Lead Early Childhood Development Educator

Reports to: Vice President of Operations Direct reports: The Village Preschool teachers and assistant Compensation: $48,000 – $56,000 annually Employment Status: Full-Time (Exempt/Salaried) Expected Start Date: August 01,2026

• Opportunity to participate in professional development in July

The Opportunity The Lead Early Childhood Development Educator, along with the Village Preschool teacher and assistant, is responsible for the realization of the mission and core values of the Laughlin Children’s Center. The Lead Educator at The Village Preschool creates and maintains a nurturing, inclusive, and developmentally appropriate learning environment for preschool children. Serving as the instructional and classroom leader, the Lead Educator plans and implements engaging early childhood experiences, throughout the year, that support children’s social-emotional, cognitive, language, physical, and behavioral development. Working within the Center’s small-class setting, the Lead Educator builds strong relationships with children and families, individualizes instruction to meet diverse developmental needs, and collaborates closely with The Village preschool teachers, assistant, and related service providers. The role also includes overseeing daily classroom operations, maintaining a safe and structured environment, monitoring student progress, and fostering a positive classroom culture that encourages curiosity, independence, and school readiness. Through thoughtful communication, teamwork, and responsive teaching practices, the Lead Educator helps ensure that each child is supported as a valued learner within the Center community. The Lead Early Childhood Development Educator focuses on four key areas: 1. Purposeful Play-Based Learning & Classroom Engagement

• Design and facilitate engaging, play-based, and developmentally appropriate learning experiences that foster curiosity, creativity, exploration, problem-solving, and growth across developmental domains
• Balance child-led exploration with intentional teaching strategies, using observations of children’s interests and developmental needs to guide curriculum planning and daily classroom experiences
• Create a warm, inclusive, and thoughtfully designed learning environment featuring open-ended materials, sensory experiences, imaginative play, and extended opportunities for hands-on exploration, collaboration, and discovery
• Foster a joyful and purposeful classroom culture where play, inquiry, and meaningful teaching practices support each child’s learning and development (“fun on purpose”)

2.Nurturing the Progress of the Whole-Child

• Support each child’s social-emotional, cognitive, physical, language, and behavioral development through developmentally appropriate practices
• Build strong, responsive relationships with children that foster safety, belonging, confidence, and independence
• Differentiate instruction, support, and learning opportunities to meet individual developmental levels, learning styles, and needs
• Promote positive social interactions, emotional regulation, and foundational school-readiness skills within the classroom community
• Use observation, documentation, and reflection to assess children’s progress and inform ongoing curriculum planning and instructional decisions

3.Family Connection & Collaboration

• Establish and maintain positive, respectful, and collaborative partnerships with families
• Communicate regularly with families regarding children’s growth, milestones, classroom experiences, and developmental progress
• Serve as a primary point of contact for parent communication, responding to questions, concerns, and student needs in a timely and professional manner
• Collaborate closely with colleagues and support staff to ensure a consistent, supportive, and inclusive classroom experience for all children

4. Leadership & Program Oversight

• Support student enrollment processes, including family tours, onboarding, and maintaining accurate enrollment documentation
• Participate in student recruitment, community outreach, and family engagement efforts to promote program visibility and growth
• Collaborate with leadership on program promotion, marketing initiatives, and community partnerships
• Assist with administrative and operational responsibilities, including scheduling, classroom compliance, documentation, and program or summer planning
• Model professionalism, leadership, teamwork, and effective communication within the school community and with families and community partners

Required Skills & Experience: The Lead Early Childhood Development Educator should come with the following:

• Minimum of a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education or related field
• PA Teaching Certification (Public or Non-public Private School – Nursery/Kindergarten)
• Federal Criminal History Check, FBI fingerprints, Pennsylvania Criminal History Check, Pennsylvania Child Abuse Clearances required
• Experience working with children 3 – 5 years old is preferred
• Knowledge of child development and play-based learning approaches
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Warm, patient, and nurturing demeanor

Benefits

Small class sizes Collaborative, supportive team environment Morning work schedule with flexible afternoons Paid planning time Health insurance and FSA 10% retirement contribution from first month Dental and Vision insurance Optional Life Insurance 4 hours/month dedicated professional development time Long-Term Disability 20 PTO days + 5 Sick Days Paid holidays: 7 fixed + Winter Break to be announced annually Laughlin is actively seeking to build a resilient, vibrant and diverse team that reflects our clients’ identities, and we’re proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunist (EEO). We provide work opportunities without regard to perceived or actual protected characteristics. We invite all interested candidates to apply. If you are unable to complete this application due to diverse abilities, contact this employer to ask for accommodation or an alternative application process. All interested prospective candidates can forward their resumes to [email protected] for this opportunity. Apply To This Job