Lead Qualified Early Childhood Educator — Floater Children's Lighthouse of Gardner 125 N Moonlight Road, Gardner, KS 66030 About Us Children's Lighthouse of Gardner is a licensed childcare center providing a safe, nurturing, educational environment for children to learn and grow. We're looking for a Lead Qualified Early Childhood Educator for a floating/substitute role — someone building a career in early childhood education, not just picking up temporary hours. About the Role You'll move between classrooms across all age groups, stepping in wherever you're needed to keep our curriculum and routines on track. You'll be a full member of our team — not a fill-in — trusted to lead a classroom with the same quality and consistency as any permanent lead teacher, while getting to know every room, family, and staff member in our center. We're looking for someone who sees this as the start of (or next step in) a long-term career in early childhood education. It's a great way to learn every age group in our program before moving into a permanent lead position as openings arise. What You'll Do Step into lead teacher roles across infant, toddler, preschool, and/or school-age classrooms as needed Implement our curriculum consistently, maintaining quality care in every room you cover Build genuine relationships with children and communicate warmly with families Maintain a safe, clean classroom environment in compliance with state licensing requirements Manage classroom behavior with positive guidance techniques appropriate to each age group Keep accurate records (attendance, incident reports, developmental observations) What We're Looking For Meets Kansas state qualifications for a Lead Teacher (CDA, associate's or bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education or related field, or equivalent qualifying experience) Experience with multiple age groups preferred Flexible and adaptable, with a warm, upbeat personality that puts children and coworkers at ease A team-player attitude — willing to jump in and help wherever needed Strong communication and classroom management skills Reliable, punctual, and able to commit to a consistent schedule Must pass all required background checks and meet Kansas licensing requirements Why This Role Is Different This isn't a stopgap position — it's a real career path. We provide regular curriculum training and in-class support from our Curriculum Coordinator, and our admin team is genuinely helpful and easy to work with. If you're looking for a place to grow, not just a paycheck between jobs, we'd love to talk to you.

Pay:

$15.00 - $17.00 per hour Expected hours: 30.0 - 40.0 per week

Benefits:

401(k) Dental insurance Employee discount Flexible schedule Health insurance Life insurance Paid time off Professional development assistance Tuition reimbursement Vision insurance

Work Location:

In person