Floater Teacher / Classroom Support Specialist

Kids Academy of Learning & Excellence

Location: North Chesterfield, VA

Employment Type: Full-Time / Part-Time

Reports To: Center Director / Lead Teacher

Position Summary

Kids Academy of Learning & Excellence is seeking a dependable, nurturing, and highly flexible Floater Teacher / Classroom Support Specialist to support daily classroom operations across all age groups.

This role requires someone who can confidently move between infants, toddlers, preschool, Pre-K, school-age, and aftercare classrooms based on the needs of the center. The Floater helps maintain classroom coverage, supports child-to-staff ratios, assists teachers, and ensures children are safe, engaged, and cared for throughout the day.

The ideal candidate is flexible, reliable, professional, and comfortable supporting any classroom or program area assigned. In this role, flexibility is not optional — it is essential to the success of the school.Kids Academy of Learning & Excellence is seeking a dependable, nurturing, and flexible Floater Teacher / Classroom Support Specialist to support daily classroom operations across multiple age groups. This role is ideal for someone who loves working with children, can shift where needed, and understands that in childcare, flexibility is not optional — it is the engine that keeps the school running.The Floater will assist teachers with supervision, classroom routines, meals, transitions, cleaning, activities, and child engagement. This position may support infants, toddlers, preschool, Pre-K, school-age students, or aftercare depending on the center’s daily needs.

About Kids Academy of Learning & Excellence

Kids Academy of Learning & Excellence is a future-ready early learning academy serving children from 6 weeks through 12 years old . We combine a strong academic foundation with STE(AI)M™, robotics, creativity, character development, and nurturing care. We are not a basic daycare. We are building scholars, leaders, and confident children from the beginning.

The Floater Teacher / Classroom Support Specialist will support classrooms and center operations as assigned by the Center Director, Lead Teachers, or leadership team.

Classroom Support

• Provide classroom coverage across all age groups, including infants, toddlers, preschool, Pre-K, school-age, and aftercare.
• Move between classrooms throughout the day based on staffing needs, child-to-staff ratios, teacher breaks, transitions, and center operations.
• Assist Lead Teachers and Assistant Teachers with daily classroom routines.
• Support age-appropriate learning activities, play, reading, music, art, STE(AI)M™, and hands-on exploration.
• Help maintain a warm, safe, clean, and structured classroom environment.
• Follow the daily schedule and classroom expectations established by the Lead Teacher and administration.
• Support children during learning centers, circle time, outdoor play, meals, rest time, and transitions.
• Assist with classroom setup, cleanup, organization, and preparation of learning materials.

Supervision and Safety

• Maintain active supervision of children at all times.
• Help ensure proper child-to-staff ratios are maintained in every classroom.
• Conduct and support regular headcounts during transitions, outdoor play, restroom breaks, meals, and classroom changes.
• Monitor children closely during indoor activities, outdoor play, hallway transitions, and group movement.
• Position yourself where children can be seen and heard.
• Scan the environment for safety concerns and respond quickly to child needs.
• Report safety concerns, injuries, incidents, or unusual child behavior to the Lead Teacher or Center Director immediately.
• Follow all center safety policies, emergency procedures, licensing standards, and child accountability practices.
• Support safe arrival, dismissal, and authorized pickup procedures as directed.

Child Care and Daily Routines

• Assist with diapering, toileting, handwashing, feeding, and personal care needs based on the assigned age group.
• Support meal and snack service in accordance with center procedures.
• Assist with nap/rest time setup, monitoring, and cleanup.
• Help children build independence, confidence, and positive social skills.
• Use positive behavior guidance, redirection, and calm communication.
• Support children with kindness, patience, and respect.
• Follow each classroom’s routine without disrupting the learning environment.

Age Group Support

The Floater may be assigned to any age group and must be comfortable supporting:

• Infant feeding, diapering, safe sleep routines, bottle handling, tummy time, and nurturing interaction.
• Toddler toileting, diapering, redirection, emotional regulation, sensory play, and early language development.
• Preschool and Pre-K classroom routines, learning centers, group activities, bathroom transitions, and school-readiness activities.
• School-age and aftercare supervision, homework support, enrichment activities, outdoor play, and dismissal routines.

Operational Support

• Provide coverage for teacher breaks, lunch periods, planning time, restroom breaks, staff absences, and classroom transitions.
• Assist with classroom cleaning, sanitizing, organizing, and resetting learning spaces.
• Help prepare classroom materials and supplies.
• Support hallway, playground, bathroom, cafeteria, and transition coverage as needed.
• Assist with special events, enrichment activities, tours, field trips, or center-wide programming when assigned.
• Support Brightwheel updates, attendance, and basic classroom communication as directed.
• Assist with maintaining a professional, welcoming, and organized school environment.
• Perform other duties as assigned to support safe, compliant, and effective center operations.

Applicants must meet the following requirements:

• Must be at least 18 years old.
• High school diploma or equivalent required.
• Must be able to demonstrate flexibility across all age groups, including infants, toddlers, preschool, Pre-K, school-age, and aftercare.
• Must be willing and able to support any classroom or program area assigned.
• Must be willing and able to move between classrooms throughout the day based on center needs.
• Must be comfortable supporting diapering, toileting, feeding, rest time, outdoor play, and classroom transitions.
• Must be able to maintain active supervision of children at all times.
• Must be able to help maintain proper child-to-staff ratios.
• Must be able to follow directions and adapt quickly to different classroom routines.
• Must be dependable, punctual, professional, and team-oriented.
• Must be able to communicate respectfully with children, families, staff, and leadership.
• Must maintain confidentiality regarding children, families, staff, enrollment, tuition, subsidy status, behavior concerns, medical information, custody matters, and center operations.
• Must be able to pass all required background checks and eligibility requirements.
• Must be willing to complete all required childcare training, onboarding, orientation, health and safety training, emergency preparedness training, child abuse and neglect training, safe sleep training, food allergy training, and center-specific training.
• Must have a genuine interest in working with children.

Preferred qualifications include:

• Previous experience working in a licensed childcare center, preschool, school, camp, church nursery, or similar child-focused setting.
• Experience working with multiple age groups.
• CPR and First Aid certification.
• Knowledge of Virginia childcare licensing standards.
• Familiarity with Brightwheel or another childcare management system.
• Experience supporting infant, toddler, preschool, Pre-K, or school-age classrooms.
• Interest in early childhood education, child development, STE(AI)M™, robotics, creativity, or school readiness.
• Ability to step into different classroom environments with confidence and professionalism.
• Strong classroom management and positive behavior guidance skills.

Additional benefits of joining Kids Academy of Learning & Excellence include:

• Be part of a future-ready early learning academy focused on care, structure, innovation, and excellence.
• Work in a mission-driven environment where children are known, supported, and nurtured.
• Gain exposure to STE(AI)M™, robotics, creativity, character development, and school-readiness programming.
• Build experience in infant, toddler, preschool, Pre-K, school-age, and aftercare settings.
• Strengthen your childcare career through real-world classroom experience.
• Be part of a school culture that values professionalism, safety, teamwork, and heart.
• Help maintain the daily flow of the center by supporting classrooms where the need is greatest.
• Make a direct impact on children’s safety, confidence, learning, and development.

Kids Academy of Learning & Excellence (KALE), powered by the CORE Foundation, is a next-generation early learning ecosystem built to nurture the whole child—mind, heart, spirit, and future potential. Rooted in compassion and community impact, KALE blends strong early childhood fundamentals with STE(AI)M™ innovation, literacy foundations, and character development. Our work is purpose-driven, family-centered, and excellence-focused.