position: Infant Teacher – Vacation Coverage

to divide: Early Learning Centre

condition: Non-exempt (hourly), full-time temporary position

Reports to: Co-Directors of ELC

Payment scale: $21 – $28 per hour depending on experience

location: Carpinteria, California

This temporary role runs from December 1, 2025 until June 26, 2026, to support the position held by an employee currently on leave.

About our program

Here at Kate Early Learning Center we implement developmentally appropriate curriculum and practices in an indoor and outdoor setting. Developmentally Appropriate Practice, often abbreviated to DAP, is a research-based approach to teaching that promotes optimal learning and development for young children. The DAP program involves teachers meeting young children where they are developing, whether as individuals or as part of a group, and helping each child achieve challenging but achievable learning goals.

We believe that children learn through play. While playing, children not only express their creative nature, but also make discoveries in their environment and attach meaning to their experiences. They associate words with objects, build on their vocabulary, and stimulate cognitive development.

Our program enhances children’s play and learning experiences by providing routine and structure throughout the day, allowing children to get organized and feel in control of their day. We offer a balance of teacher-supported activities with plenty of child-directed options.

Our infant and toddler program is heavily influenced by the RIE philosophy. RIE encourages respectful interactions through caregiving routines while following each child’s cues.

Position overview

As an Infant Care Teacher, you will be responsible for creating a safe, nurturing and engaging learning environment for a small group of children. This role requires a real passion for outdoor education, a deep understanding of early childhood development, and the ability to inspire a sense of curiosity, creativity and a positive attitude towards learning. We want to create a group of lifelong learners through comprehensive development, cognitive ability and self-care.

Health and safety

• Supervise children closely to ensure their safety and well-being in any location and weather conditions.
• Manage first aid and emergency response and accurately document all incidents.
• Teaching children how to manage risks while encouraging them to take risks appropriate for their age.
• Model and enforce personal hygiene practices, including proper hand washing.
• Maintain an accurate student count at all times. Make sure each child signs in and out every day.

Interactions with children

• We strive to create a program that is rich in language, and encourage positive and respectful interactions.
• Treat every child with dignity and respect.
• Help each child realize their role as an essential member of the group.
• Help each child feel comfortable with themselves.
• Encouraging active participation in solving problems in the environment.
• Encouraging children to be responsible for their actions to support the development of their roles as effective decision makers.

Relationships with parents and society

• Communicate effectively and professionally with families, sharing feedback on their child’s development through chats, emails and the parent portal.
• Represent the program’s philosophy and core values ​​at community and school events.
• Collaborate with participating teachers and staff to support the goal of the program.

Administrative jobs

• Completes all assigned paperwork (daily information/attendance sheets, shopping lists, child injury reports, lesson plans, etc.) in a timely manner.

Professional development

• Maintain current certifications, including CPR and First Aid.
• Attend staff meetings and professional development opportunities.
• Engage in regular self-reflection and strive to grow as a teacher of young children.

Qualifications

• Experience: At least 2 years of experience working with young children in a preschool setting.
• Education: At least 12 early childhood education credits, preferably an associate’s degree in early childhood education (ECE) or related field or a bachelor’s degree.
• Successfully completes the fingerprint printing process and/or successfully transfers fingerprints from another program.
• Successful completion of a background check.
• Maintain current certifications, including CPR and First Aid.

Competencies and experience

• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal.
• Creativity and flexibility in curriculum planning.
• Ability to work collaboratively and maintain a positive attitude.
• Strong problem-solving and observation skills.
• Ability to constantly monitor and respond to children’s needs, emergencies and/or conflicts that may occur during the day.

Physical requirements

• Ability to kneel continuously to maintain eye contact at the child’s level.
• Ability to constantly sit on the floor to work with children.
• Ability to continuously interact with a child 20-30 feet away within 30 seconds.
• Able to continuously carry a child (1-50 lbs), up to 50-100 feet.
• Ability to consistently respond to children’s first aid needs (indoors and outdoors), which may include cuts, bruises, blood, and body fluids.
• Ability to consistently communicate clearly and calmly with children, parents, and co-workers.
• Consistently able to deal effectively with the stresses involved in working closely with children, parents and co-workers.
• Consistently able to perform good to moderate manual manipulation.

Job Benefits:

This position comes with full benefits that include strong health/dental/life insurance, retirement, and PTO plans.

Employee behavior:

It is each employee’s responsibility to contribute to a positive work environment through cooperative and professional interactions with coworkers, children, and parents.

All Cate employees adhere to the following basic expectations:

• Publicly support and act in accordance with the school’s mission and values.
• Promote a safe, predictable and supportive environment for staff and students.
• Interact with colleagues in a respectful and collegial manner that promotes a healthy culture of living, learning and working together.
• Demonstrate commitment and courage in service of building our school culture where diversity is affirmed and supported.
• Demonstrate appropriate planning and preparation to meet the complex and evolving needs of your role.
• Uphold professional standards of predictable presence, authoritative responses, and relational trust.
• Appropriately supervise strategic and special projects associated with the role or team.
• Respect the confidentiality of school, student and family information.
• Comply with policies and procedures as set forth in the School Employee Handbook.
• Engage authentically in self-reflection in the service of professional growth and adaptation to the evolving needs of the school.

At Kate, we often talk about the deep sense of community that accompanies the “spirit of this place.” While the “spirit” manifests itself in many ways, it is rooted in the full recognition of the dignity of every person. We encourage all members of the Kate community to share their backgrounds, interests, identities, and beliefs so that we can work collectively to broaden our perspectives, deepen our capacity for empathy, and strengthen our resilience. By doing this, we can continue the daily work of creating and building community

Equal employment opportunity policy

Kate School is an equal opportunity employer. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, sex, pregnancy, childbirth, marital status, age, national origin, ancestry, physical or mental disability, medical condition including genetic characteristics, sexual orientation, veteran status, sex, gender identity, genetic information, or any other category protected by federal or local law.

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