Lead Toddler Teacher

Job description

At Magical Beginnings, we believe every child deserves a safe, nurturing, and engaging start to their educational journey. **With care, we care** — and that belief is at the heart of everything we do. As a trusted leader in early childhood education, our award-winning childcare and preschool centers create joyful learning environments where infants, toddlers, and preschoolers thrive socially, emotionally, and academically. We're currently seeking an experienced and passionate **Lead Toddler Teacher** to join our Schenectady center. This is an exciting opportunity for an early childhood education professional who loves supporting toddlers during one of the most important stages of development. If you enjoy creating hands-on learning experiences, encouraging language development, fostering independence, and building meaningful partnerships with families, we'd love to meet you. As a **Lead Toddler Teacher**, you'll lead a nurturing toddler classroom where curiosity, exploration, and play-based learning are encouraged every day. You'll develop and implement engaging curriculum, support each child's cognitive, social-emotional, physical, and language development, mentor classroom team members, and ensure your classroom maintains the highest standards of safety, quality, and compliance with New York State Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) regulations and center quality standards. ### Role Requirements: - Must meet New York State Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) qualifications for a Lead Toddler Teacher position in a licensed childcare center. - Child Development Associate (CDA), Associate's Degree, or Bachelor's Degree in Early Childhood Education, Child Development, or a related field required. - Previous experience working with toddlers in a licensed childcare center, daycare, preschool, or early childhood education setting required. - Prior experience leading a toddler classroom, implementing developmentally appropriate curriculum, and supporting children ages 18 months to 3 years preferred. - Strong understanding of toddler development, social-emotional learning, positive classroom guidance, and play-based learning. - Ability to maintain compliance with New York State OCFS childcare licensing regulations, health and safety standards, and required teacher-to-child ratios. - Excellent communication, teamwork, organizational, and family partnership skills. - Ability to actively engage with children throughout the day, including sitting on the floor, bending, kneeling, lifting up to 40 pounds, and participating in both indoor and outdoor activities. - **Must be available to work a full-time schedule, Monday through Friday, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.** All offers of employment are contingent upon successful completion of all required New York State background clearances and regulatory requirements, including fingerprinting, criminal history review, and Statewide Central Register (SCR) clearance. Candidates must also meet all applicable health, immunization, and training requirements in accordance with New York State OCFS regulations. ### As a Lead Toddler Teacher, you will be responsible for: - Planning and implementing developmentally appropriatetoddler curriculum and engaging classroom activities aligned with early childhood education best practices. - Creating a safe, nurturing, and stimulating toddler classroom environment that supports children's social-emotional, cognitive, language, and physical development through play-based learning. - Leading daily classroom routines including circle time, sensory exploration, small-group activities, meals, diapering and toileting routines, outdoor play, rest time, and smooth transitions throughout the day. - Supervising and actively engaging toddlers while maintaining positive classroom management, continuous supervision, and required New York State OCFS teacher-to-child ratios. - Observing and documenting children's developmental milestones, individual progress, and emerging skills to support ongoing learning and family communication. - Building positive, trusting relationships with families by providing regular communication regarding classroom activities, developmental milestones, and each child's progress. - Mentoring and collaborating with Assistant Teachers, support staff, and center leadership to maintain a positive, team-oriented early childhood education environment. - Maintaining a clean, organized, and sanitized classroom in accordance with New York State OCFS licensing regulations and health and safety standards. - Preparing lesson plans, classroom materials, and engaging learning environments that foster curiosity, independence, creativity, language development, and hands-on exploration. - Ensuring compliance with all New York State OCFS childcare licensing requirements, company policies, and quality standards for early childhood education. - Supporting a positive childcare center culture that reflects professionalism, teamwork, inclusivity, and a commitment to providing exceptional care and education for toddlers. ### What Magical Beginnings offers you: - Paid sick time - 13 paid holidays\* - Paid snow days and vacation time\* - Medical, dental, and vision insurance\* - Long-term disability - Company-paid life insurance with additional voluntary coverage - Parental leave - Child care discount ($25/day) - Weekly pay and direct deposit - Referral and enrollment bonuses - Classroom tablets - A budget for classroom supplies - Paid classroom planning time - Mentor program - Teacher appreciation events - Team building activities - School community outreach projects *\*Available to full-time employees only*