Aide, Preschool

The Early Childhood Teacher at Simon Says Early Childhood Center provides a safe, nurturing, faith-aligned, and developmentally appropriate learning environment for young children. This position supports the Center’s mission by fostering each child’s social, emotional, cognitive, spiritual, and physical growth through structured activities, play-based learning, and positive engagement with families.

Job Responsibilities

Classroom Instruction & Care

• Plan and implement daily lesson plans that align with Missouri Early Learning Standards and the Center’s curriculum.
• Create a classroom environment that supports exploration, creativity, and learning through play.
• Supervise children at all times with attentive, engaged, and developmentally appropriate guidance.
• Maintain a clean, organized, and safe classroom environment, including sanitizing toys, surfaces, and equipment as required.
• Adapt teaching strategies to meet the individual needs, learning styles, and developmental levels of each child.

Child Development & Assessment

• Observe, document, and assess children's developmental progress.
• Communicate concerns regarding developmental delays, behavior, or safety to the Director in a timely manner.
• Participate in parent-teacher conferences and prepare written progress updates as needed.

Family & Community Engagement

• Build positive, professional relationships with families, offering support and open communication.
• Greet families at drop-off and pick-up, ensuring proper sign-in and sign-out procedures.
• Uphold confidentiality and professionalism in all interactions.

Compliance & Safety

• Follow all policies and procedures outlined by Simon Says Early Childhood Center, St. Simon the Apostle Parish, the Archdiocese of St. Louis, and State of Missouri Licensing Regulations.
• Ensure proper supervision ratios are maintained at all times.
• Complete required training, including CPR/First Aid, Child Abuse & Neglect Mandatory Reporting, Safe Environment, and other annual trainings.
• Immediately report any accidents, injuries, or safety concerns according to protocol.

Professional Responsibilities

• Attend staff meetings, trainings, and professional development opportunities.
• Collaborate with colleagues to support teamwork and a positive center culture.
• Demonstrate reliability in attendance, schedule adherence, and communication.
• Uphold the mission and values of Simon Says Early Childhood Center, including modeling respect, patience, compassion, and ethical conduct.

Job Requirements

Required

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Experience working with young children.
• Ability to meet all state licensing requirements, including background screening and health documentation.
• Commitment to maintaining a safe and nurturing environment.

Preferred

• CDA, Associate’s Degree, or Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood Education or related field.
• Experience in a licensed childcare or early childhood education setting.
• Knowledge of child development principles and play-based learning approaches.
• Familiarity with Catholic parish environments (not required).