Lead childcare teacher

Are you a teacher or childcare provider looking for well-paid, meaningful and flexible work? Have you worked in early childcare or with elementary-aged students? At Patch Caregiving, we offer backup childcare to hourly workers through their employers because we believe no one should have to choose between showing up to work and showing up for their families.

Our care spaces are conveniently located within parents' place of employment for easy drop-off and pick-up. We are seeking kind, motivated, empathetic teachers to manage our play-based, multi-age care room in Middletown, PA.

We are looking for a part-time Lead Teacher to cover the day shift on Monday, Thursday, and every other Sunday .

As a Lead Teacher, you will:

• Care for and ensure safety of all children in our play-based care room (ages 2 -12)
• Respond to dynamics and tricky behaviors in the care room with kindness and age-appropriate conflict management skills
• Communicate respectfully with the children's parents to share regular updates, and contact them in the case of an emergency
• Create curriculum and plan activities to lead with children
• Collect and manage paperwork and other records for parents and children as needed
• Collaborate with other teachers, Center Director(s), and staff members to create an optimal care environment that is clean, safe, inclusive, and fun
• Meet with Center Director(s) on a regular basis for check-ins and professional development
• Engage in ongoing training on a variety of childcare and safety related topics
• Participate in advertising efforts to increase awareness of Patch childcare services among parents as needed (e.g. in-person enrollment events, parent outreach, etc.)
• Other duties as assigned

Basic qualifications:

• High school diploma or equivalent
• At least 1 year of experience working with children in a daycare, preschool, or similar setting as Lead Teacher (e.g. does not include babysitting or nannying)
• Knowledge of child development stages and age-appropriate learning techniques
• Understanding of health, hygiene, and safety standards for children
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, especially with children and parents
• Curriculum and lesson planning experience
• Strong organizational and multitasking abilities to manage classroom activities effectively
• Patience, empathy, and ability to handle challenging behaviors and tricky situations with a positive and constructive approach
• Teamwork and collaboration skills to work effectively with other childcare providers and staff as-needed
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and respect for children, families, and colleagues
• Comfort with modern technologies and tools used for communicating with parents and staff
• Flexibility and adaptability to programmatic changes
• First Aid and CPR certification (we can support completion of these prior to start date)

Preferred qualifications:

• More than 3 years of experience as Lead Teacher of a classroom or as Center Director
• Experience being alone in a classroom with children of different ages, including school-age children
• Bachelor's or Associate's degree in Early Childhood Education or a related field
• Relevant certifications in early childhood education, such as Child Development Associate (CDA) credential
• Understanding of diverse learning styles and the ability to tailor teaching approaches accordingly

The position is competitively paid and we offer the following benefits and perks:

• Free First Aid / CPR training and certification
• Weekly paychecks
• Guaranteed paid hours
• Paid sick time
• Professional coaching catered to your unique needs and goals
• Flexible days off
• Learning stipend

This is a great position for an experienced childcare professional who loves working with children of different ages, seeks autonomy in the classroom, and desires variety and flexibility at work. If you have all or most of the above qualifications and are excited to join our mission-driven organization, please contact us - we'd love to connect with you.

All applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability protected veteran status, or any other characteristics protected by law.

For information about our Applicant Privacy, please review here:

For those who require reasonable accommodations, please let us know on your application or email us at [email protected].