The Opportunity
The Nature School at Temple Shalom is seeking a full-time Infant Lead Teacher to join our founding staff community for the 2026–2027 school year.
The Infant Lead Teacher creates a calm, nurturing classroom for children ages 2–12 months, building secure relationships through responsive caregiving, individualized routines, sensory-rich experiences, and meaningful play. Working closely with families, this educator supports each child's development while creating an environment where infants feel safe, known, and loved.
This is a full-time (40 hours per week), year-round position.
Key Responsibilities
- Provide warm, responsive care that supports each infant's individual feeding, sleeping, and developmental rhythms
- Create a safe, nurturing classroom that promotes attachment, exploration, and early learning
- Plan developmentally appropriate sensory, movement, language, and play experiences
- Support daily outdoor experiences and age-appropriate exploration of the natural world
- Observe, document, and assess children's development
- Communicate regularly with families about routines, milestones, and daily experiences
- Follow all safe sleep practices, health and safety procedures, and Texas Child Care Regulations
- Maintain a clean, organized, and engaging classroom environment
- Collaborate with teaching partners and participate in meetings, professional development, and school events
- Contribute to a respectful, collaborative, and inclusive school culture
Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education or a related field preferred
- At least one year of experience working specifically with infants in a licensed early childhood program
- Knowledge of infant development, responsive caregiving, and safe sleep practices
- Strong communication and collaboration skills with families and colleagues
- Interest in or openness to nature-based education, outdoor learning, and emergent curriculum
Ideal Candidate Traits
- Warm, patient, and deeply responsive to infants' cues
- Values relationships as the foundation of learning
- Enjoys spending time outdoors in all seasons
- Finds joy in play, observation, and child-led discovery
- Reflective, collaborative, and eager to learn
- Demonstrates care and appreciation for the natural world
Pay: $18.00 - $22.00 per hour
Benefits:
- 403(b)
- Dental insurance
- Health insurance
- Paid time off
- Professional development assistance
- Vision insurance
Education:
Experience:
- Infant care: 1 year (Required)
Ability to Commute:
- Dallas, TX 75240 (Required)
Work Location: In person
