active/quiet, long/short, group/individual, cognitive/physical, large group/small group and child initiated/teacher directed. Attention is given to the children's ideas and curiosities in influencing the direction of daily activities.
• Apply your knowledge and understanding of the following to all the children within the program setting: Typical and atypical development of infants to 5-year-old children / Social and emotional development of children, including children's development of independence and their ability to adapt to their environment and cope with stress / Cognitive, language, early literacy, and mathematics development of children through activities in the classroom / Cultural backgrounds of the children in the facility's care by demonstrating cultural competence and support through interactions and program activities with children and families.
• Actively participate, contribute, and cooperate in team planning sessions with the Program Director and your team.
• Lead your team in planning and implementing a developmentally appropriate program that is age-appropriate, process-oriented, encourages divergent thinking, creativity, and problem-solving, and is based on Wonders philosophy and mission.
• Maintain open communication with Program Director regarding children, families, and team members.
• Assist in orientating and training new team members for center responsibilities.
• Share teaching responsibilities with all team members and provide clear and objective feedback.
• Plan and participate in special events for children and families.
• 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 / support children in their understanding of the diversity of our society.
• Develop behavior management strategies based on Wonders policy, with your team members, Program Director, parents, and all childcare professionals/therapists across disciplines.
• Establish and nurture partnerships with families.
• Communicate with families on a regular basis to: inform them of program curriculum and activities / solicit information about their child's development and family events / prepare for and conduct conferences with families.
• Participate in accreditation and reaccreditation processes for your site.
• Maintain children's classroom records as defined by your Program Director
• Attend a minimum of 18 hours of MSDE/OCC approved staff training yearly
• Maintain Pediatric First Aid and CPR certification
• 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.
• Work with Program Director and parents and seek professional consultation from the child's health care provider or mental health professionals when necessary
• Follow NAEYC Ethical Code of Conduct.

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

• A minimum of 2 years' experience working with the specific age group of children in the classroom
• Minimum of AA degree in ECE, or 90-hour preschool course (if degree is not in ECE), or CDA credential
• Bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education or related field (Elementary Education, Special Education) with a minimum of 36 college credits in ECE courses preferred
• 9-hour Communication Course (if candidate does not have a college degree or college units)
• Must qualify as Maryland State Senior Staff
• Familiar with NAEYC standards and principles
• Strong written and oral communication skills
• Are you worried you don't meet all of our qualifications for this position? We still encourage you to apply!

EEO Statement

Wonders provides equal opportunity to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, citizenship, current or future military status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital or familial status or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

ADA Compliance

Consistent with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), it is the policy of Wonders to provide reasonable accommodation when requested by a qualified applicant or employee with a disability, unless such accommodation would cause an undue hardship. The policy regarding requests for reasonable accommodation applies to all aspects of employment, including the application process. If reasonable accommodation is needed, please contact Human Resources.

Additional Information

Job Type: Full-Time, Benefits

Program Length: 12 Months / 2025 - 2026 School Year

Work Schedule: 8:00a to 5:00p / 9:00a to 6:00p

Work Location: Bethesda, MD or Chevy Chase, MD