Assistant Teacher | Early Childhood Education
The Learning Experience | Wayne, NJ
Compensation: $17.00–$19.00 per hour
Where Happy Happens Here! 🐘
At The Learning Experience in Wayne, NJ, we believe that early childhood education is about more than teaching. It's about creating a safe, nurturing, and joyful environment where children feel loved, supported, and excited to learn.
Our Assistant Teachers play an essential role in bringing our mission to life: to make a positive difference in the lives of children, their families, and the communities we serve.
We are looking for caring, dependable, enthusiastic individuals who are passionate about working with young children and eager to grow as early childhood educators.
Whether you're an experienced childcare professional or beginning your career in early childhood education, we'd love to meet you!
Compensation & Benefits
• Pay: $17.00–$19.00 per hour, based on experience and qualifications.
- Competitive compensation
- Health insurance opportunities for eligible employees
- Paid time off
- Childcare discounts
- Professional development and ongoing training
- Opportunities for professional growth and advancement
- A supportive, collaborative team environment
What We're Looking For
A Passion for Children: You genuinely enjoy working with young children and understand the importance of nurturing their social, emotional, cognitive, and physical development.
A Positive Attitude: You bring patience, enthusiasm, kindness, and positive energy into the classroom each day.
A Team Player: You communicate respectfully, support your coworkers, and understand that successful classrooms depend on collaboration.
A Growth Mindset: You're open to feedback, eager to learn, and committed to continuously improving your skills as an educator.
Dependability & Professionalism: You understand the importance of consistency, punctuality, accountability, and maintaining a professional environment for children and families.
Key Responsibilities
Classroom Support & Engagement
- Work collaboratively with the Lead Teacher to maintain a welcoming, organized, and developmentally appropriate classroom.
- Actively engage with children through play, songs, stories, creative activities, and meaningful interactions.
- Assist with daily classroom routines, transitions, and activities.
- Encourage positive behavior through patience, guidance, redirection, and age-appropriate classroom management techniques.
Curriculum & Child Development
- Support the implementation of The Learning Experience's proprietary L.E.A.P. Curriculum®.
- Assist with hands-on learning activities that promote children's developmental growth.
- Recognize and respond to the individual needs, interests, and abilities of each child.
- Encourage independence, social-emotional development, communication, and a lifelong love of learning.
Health, Safety & Daily Care
- Maintain active supervision of children at all times and follow all center safety procedures.
- Assist with daily caregiving responsibilities, including diapering, toileting, handwashing, feeding, and other age-appropriate personal care needs.
- Maintain a clean, sanitary, safe, and organized classroom.
- Follow all applicable health, safety, licensing, and center policies.
- Support accurate attendance tracking, child accountability, and safe classroom transitions.
Family Communication & Teamwork
- Build positive, respectful relationships with children, families, and coworkers.
- Support timely and accurate communication with families regarding their child's daily experiences, activities, and milestones.
- Assist with classroom updates and documentation using the center's communication platform.
- Communicate concerns, observations, and classroom needs promptly and professionally to the Lead Teacher and center leadership.
- Participate in staff meetings, training, and professional development opportunities.
Qualifications
- High school diploma or GED required.
- Must be at least 18 years of age.
- Previous experience in childcare, daycare, preschool, or early childhood education preferred.
- Coursework or credentials in Early Childhood Education are a plus.
- Must meet all applicable New Jersey childcare licensing and employment requirements.
- Must successfully complete required background checks, health screenings, and safety training.
- Must demonstrate patience, sound judgment, professionalism, and a genuine commitment to children's well-being.
Physical Requirements
This position requires the ability to actively participate in classroom activities and provide safe, attentive care to young children.
Essential physical responsibilities may include:
- Standing, walking, sitting, and moving throughout the classroom for extended periods.
- Bending, kneeling, crouching, and sitting on the floor to interact with children.
- Safely lifting and carrying children or classroom materials weighing up to 40 pounds.
- Reaching, stretching, and performing routine classroom tasks.
- Maintaining appropriate visual and auditory awareness to supervise children effectively.
- Participating in outdoor activities in varying weather conditions, consistent with center safety policies.
- Maintaining the alertness and stamina necessary to perform essential classroom and caregiving responsibilities.
Reasonable accommodations may be provided to qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position, in accordance with applicable law.
Join Our TLE Family! 💙
At The Learning Experience Wayne, every day is an opportunity to help children learn, play, grow, and discover the world around them.
If you're ready to make a meaningful difference, grow professionally, and be part of a team that believes in making happy happen, we encourage you to apply!
Happy Happens Here! 🐘
#TLEHP