Early Education Lead Teacher (Infants)

First Presbyterian Church of Fort Worth • Full-time • Fort Worth, TX, US • $19 / hour • 1h ago

Opportunity:

First Presbyterian Church Fort Worth is looking for a Lead Teacher (Infants) to join our thriving Early Education Center in the heart of downtown Fort Worth. In this role, they will be the consistent, caring presence our youngest learners depend on: feeding, comforting, playing, and nurturing each infant's development while partnering closely with parents through daily updates and milestones. If you have experience caring for infants and a heart for helping little ones grow, we'd love to meet you. Apply today!

Contributions Defining Impact:

The essential functions listed are representative of those required to successfully perform the job.

Provide basic care for infants: Provide consistent care by the same caregiver when possible; individual attention, such as playing, talking, cuddling, holding, and comforting when upset; engage in interactive communication and during feeding, changing, and holding and attend promptly to physical needs such as feeding and diapering
Provide care tailored to each individual child’s habits, interests, strengths, and special needs and interact with each child in a positive manner and cooperative environment
Praise good behavior and efforts and redirect behaviors using positive statements
Provide parents with regular updates on their child, including observations, concerns, and achievements
Ensure continuity of care by sharing child activity information and parental instructions with incoming caregivers
Demonstrate courtesy, respect, acceptance, and patience towards all children, recognizing & respecting their uniqueness, potential, and cultural backgrounds
Ensure no child is abused, neglected, or exploited while in the care of the center
Report any suspected abuse, neglect, and exploitation to DFPS within 48 hours of suspicion
Set appropriate behavior expectations according to developmental stage
Foster developmentally appropriate independence through planned and flexible program activities
Know how many and which children should be cared for, including their names and ages
Provide necessary supervision, including physical proximity and auditory or visual awareness of each child’s ongoing activity, and intervene as needed. Remain fully available to the children in care without the personal use of electronic devices
Maintain required caregiver-to-child ratios at all times in accordance with 40 TAC Chapter 746, including serving as the sole caregiver in a classroom only when ratios and qualification requirements are met
Follow routine schedules and provide parents with observations or concerns regularly
Provide individual attention to each pre-kindergarten age child
Encourage children to communicate and express feelings in appropriate ways
Ensure a safe environment free of choking hazards and never leave an infant unsupervised
Set behavior expectations in a positive manner and according to developmental stage
Contribute to the overall success of the Church and the ministries by performing additional duties as assigned

Essential Requirements:

Education & Experience

Previous experience with infants is required
Child Development Associate (CDA) Credential and/or Bachelor’s degree are highly preferred
Spanish proficiency is preferred
Experience in church life, regardless of denomination, is desirable

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

Ability to adapt to workplace stressors like noise, emergent situations, and competing priorities while maintaining the security/safety of children
This position engages with people from all walks of life and must be able to adjust their communication styles to meet the needs of the audiences
Ability to exhibit compassion and empathy while maintaining compliance with established rules and procedures
Ability to engage in problem resolution, assess the situation objectively and potentially manage unexpected emergent situations with composure
Ability to adhere to process protocols and apply established protocols in a timely manner are required
Excellent oral and written communication (in English), interpersonal, cross-functional collaboration, and problem-solving skills
Know and comply with the Texas Minimum Standards for Child-Care Centers
Demonstrate competency, good judgment, and self-control in the presence of children and when performing assigned responsibilities
Must be legally authorized to work in the US without sponsorship (currently or in the future)

Licensure Requirements

Meet the Background Checks requirements in 40 TAC Chapter 745, Subchapter F
Comply with NAEYC and Texas Minimum Standards for Child-Care Centers
Submit highest education transcripts and diplomas within first week
Must be at least 18 years of age
Training: Teachers must stay current with all required training. Complete orientation within first seven (7) days. Within 90 days of employment: For non-exempt caregivers: Complete 8 hours of pre-service training before counted in the child/caregiver ratio and 16 hours within 90 days of employment; Complete Pediatric first aid and CPR. Within 12 months of employment: Complete 24 hours of annual training

Physical Requirements:

The physical demands reflect requirements to successfully perform the essential job functions. Reasonable accommodations may be provided for qualified individuals with disabilities.

Punctual and consistent attendance is crucial for children’s development and growth. Occasional overtime or event participation may be required.
Constant movement is necessary throughout the building for student assessment, requiring close visual acuity for tasks like formula verification, hazard identification, computer use, and reading
Required to frequently stand, walk, sit, stoop, kneel, bend, crouch, twist, squat, crawl, push/pull, and lift up to 40 pounds regularly, such as picking up a child from the floor. Digital dexterity and ability to reach are needed to safely carry children
Must be able to hear with aid, communicate effectively, and respond quickly to sounds or emergencies in a potentially noisy environment
Teachers must meet state and federal guidelines including performance level, immunizations, employment physicals
The work environment is primarily a classroom with occasional outdoor activities in varying weather conditions
Frequent exposure to bodily fluids and illness-causing bacteria and viruses is expected

Team:

Since 1873, First Presbyterian Church Fort Worth has been a vibrant source of faith and catalyst for community change. We operate a thriving early education center for children up to 5 years old and serve over 1,000 neighbors weekly through our community outreach programs. Known for our inclusive and caring environment, we’re seeking passionate people to join our mission-driven team, where exceptional benefits match meaningful work. Our workplace promotes growth and mutual support, guided by our core values: humble service, intentional unity, transformational relationships, and radical hospitality.

As an equal opportunity employer, we welcome all qualified candidates eligible to work in the United States; however, we cannot sponsor visas.

Benefits for You:

Pay is determined by previous qualifications, market data, and internal equity and begins at $19.00 per hour, paid on a semi-monthly basis.

Full-time employees are immediately eligible to participate in our robust benefits package on day 1! Our comprehensive benefits package includes:

100% employer-paid individual health coverage
100% employer-paid life, AD&D, and long-term disability insurance
Immediate 100% retirement match, up to 6% of your earnings, with no vesting period
Paid time off includes PTO, 10 holidays, paid parental leave, and more
Optional employee-paid benefits include family health coverage, dental, vision, and temporary disability

Pay: From $19.00 per hour

Benefits: