Being a daycare teacher can be a very rewarding experience. Your whole job revolves around making a positive impact on young kids’ lives, while getting to spend your day having fun, teaching, and being creative. (And you get to enjoy all the usual professional perks, like healthcare and paid time off!)
However, as great a gig as it can be, it depends largely on what daycare you work for. Like any job, a negative work environment can quickly turn a dream career into a disaster. Here are five things both new and experienced daycare teachers should be on the lookout for when considering accepting a position at a center.
5 Things to Look For When Applying to Work at a Daycare
Flexible Scheduling
Daycare teachers have lives, too, so it’s important to find a center that offers flexible scheduling. This is especially true for daycare teachers who are also parents, and sometimes need to prioritize the responsibilities of their own children.
Although most daycare centers (understandably) need a firm plan in place for when teachers will be available, you will want to find a daycare that goes above and beyond to try to accommodate as many teachers’ schedules as possible. In order to determine if they offer flexible scheduling and good work/life balance, ask questions such as:
- What happens if I need to change my schedule?
- What happens if I or my child gets sick?
- What hours will you want me available for?
- How do you adjust to last-minute schedule changes?
- How many paid days off do I get a year?
At Cornerstone Academy, we are proud to offer our daycare teachers flexible scheduling options, paid time off, and holidays! As much as we love having you here with our kids, we understand that you have other commitments that sometimes take priority.
The Right Balance of Technology
Technology can be a great tool for a daycare teacher—when it’s used appropriately. Some daycare centers don’t use technology at all, while others use too much technology to try to overcompensate for other flaws they have in their programming.
It’s important to look at the technology offered by your center to make sure it’s not too much or too little. You want to have the tools you need to properly do your job, without hindering your ability to teach or engage with the children. Some examples of positive technology use in daycares include:
- Security cameras in each classroom
- Interactive smartboards
- Tablets with educational apps
- Parent portals and notifications
- Digital attendance tracking
Our blend of technology is one thing that Cornerstone Academy gets right! We use technology not as a crutch, but as a device to help grow the next generation.
Support From Management
If there is one thing that you definitely want to keep an eye out for at daycare centers, it’s an understanding of how much support you will be receiving from the management. Their level of involvement can drastically impact your day-to-day and overall happiness.
There are many daycares where the management team is completely absent from the process, and the only time you hear from them is if they need you to stay late or pick up another teacher’s hours. It makes you feel as though you can’t come to management with any concerns or questions, and that you are working alone without support from higher-ups.
However, that couldn’t be further from what happens here at Cornerstone Academy. Our management team is heavily involved in the day-to-day of what we do. They are there to help answer questions, make decisions about difficult situations with children, and even simply take over for a few minutes so our daycare teachers can go to the bathroom!
If you’re looking for an easy way to tell how engaged a management team is, try talking to the other teachers and seeing what they think! Ask for an opportunity to meet with them before accepting a position. (Yes, it is THAT important!)
Learning and Growth Opportunities
Most daycare teachers don’t just want to get their daycare certifications and be done. Many of them want to continue to improve their teaching skills and further educate themselves on early childhood development. A daycare center should embrace this and encourage you to go seek out opportunities that help you advance your career.
Although everyone’s career path will look different, good daycare centers and management teams will want to assist in any way possible. Whether that is helping you get additional certifications or just checking in to make sure you are reaching your goals, look for a daycare center that prioritizes your advancement and growth. At Cornerstone Academy, for example, we offer all our daycare teachers continuing education reimbursement!
Clear Policies (That You Agree With!)
Every daycare teacher has a different approach to education. Whether you prefer play-based learning, prioritize time in nature, or like to keep things project-based, you should look for daycare centers that align with your personal teaching style.
Make sure the daycare you’re applying to has a clear and well-defined educational policy. At Cornerstone Academy, we specialize in play-based learning, with an emphasis on educational programs that encourage early development while still having fun. If you’re a daycare teacher whose teaching style aligns with this approach, then you know you’re in the right place!
Taking the time to consider how you want to teach versus how the daycare teaches. This will help you determine what will be expected of you, and will also help you decide whether or not you’ll be a good fit. Remember, just because one daycare isn’t right for you, it doesn’t mean there won’t be plenty more out there that are!
Interested in Working at a Daycare? Apply to Cornerstone Academy
Interested in becoming a daycare teacher? Then consider a career at Cornerstone Academy in Kenosha, Wisconsin! We are hiring for a number of roles, and are proud to offer a wide variety of benefits such as competitive wages, employee referral bonuses, discounted child care, and a fun work environment! Fill out our online application today, and feel free to contact us if you have any questions.
