Lead Teacher Assistant Director

Lead Teacher / Assistant Director

The Kid Kave Early Learning Center
“Where Play Meets Purpose.”
Belleville, Illinois

Job Summary

The Kid Kave Early Learning Center is seeking a dependable, energetic, and experienced Lead Teacher / Assistant Director to support the daily operation of our licensed early childhood program.

This position combines classroom leadership with administrative responsibility. The Lead Teacher / Assistant Director will provide high-quality care and instruction to children while assisting the Center Director with staff supervision, classroom operations, family communication, enrollment, documentation, and maintaining compliance with Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) licensing standards, including applicable requirements under 89 Ill. Adm. Code Part 407.

The ideal candidate understands that a successful early learning center requires both nurturing relationships and strong operational systems. This individual should be comfortable leading a classroom, coaching staff, communicating professionally with families, maintaining required records, and stepping into a center leadership role when needed.

At The Kid Kave, our goal is to create a safe, welcoming, developmentally appropriate environment Where Play Meets Purpose and every child has opportunities to learn, grow, explore, and thrive.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

• Serve as a Lead Teacher and provide developmentally appropriate learning experiences consistent with The Kid Kave's curriculum, philosophy, and program goals.
• Develop and implement age-appropriate lesson plans and classroom activities that support children's social-emotional, cognitive, language, physical, and creative development.
• Maintain a safe, nurturing, inclusive, organized, and engaging classroom environment.
• Maintain required staff-to-child ratios and group sizes in accordance with applicable Illinois DCFS licensing requirements.
• Provide active supervision of children at all times and ensure children are appropriately accounted for during classroom activities, meals, outdoor play, transitions, arrival, departure, and field experiences.
• Follow all center procedures related to child health, safety, sanitation, handwashing, diapering/toileting, meals, rest periods, medication, emergency preparedness, and incident reporting.
• Assist the Center Director with monitoring classrooms and ensuring staff follow The Kid Kave policies and applicable DCFS licensing requirements.
• Provide leadership, guidance, coaching, and support to teachers and teacher assistants.
• Assist with staff scheduling and classroom coverage to maintain appropriate staffing and ratios.
• Support new employee orientation and help ensure staff complete required documentation, training, background-clearance requirements, and professional development.
• Assist with maintaining accurate child and staff files and other records required for licensing and center operations.
• Monitor classrooms for compliance, safety, cleanliness, appropriate supervision, curriculum implementation, and quality interactions with children.
• Assist with preparing for DCFS licensing visits, monitoring visits, inspections, and corrective actions, when applicable.
• Immediately communicate potential licensing, safety, staffing, child welfare, or compliance concerns to the Center Director.
• Understand and follow mandated reporter responsibilities and The Kid Kave's procedures regarding suspected child abuse or neglect.
• Assist with enrollment activities, parent orientations, center tours, and collection of required enrollment documentation.
• Develop positive, professional relationships with parents and guardians and communicate appropriately regarding children's experiences, development, behavior, and center activities.
• Support positive guidance and developmentally appropriate behavior-management practices.
• Assist with staff meetings, classroom observations, employee coaching, professional development, and performance feedback as assigned by the Center Director.
• Help maintain confidentiality of child, family, employee, health, and center information.
• Assist with center opening and/or closing procedures as assigned.
• Serve as the responsible administrative staff member when designated by the Center Director and when permitted by applicable licensing requirements.
• Assist with special events, family engagement activities, community partnerships, enrollment initiatives, and center programming.
• Support food-program procedures, meal counts, attendance records, and other required documentation as assigned.
• Maintain professional conduct and model The Kid Kave's expectations for staff performance, teamwork, communication, attendance, and customer service.
• Perform other duties reasonably related to the position and operation of the center as assigned by the Center Director.

Minimum Qualifications

Candidates must meet all applicable Illinois DCFS qualification requirements for the position(s) they are assigned to perform, including requirements related to education, experience, background clearance, and training.

Preferred qualifications include:

• Associate's or Bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education, Child Development, Education, or a related field, or equivalent coursework/credentials meeting applicable DCFS requirements.
• Previous experience working in a licensed childcare center, preschool, early childhood program, or similar educational setting.
• Previous experience as a Lead Teacher, Assistant Director, Director, Site Supervisor, or other early childhood leadership position strongly preferred.
• Knowledge of Illinois DCFS Part 407 licensing standards and childcare center operations.
• Knowledge of developmentally appropriate practices and early childhood development.
• Ability to supervise, coach, and support childcare staff.
• Strong classroom management and positive child-guidance skills.
• Strong organizational, leadership, and problem-solving abilities.
• Effective verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to communicate professionally with children, families, employees, licensing representatives, and community partners.
• Ability to maintain accurate documentation and confidential records.
• Ability to use basic computer programs and childcare management/communication systems.

Required Clearances & Training

Employment is contingent upon completion and maintenance of all applicable requirements for employment in an Illinois licensed childcare center, which may include:

• Required DCFS/background clearances
• Mandated Reporter Training
• CPR and First Aid certification, as required for the position
• Required health documentation
• Food-handler training when applicable to assigned duties
• Completion of required orientation and ongoing professional development
• Completion of required child development, health, safety, and licensing-related training
• Any additional training or documentation required by DCFS, The Kid Kave Early Learning Center, or other applicable regulatory agencies

Employees are responsible for maintaining required credentials and completing continuing education/training within applicable deadlines.

Leadership Expectations

The Lead Teacher / Assistant Director is a member of The Kid Kave's leadership team and is expected to lead by example.

This means demonstrating professionalism, reliability, confidentiality, accountability, teamwork, appropriate communication, and consistent adherence to center policies.

The Lead Teacher / Assistant Director should be prepared to transition between classroom and administrative responsibilities based on enrollment, staffing, ratios, and the operational needs of the center.

Physical Requirements

The employee must be able to perform the essential functions associated with caring for young children, including the ability to:

• Sit, stand, walk, bend, kneel, and move throughout classrooms and play areas.
• Get on and off the floor while interacting with children.
• Participate in indoor and outdoor activities.
• Lift and assist children as reasonably required by the assigned age group.
• Respond promptly during emergencies.
• Maintain visual and auditory supervision of children.
• Perform routine classroom cleaning, sanitizing, setup, and organization duties.

Reasonable accommodations will be considered in accordance with applicable law.

Schedule

This position requires flexibility based on center enrollment and operational needs. The Lead Teacher / Assistant Director may be scheduled for opening, closing, classroom, administrative, evening, weekend, or special-program responsibilities as applicable to The Kid Kave's operating schedule.

Reliable and consistent attendance is an essential function of this leadership position.

Employment Expectations

Employment with The Kid Kave Early Learning Center is subject to applicable federal and Illinois employment laws, center policies, licensing requirements, satisfactory background clearances, and continued eligibility to work in a licensed childcare setting.

The Kid Kave Early Learning Center is committed to providing children with a safe, nurturing, engaging, and purposeful early learning experience.

Where Play Meets Purpose.

Pay: $18.50 - $20.50 per hour

Benefits:

• Flexible schedule
• Tuition reimbursement

Work Location: In person