Head Preschool Teacher

Join our team of nurturing educators who help shape the lives of our youngest learners The Greater Burlington YMCA is seeking a Head Preschool Teacher (option to work with children who are 3-5 years old) who is passionate about learning through play and ready to create a welcoming, engaging, and developmentally appropriate environment for children. This role is essential in supporting the Y's mission to foster youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility.

Schedule and Location: Monday-Friday (no weekends) at our Burlington location located in the heart of Burlington at 298 College St. Burlington, VT.

Why You'll Love Working with Us:

At the Y, you'll be part of a passionate team committed to strengthening community through youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility. We offer:

• Competitive Pay – Starting pay for this position is between $27.00- $29.70/hour and based on your experience and qualifications with the opportunity for merit-based increases yearly.
• We Invest in You- At the Y, we know early childhood educators are essential—and we treat them that way. We've recently made a significant investment to increase wages across our Early Childhood Programs as part of our ongoing commitment to valuing, retaining, and supporting our incredible teaching teams.
• Professional Development – Enjoy 8 in-service days dedicated to training, team meetings, and curriculum planning.
• Time Off – Get 15 paid vacation days, 6 paid holidays, and 3 weeks of Paid Time Off in your first year.
• Balanced Workload – One dedicated planning day each week.
• Y Perks – Free YMCA membership and discounts on programs and camps.
• Comprehensive benefits, including:
• Health, dental, and free vision insurance
• Short-term and long-term disability coverage
• Health Savings Account (HSA) option
• Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account (FSA)
• Participation in the YMCA Retirement Fund, a fully funded 6% employer contribution (once eligibility requirements are met), with additional voluntary savings options.
• Growth Opportunities – Ongoing professional development and career advancement.
• Loan Forgiveness – Eligible for Public Service Loan Forgiveness.
• The City is Our Playground – Our location in the heart of Burlington means children get hands-on learning experiences
• Waitlist Priority: Priority access to YMCA early childhood and afterschool programs through our childcare waitlist system

About Our Center:

At the Greater Burlington YMCA, we offer a play-based, emergent curriculum driven by each child's natural curiosity and interests. With locations in both Burlington and Winooski, our early childhood programs celebrate the unique identities of children and families, nurturing social-emotional growth through meaningful play and authentic connections. At the Y, we:

• Support Social/Emotional Growth
• Celebrate Diversity
• Foster Curiosity
• Strive to Inspire and be Inspired

What You'll Do:

• Collaborate with teaching teams to plan and implement developmentally appropriate activities that support children's growth.
• Participate in and lead weekly curriculum activities and daily classroom routines.
• Supervise classroom staff if designated as the lead teacher.
• Build respectful, supportive relationships with families and communicate regularly about their child's development.
• Participate in indoor and outdoor play while ensuring a safe and inclusive environment.
• Maintain classroom cleanliness, organization, and proper care of materials and equipment.
• Engage in swim lessons, gym time, and field trips as needed.
• Monitor and record each child's development, contributing to assessments and parent-teacher conferences.
• Meet weekly with your teaching team to discuss plans and address classroom needs.
• Support a calm rest time with quiet activities and emotional support for children.
• Communicate effectively with your team and administration regarding any child concerns.
• Ensure adherence to all Child Care Licensing regulations and documentation.
• Complete a minimum of 18 hours of professional development per year as required.
• Maintain confidentiality and uphold the YMCA core values: Caring, Honesty, Respect, and Responsibility.

Requirements:

Applicants must meet the minimum qualifications to be eligible for the starting rate of $56,160.00/year. Additional compensation is determined based on experience and education aligned with the preferred qualifications.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Must be 20 years of age or older.
• One year of experience working with children.
• Must possess one of the following
• A Vermont Early Childhood Career Level Ladder IIIIA or IIIIB Certificate
• Bachelor's degree with a major concentration in Early Childhood, Child or Human Development, Elementary or Special Education with a birth to age eight focus or Child and Family Services
• Bachelor's degree in any field with a successful competition of thirty college credits with an early childhood or school age focus
• Ability to pass a federal background check and state fingerprinting

Preferred Qualifications:

• A current Vermont Agency of Education teaching license with an endorsement in Early Childhood, Early Childhood Special Education, or Elementary Education. Early Childhood endorsement preferred.
• Master's degree in early childhood or a related field.
• Full-time experience working with children or youth in an educational, recreational, or programmatic setting, with milestones recognized at 5, 10, and 15+ years.
• Coursework or certification in special education or behavioral intervention.
• 2+ years of direct full-time experience in special education or behavioral intervention.
• Formal training, certification, or equivalent experience in trauma-informed care, basic specialized care, child development, social work, or a related field, including professional development or coursework in trauma-informed practices.
• Completion of DEI-specific training, coursework, or certification, with a minimum of 40 hours or the equivalent of a college course.
• Experience supervising or mentoring teachers for 2+ years.

Work Environment and Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those necessary for the role and are essential to ensuring the safety and well-being of children in our care. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these essential functions.

• Ability to effectively supervise and ensure the safety of children by maintaining visual and auditory awareness in various environments, including classrooms, outdoor play areas, and other program spaces.
• Ability to lift, carry, or support children up to 35 pounds as needed for care, safety, and engagement.
• Ability to engage in active participation in all aspects of the program, including assisting with activities such as swimming and gym. This may involve frequent movement, such as kneeling, bending, stooping, crouching, reaching, and standing for extended periods.
• Ability to respond quickly and appropriately to the physical and emotional needs of children, including in emergency situations
• Staff in this role should expect to receive training, as needed, in basic medical support and physical assistance procedures to help ensure that all children can participate safely and fully. This may include but is not limited to tasks such as assisting a child who uses a wheelchair, helping manage medical needs like diabetes, or administering emergency medications as trained.