Co-Teacher at Douglass Community Services in Palmyra, MO

Help Shape Bright Futures

 Do you have a passion for early childhood education and a desire to support infants and toddlers during their most important stages of development? Are you looking for a meaningful career where you can help children grow while supporting families and building strong classroom partnerships?

 Join our Early Head Start team and become part of a caring, collaborative classroom environment where every child is supported to reach their fullest potential. As a Co-Teacher, you will work alongside teaching staff to create safe, nurturing, and engaging learning experiences that promote growth in all developmental areas.

Why You'll Love Working Here

• Competitive Pay (Level 25)

  • $17.72/hour with Infant/Toddler CDA
  • $19.49/hour with Associate Degree
  • $21.44/hour with Bachelor’s Degree

• Outstanding Work-Life Balance

  • Full-time schedule: 40 hours per week, 49 weeks per year
  • No evenings, weekends, or overtime required
  • Paid winter/holiday break

• Exceptional Benefits

  • Health, dental, and vision insurance
  • FREE life insurance
  • 401(k) retirement plan with employer contributions
  • Generous Paid Time Off (PTO)
  • 14 paid holidays annually
  • Paid inclement weather days
  • Tuition assistance and professional development opportunities
  • Career growth and advancement opportunities

What You'll Do

As a Co-Teacher, you'll support the classroom team by:

• Ensuring a safe, healthy, and nurturing environment for infants and toddlers
• Supporting children’s physical, cognitive, social, and emotional development
• Assisting in planning and implementing developmentally appropriate lesson plans
• Working collaboratively with the Lead Teacher and classroom staff to manage daily activities
• Supporting individualized learning experiences based on each child’s strengths and needs
• Building positive relationships with families to encourage engagement in their child’s learning
• Incorporating health, nutrition, and self-care routines into daily classroom activities
• Completing required documentation, assessments, and computer-based data entry accurately and on time
• Supporting developmental, behavioral, and health screenings and follow-up services
• Making appropriate referrals to community agencies when needed to support children and families
• Maintaining ongoing communication with families, staff, supervisors, and service providers
• Following confidentiality standards and program policies at all times

What We're Looking For

• Infant/Toddler CDA required within 18 months of hire
• Associate’s Degree or higher in Early Childhood Education preferred (or related field with relevant experience/credentials per Head Start requirements)
• 1–3 years of experience working with young children highly preferred
• Ability to successfully complete Teaching Strategies GOLD Inter-Rater Reliability Certification within 6 months of hire
• Strong communication skills (written and verbal)
• Ability to write and implement developmentally appropriate lesson plans
• Computer proficiency, including data entry and word processing
• CPR and First Aid certification (or ability to obtain and maintain)
• Reliable transportation required
• Ability to take initiative, exercise sound judgment, and work effectively as part of a team
• Strong commitment to confidentiality and professional ethics

The above description is not a comprehensive listing of all job specific responsibilities, tasks, and duties.

Apply today at douglassonline.org

Douglass Community Services is an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE) and Drug-Free Workplace.