Starting Pay: $18.68 per hour Location: Rapid City, SD Shift: Monday through Friday, 8 am - 5:00 pm Embark on a deeply fulfilling and impactful journey as a One Heart Full-Time Lead Teacher with the YMCA of Rapid City, where your passion for early childhood education will flourish in a nurturing, mission-driven environment. In this role, you will be working directly with children from birth to age 3, providing essential care and early learning experiences during the most critical developmental years of life.

As a lead teacher at the Y, you'll create a warm, engaging, and developmentally appropriate classroom that fosters emotional security, growth, and joyful learning. You will take the lead in creating monthly lesson plans that reflect best practices in early learning while actively modeling and training assistant teachers in the YMCA Social and Emotional Curriculum and Conscious Discipline methods.

Your leadership will extend beyond the classroom. You will conduct both formal and informal evaluations of early learning staff, helping them grow professionally and achieve performance goals. You'll play a key role in shaping a positive, supportive learning environment for both children and the teaching team.

Maintaining a safe, clean, and engaging space will be central to your work. You'll ensure all equipment is functioning properly, supplies are used efficiently, and safety standards are consistently met. Your attention to detail will help create a secure and welcoming atmosphere for our youngest learners.

As a primary point of contact with families, you will foster strong parent relationships through consistent communication, updates, and collaboration. You'll keep parents informed and involved by sharing monthly newsletters and using the ProCare Engage App to provide daily real-time updates about their child's experiences and development.

In addition to teaching and leadership responsibilities, you will monitor classroom expenses and maintain accurate documentation, including attendance records, meal tracking, and incident reports. You will also contribute to a culture of teamwork and communication by participating in weekly staff meetings and supporting the overall mission of the YMCA.

This position is ideal for someone who is passionate about shaping young minds, understands the unique needs of infants and toddlers, and thrives in a collaborative, mission-based environment.

Must be able to pass a background check.