preschool teacher

early childhood teacher

childcare provider

teacher

lead teacher

Stepping Stones Early Learning Center

 During my first week (two days), the children were excited to have a new adult in the classroom, and I was eager to support their learning. I asked questions about day-to-day tasks, and when I did not have a specific assignment, I followed the classroom teacher's direction to engage with the children through play and assist them as needed. During this time, the teacher spoke very positively about my work, including comparing me favorably to staff in another building. No concerns about my performance were communicated to me.  My second week (two and a half days) followed a similar pattern, and I became more familiar with classroom routines and the specific needs of the students. While no issues were raised with me directly, I did observe behaviors that made me uncomfortable. I observed the teacher raise her voice in a way I found concerning. I also observed that two students who appeared visibly different from the majority of the class received noticeably less engagement. As someone who shares similar differences, I made an effort to express enthusiasm and support toward those children, which did not appear to be well received. At the time, I chose to set these observations aside.  My experience changed after returning to the classroom following a major snowstorm. I observed a noticeable shift in the teacher's demeanor toward me, including curt and distant behavior. That same day, a student shared that they had lost a pet over the weekend. Rather than acknowledging the child's feelings, I observed the teacher pause class to announce an upcoming birthday for her own pet and express excitement about it, which prompted other children to cheer. I found this response lacking in empathy given the situation.  Later that day, I met privately with the owner and the classroom teacher and was told the teacher no longer wanted me in the classroom because the children were considered "too excited" when I was present, which was said to impact behavior. I offered potential adjustments that would allow me to remain in the classroom, but the center instead suggested rotating me into other classrooms. Those options did not align with what I was seeking, and I chose to leave.  Based on my experience, staff turnover particularly among aides appeared frequent ( I started in the middle of the year), and rather than working collaboratively to address challenges and provide consistency for the children, removal from the classroom seemed to be the preferred approach.

I greatly enjoyed my time working here. I  loved the children, the philosophies, the environment, and some of my coworkers/supervisors. I learned a lot about how to teach children social-emotional skills, and I wouldn't be doing as good of a job raising my own child if I hadn't worked here.

The pay was bad enough that I had to quit eventually, though - even lead teachers don't really make enough to support a family of their own! But every time I get frustrated with a different job I start daydreaming about coming back to work here.

However, I'd warn that your experience will depend a lot on which classroom you're working in. Some lead teachers are very kind and considerate; some are self-centered and unsympathetic. Some are active workers who do their share of the childcare and help their aides learn and succeed; some are always out of the room on one errand or another and expect you to make up for their absence.

While I haven't worked there in a couple years, I've heard that things have also been going downhill lately, as more and more of the wonderful staff have to quit due to their own finances or lack or support from those in charge and are replaced with people who can't or won't handle the workload well. It's hard to retain good staff with such low pay!

The exact type of work varies by classroom, but generally expect to be required to lift and carry children, sit in the middle of the floor, run around outside, and clean tables and floors and toilets. You need to be able to remain patient in the face of children screaming, hitting, biting, and arguing, but you should be taught how to diffuse these situations. The occasional emergency may require a level head and quick thinking. It's helpful to be able to work both independently and collaboratively, able to take direction but also to take initiative in getting things done.

We could chose 4 or 5 days for a schedule. Management worked hard to put the kids first and made sure staff did too. If the teachers didn't work together, follow rules (like no cells phones), or didn't do what the program offered, they didn't last long. Best part of the job was seeing the kids get excited when they learned new things and working with great teachers/friends. I still talk to many families I had throughout the 7 years. The management was good and were consistent about making people follow policies and curriculum. The Director and owner were quick to jump into a room to help, whether it was reading a story so we could do diapers or help us get winter gear on 14 toddlers. Owner rode the mini roller coaster in the big room to make the little kids laugh if they had a hard drop off. We had a storage room of extra stuff open to everyone. 90% of the time, if we asked for something special we got it.

A typical work day is the guarantee of things to NOT go as planned. Management acts like they care about your concerns but will do nothing about them, even if it violates licensing regulations. The owner is money hungry and will accept way more kids than the center can handle. The owner also hardly ever shows his face, when he does it is only to criticize and let everyone know everything they are doing wrong, never positive and encouraging. Underpays staff that has been committed to the company for years knowing that they will stay because of the connection to the kids and families. Pay doesn't have anything to do with your experience or education. Dishes constantly come back dirty with food still stuck to them. Always short staffed so good luck if you get sick, which you will. Best thing there is fellow teachers, most are very supportive and friendly. I could go on but, I'm sure there are many other jobs out there that one would be happy at. 

