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Job Category:
University Staff
Employment Type:
Regular
Job Profile:
Early Child Edu Asst Teacher
Job Summary:
The Child Development Lab (CDL) is a relationship-based program in which teachers strive to build foundational, trusting, caring, and respectful connections with children and families. The Early Childhood Assistant Teacher works cooperatively and collaboratively with classroom teachers, CDL staff, families, university students, and researchers to support and advance the mission of the CDL.
The Assistant Teacher is responsible for partnering with teachers to provide a safe, healthy, and nurturing classroom environment. This role also supports compliance with all licensing and accreditation standards, including maintaining the ability to effectively supervise children by sight and sound at all times.
The Assistant Teacher positively guides children’s behavior and supports the teacher in meeting the social-emotional, cognitive, language, and physical needs and goals of the group, as well as those of individual children. This includes supporting children with developmental delays, disabilities, and/or challenging behaviors. The Assistant Teacher also helps supervise university students placed in the classroom, assists with modeling and training student staff, and adheres to all Wisconsin Department of Children and Families group childcare licensing regulations along with all CDL policies and procedures.
This position requires the ability to sit on the floor and move up and down with ease; run, jump, and climb hills and step stools; reach overhead to retrieve items stored above shoulder level; lift at least 35 pounds and carry this weight across a classroom; engage in vigorous outdoor and large-motor play for at least 30 minutes; push or pull at least three children in a stroller, wagon, or evacuation crib; walk up and down stairs; and move or push classroom furniture as needed. The Assistant Teacher must also be able to complete physical tasks within time frames consistent with the needs of a fast-paced classroom. Daily active participation in outdoor activities with children, in all types of weather, is required.
Work Schedule:
9:30am - 5:45pm, Monday - Friday
Some nights and weekends may be required for staff to attend professional development trainings.
This position is anticipated to start on 2/16/2026. Final determination of start date will be made at time of hire.
Key Job Responsibilities:
- Assists with the planning and facilitation of classroom programming and classroom coordination and organization for a early childhood education facility according to established curriculums
- Documents effective communication with internal and external stakeholders to relay pertinent information and provide updates of child activities per established guidelines and regulations
- Assists with basic technical and administrative classroom support
- Updates and organizes individualized and developmental educational plans for children
- Maintains the safety and physical well-being of children in a designated classroom
Department:
School of Human Ecology, The Child Development Lab (CDL)
The Child Development Lab (CDL) is a unique early care and education program serving children from six weeks to five years of age. In addition to providing high-quality early childhood education, the CDL functions as a teaching and research laboratory for university students, faculty, and staff. The program is state-licensed, accredited by the City of Madison, and nationally accredited through the National Early Childhood Program Accreditation (NECPA). It is housed in a state-of-the-art teaching and research facility on the beautiful UW–Madison campus. The CDL is licensed for 75 children and offers year-round programming.
The CDL's tripartite mission is:
1. To provide UW students with carefully supervised training opportunities associated with their course of study.
2. To provide a population and a setting in which UW faculty and students can conduct research on issues related to child development, early learning and family studies.
3. To engage in outreach activities, such as hosting professionals and scholars from around the world, serving on committees, providing continuing education to other teachers in the community and helping to organize community service projects.
Since its founding in 1926, the CDL has been a leader in early childhood education, research, and teacher training for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers. It was the first preschool laboratory of its kind in Wisconsin and the first laboratory school in the nation to be accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) in the 1980s.
Learn more: https://childdevelopmentlab.wisc.edu/
Compensation:
Starting salary will be based on experience and qualifications. Well-qualified applicants can anticipate earning between $19.24 - $21.15/hour, with final salary being determined at time of hire.
This position offers a comprehensive benefits package, including generous paid time off, competitively priced health/dental/vision/life insurance, tax-advantaged savings accounts, and participation in the nationally recognized Wisconsin Retirement System (WRS) pension fund. Please review the summary of benefits for more information.
Required Qualifications:
One or more years of experience assisting with child routines in a regulated childcare setting.
Ability to maintain patience, flexibility, and a calm demeanor when managing daily classroom routines.
Prior experience working with children 2-6 years of age.
Knowledge of and/or experience with childcare licensing regulations.
Candidate must pass a criminal background check, including fingerprinting.
Preferred Qualifications:
Experience assisting with developmentally appropriate ECE curriculum planning and child assessment.
Demonstrated skills in applying positive behavior guidance with young children.
Commitment to ensuring an inclusive work environment and treating everyone with respect and dignity.
Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively with multiple internal and external stakeholder groups.
Committed to learning and ability to stay up to date with current research-based practices in working with young children of all abilities.
Demonstrated ability to lead a kindergarten classroom for short periods of time, and/or prior leadership experience in an after-school or extended-day program.
Education:
Preferred: Associate's Degree in Early Childhood Education, Child Development, or related field.
How to Apply:
Click the "Apply" button to start the application process. You will be prompted to upload the following documents:
Applicants should attach a resume and a cover letter detailing their training and experience relating to the required and preferred qualifications referenced above.
The application reviewers will be relying on written application materials to determine which qualified applicants will advance in the recruitment process.
During the interview process, candidates will be asked to spend approximately 30 minutes in the classroom interacting and engaging with children.
The search committee will review all application materials after the posted deadline. We will notify selected applicants to participate further in the selection process directly. References will be requested of final candidates. All applicants will be notified after the search is complete and a candidate has been selected.
Please note that successful applicants are responsible for ensuring their eligibility to work in the United States (i.e. a citizen or national of the United States, a lawful permanent resident, a foreign national authorized to work in the United States without need of employer sponsorship) on or before the effective date of appointment.
Contact Information:
Lizzie Druke, Human Resources Generalist, edruke@wisc.edu
Relay Access (WTRS): 7-1-1. See RELAY_SERVICE for further information
Institutional Statement on Diversity:
Diversity is a source of strength, creativity, and innovation for UW-Madison. We value the contributions of each person and respect the profound ways their identity, culture, background, experience, status, abilities, and opinion enrich the university community. We commit ourselves to the pursuit of excellence in teaching, research, outreach, and diversity as inextricably linked goals.
The University of Wisconsin-Madison fulfills its public mission by creating a welcoming and inclusive community for people from every background - people who as students, faculty, and staff serve Wisconsin and the world.
The University of Wisconsin-Madison is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to, including but not limited to, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, pregnancy, disability, or status as a protected veteran and other bases as defined by federal regulations and UW System policies. We promote excellence by acknowledging skills and expertise from all backgrounds and encourage all qualified individuals to apply. For more information regarding applicant and employee rights and to view federal and state required postings, visit the Human Resources Workplace Poster website.
To request a disability or pregnancy-related accommodation for any step in the hiring process (e.g., application, interview, pre-employment testing, etc.), please contact the Divisional Disability Representative (DDR) in the division you are applying to. Please make your request as soon as possible to help the university respond most effectively to you.
Employment may require a criminal background check. It may also require your references to answer questions regarding misconduct, including sexual violence and sexual harassment.
The University of Wisconsin System will not reveal the identities of applicants who request confidentiality in writing, except that the identity of the successful candidate will be released. See Wis. Stat. sec. 19.36(7).
The Annual Security and Fire Safety Report contains current campus safety and disciplinary policies, crime statistics for the previous 3 calendar years, and on-campus student housing fire safety policies and fire statistics for the previous 3 calendar years. UW-Madison will provide a paper copy upon request; please contact the University of Wisconsin Police Department.