Early Childhood Floater & Substitute Teacher

Early Childhood Floater & Substitute Teacher - Job Description

Schedule: Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM–2:30 PM | Compensation: $15–$17/hour

We are looking for forever learners who are excited to learn as much as their kids do! We believe that early learning teachers are engaged in critical work and offer compensation competitive with K12 schools.

A Floater and Substitute Teacher at Early Partners plays a vital role in supporting joyful, Reggio-inspired learning experiences for children ages 0–5. Working across classrooms and indoor and outdoor learning environments, this teacher must be adaptable, collaborative, and comfortable responding to the changing needs of children and teaching teams throughout the day. The ideal candidate brings prior childcare experience, a calm and solutions-oriented approach, and the ability to build relationships quickly, respond to feedback from multiple colleagues, and support children with a wide range of developmental abilities and needs, including those requiring significant individualized support.

This position is an excellent opportunity for an early childhood educator interested in growing with Early Partners. Working across classrooms provides exposure to different age groups, teaching approaches, and experienced educators, making it a strong entry point for those interested in future full-time teaching opportunities as they become available.

Early Childhood is Foundational for Brain Development: What happens before age 5 is foundational to all future learning. 90% of the brain is formed before age 5- before a child ever steps foot into a kindergarten classroom. Early Partners teachers are brain-builders, using complex vocabulary and exploring rich concepts with young children.

Our Vision: Transformed and equitable communities, where every child has access to high-quality early childhood education (ECE), every parent is empowered to lead, and every teacher is developed as a professional.

Our Mission: The mission of Early Partners is to prepare all children to meet or exceed developmental milestones before kindergarten, build a life-long love of learning, and unlock the limitless bounds of human potential in early childhood.

Our Values

• Learning: We view every moment as a chance to grow.
• Joy: We find meaning and delight in the work we do each day.
• Relationships: We build trust through meaningful connection with each other.
• Teamwork: We work together to accomplish our goals.
• Intentionality: We make thoughtful choices rooted in purpose and data.
• Responsibility: We take action to make our community stronger.

We currently operate a single school site in the Lower Garden District with 9 classrooms serving nearly 125 children from diverse backgrounds.

Our teachers never stop learning and never stop growing. Here’s how:

• We provide ongoing, individualized support from a designated instructional leader at the center. Teachers have ongoing professional development and 1:1 coaching.
• We use observation and documentation of children’s work and play as a tool to more deeply understand their learning and development.
• Teachers have opportunities to collaborate with colleagues, observe classroom practices, and strengthen their skills in supporting children with diverse developmental needs.

Overview

• Provide flexible instructional and classroom support across Early Partners' classrooms, serving children ages 0–5.
• Serve as a substitute teacher or additional classroom support based on daily staffing and student needs, adapting quickly to different age groups, teaching teams, and classroom routines.
• Collaborate with Lead and Associate Teachers, following classroom plans, routines, and guidance to ensure consistency and continuity for children.
• Develop strong, positive relationships with children, families, and colleagues across the Early Partners learning community.
• Respond constructively to feedback and direction from multiple teachers and instructional leaders, demonstrating flexibility, professionalism, and sound judgment.

Support of Children

• Foster children's social-emotional, language, literacy, cognitive, and physical development through responsive interactions and engaging learning experiences.
• Support children with a wide range of developmental abilities and needs, including children with disabilities and those requiring significant individualized support, in collaboration with classroom teachers and intervention specialists.
• Engage children in learning experiences across indoor and outdoor environments, including active play, exploration, and daily care routines.
• Support daily transitions, including arrival, separation, meals, diapering, toileting, rest time, and movement between learning environments.
• Maintain a calm, nurturing, and responsive presence during challenging situations, using positive guidance and developmentally appropriate strategies to support children's regulation and safety.

Compliance & Reporting

• Maintain active supervision of children and follow all Early Partners safety procedures, licensing requirements, and classroom protocols.
• Complete required safety and compliance documentation, including incident reports and daily checks, as appropriate to assigned responsibilities.
• Communicate promptly and clearly with classroom teachers and leadership about children's needs, incidents, and safety concerns.

• A positive attitude, growth mindset, and genuine joy in working with young children, families, and teammates.
• A deep belief in the ability of all children to learn and their right to a high-quality, inclusive early childhood education.
• Flexibility and adaptability across classrooms, teaching teams, and learning environments.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills and an openness to feedback.
• Ability to remain calm, responsive, and solutions-oriented in challenging or rapidly changing situations.
• Reliability, punctuality, sound judgment, and a willingness to jump in wherever support is needed.

Required

• Previous professional experience in a childcare, preschool, or early childhood education setting.
• Ability to move throughout a large campus with stairs, and actively supervise children in indoor and outdoor environments.
• Reliable transportation to and from work.
• Ability to obtain CPR/First Aid certification and pass required childcare background checks (costs covered by Early Partners).

Preferred

• 3+ years of experience working with children ages 0–5.
• Child Development Associate (CDA) credential or comparable qualification.
• Experience supporting children with disabilities, developmental delays, or significant behavioral or individualized support needs.
• Experience working across multiple age groups or serving as a substitute or floater teacher.

• Part-time, independent contractor (1099) position, Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM–2:30 PM.
• Hourly compensation of $15-$17 per hour based on qualifications and experience.
• CPR/First Aid certification costs covered by Early Partners.
• Background check and fingerprinting costs covered by Early Partners.

Please submit a résumé and cover letter to with the job title in the subject line. In your cover letter, please explain your interest in Early Partners, and your qualifications for the position.

Early Partners encourages individuals of all identities and backgrounds to apply for this position. We are an equal opportunity employer, fully committed to hiring a talented and diverse group of individuals. Early Partners does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, creed, color, national origin or ancestry, age, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, marital status, veteran status, disability, or any other category protected by applicable law. In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification form upon hire. Being authorized to work in the U.S. is a precondition of employment. Early Partners does not sponsor employment visas.

Pay: $15.00 - $17.00 per hour

Work Location: In person