The classroom I worked in was at the Woodbury location.  I worked with the babies and our classroom was called " orange room" the classroom was extremely small and the toys for the older babies we're not developmently appropriate... they were all shaky toys. I enjoyed the kids very much. What I didn't like is that I always had someone working with me different everyday. We worked ten hour days but instead of keeping someone in their consistently they had new people coming in this made it hard on the children and hard on the teacher. After a while the people that were assisting me begin to realize the routine and we worked well together. But it was hard on the children. I definitely wouldn't run a baby room that way I would have a consistent person in their everyday that both the parents know very well and the children know very well. So with the development unappropriate toys and the inconsistency caused me to leave. It was also very clicky. I felt like the children couldn't learn anything with with the toys  that were in there

A typical day would be coming in at 7:00 am (Opening), working your butt of to hardly receive a break for an hour, and closing the center at 6:00 pm.
Do not take this job if you want to be fairly compensated for your time, efforts and ideas. Overtime is non-existent, management will let others get away with doing nothing while you do everything and more. Then will get mad and block you when you are laying it down real for them to see.  Lost 4 well-hardworking teachers and teacher assistants in a matter of a month because of one employee that they wont get rid of who is awful and doesn't do anything. 
Management and the Owner are the worst people who care more about your opinions on them than about making sure that everything goes smoothly. The most drama filled, cliquey, and overworked center. 
The kids are truly amazing, made it hard to leave and I feel SO bad for the amount of parents are paying for the low-quality teachers, overfilled and uncleanly classrooms. 

They enroll to many children for what the teachers can handle. You are expected to get things done daily with little to no help. You give them a list of what is needed for your room, and you usually get it AFTER you actually need it. You rarely get reimbursed for things that you buy for your own room being told "try to get it through management first". Most of the time if you are a lead, you work 4-10 hours day with little or no break unless you ask. You day off is based on how long you have been there. The employee favoritism is a HUGE thing, if you are not a favorite your SOL.

The only enjoyable thing about working at SSELC was the bonds that were formed with the families and the very few staff that were actually nice. 

The hardest part was the constant moving around even when there was a sickness going around. Instead of keeping everyone in one area to prevent cross contamination of the germs we moved them all over. 

Overall pay was not good in comparison of what is expected. As an aide you’ll be left alone to run a classroom all day for 14.50. Their “generous discount” is 50% so for my toddler I was paying 775 a month for inconsistent teachers, lack of curriculum and not super clean spaces. The chef is amazing and cooks great food! But my son was sick and going to the doctor at least once a week for two months… this wasn’t his first daycare. Also their was issues being over ration having 26 kids with 2 teachers and the way some teachers talk to the kids is repulsive. There’s no training they give an orientation and throw you in a room to be a body. Don’t recommend working here or bringing your child here. 

You can stay late, do everything for the kids & parents and coworkers, and nothing will get recognized by admin or director. I've seen people respectfully give two weeks notice & be escorted out promptly the day of, without pay. Also, you're paid minimum wage for a job that is certainly not minimum effort, and maximum effort is expected. Your hours are not flexible and because there is such a high turnover of staff, you will frequently be expected to stay later than your scheduled hours, come in earlier, etc. 

Originally, I started to work at this daycare because I simply needed work. I didn't really have prior childcare experience but expressed my eagerness to learn. The employees and the children I work with have all since become like family to me. We work hard, but I feel those of us who otherwise don't work full time are not paid as much as we really should be. But we do what we do because we truly care about the children, and I can tell that the children know this. It's been an absolute gift getting to be part of such an important time in their lives and I don't know any other daycare around I feel has the same level of dedication that we do.

Top Job Titles	Average Salary
Preschool teacher 7 salaries reported	$19.72 per hour
Early childhood teacher 1 salary reported	$17.00 per hour
Childcare provider 1 salary reported	$15.50 per hour
Teacher 2 salaries reported	$17.75 per hour
Lead teacher 1 salary reported	$16.50 per hour

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