Early Childhood Teacher at The Centers in Lakewood, OH

At The Centers, meaningful work is grounded in a culture where people feel valued. As a 2026 USA TODAY Top Workplaces winner, the organization is nationally recognized, based entirely on employee feedback, for trust, purpose, and care. This Teacher position plays an important role in advancing our mission and supporting the communities we serve.

Job Summary
Designs, develops, and implements developmentally appropriate programs and lesson plans for children in their care. Will utilize High Scope approaches to develop content and employ multiple teaching strategies to accommodate learning differences such as, those with Individual Education Plans (IEP) or Individual Family Service Plans (IFSP).

Job Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in early childhood education, BA with an AA in ECED, or BA in related field of study with 16 credit hours in Child development courses. Minimum of two years’ experience in a classroom setting required; early childhood focus preferred. CPR/First Aid, Communicable Disease, Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention within 90 days of hire (training provided by The Centers). Some entry-level experience in a classroom setting required; early childhood focus preferred. Occasional evening hours may be required. No record of child abuse or moral turpitude as determined by background check based on fingerprints.

Essential Job & Responsibilities

Assumes responsibility for the assigned children in the Teacher’s classroom; meets the social, emotional, physical and cognitive developmental needs of children in routine areas of their care and throughout their planned daily schedule of activities. Completes individual assessments and screenings for children in their care; formulates plans to support children with special needs. Helps individual children recognize and use acceptable behavior; demonstrates empathy for misbehavior and responds professionally; sets reasonable limits for children; uses incidents of misbehavior to teach children positive behavior, social awareness, social interaction skills, verbal skills, etc.
Will always supervise children while in care custody and control. Help maintain exciting well-equipped learning environments to foster exploration.
Participate in a cooperative team of teachers
Cultivate optimal growth and development through High Scope Curriculum activities in both the indoor and outdoor environment.
Promote personalized planning with high levels of teacher-child interactions under the direction of a supervisor.
As a teaching team, help design, develop, and implement developmentally appropriate activity plans for children based on assessment and screening data.
Be a team member in engaging parents through caring, meaningful, and professional relationships to enhance child(ren)’s development.

Other Job Duties & Responsibilities

Maintains cleanliness and sanitation of the assigned classroom area, other areas in the center, toys and equipment regularly throughout the day

Responsible for laundry within the assigned classroom – washing, drying, and folding, as needed.

Maintains playground area by cleaning and sanitizing high touch areas after each classroom outside play. Assist Center with child enrollment by communicating with community members and passing out flyers. Other duties as assigned.

About The Centers The Centers through healing, teaching, and inspiring helps individuals and families to reach their full potential. We provide health, family, and workforce services at 11 locations throughout Greater Cleveland, creating life-changing solutions for people to lead healthier and more successful lives. We strive to be a service-oriented workplace that pioneers and co-creates solutions while fostering an inclusive community where our team members thrive.

Our Early Learning Centers and programs provides high-quality care for children during the critical first 2,000 days of life by operating seven high-quality early learning centers, serving children birth through five years old, in Cleveland and the inner-ring suburbs. Because of our high standards, all sites achieved a 5-Star rating on the Step-Up-To-Quality Rating and been recognized and selected to be part of Universal Prekindergarten (UPK) and PRE4CLE.

Wellbeing and Benefits Providing quality benefits to our staff is important to us. Just as important is our staff’s well-being. That’s why we offer a number of choices from medical to dental to vision plans to meet the different needs of our staff.

Choice of medical and dental plans Health Savings Account Flexible Spending Account for Health and Dependent Care Vision Support for continuing education and credential renewal Life Insurance Retirement Savings (401k) with a company contribution Mental Health Support Employee Assistance Program Calm Subscription Short and Long term Disability