Job Summary
The After-School & Summer Camp Lead Teacher / Bus Driver is responsible for planning and implementing daily after-school activities, summer camp curriculum, and developmentally appropriate learning experiences while ensuring the safety, supervision, personal care, and positive guidance of children. This position also serves as a school bus driver, safely transporting children to and from the childcare center, schools, field trips, and other approved destinations in accordance with Ivy Kids Brand Standards, Texas Minimum Standards, and all applicable transportation regulations.
The position requires a dependable, energetic, safety-conscious professional who can effectively balance classroom leadership, child supervision, transportation responsibilities, communication with families and staff, and the day-to-day operational needs of the center.
Primary Duties and Responsibilities Classroom & Program Responsibilities
- Understands and complies with all Ivy Kids Brand Standards, Texas Minimum Standards, and Ivy Kids Personnel Policies.
- Plans and implements daily after-school activities, summer camp curriculum, and lesson plans in accordance with Ivy Kids standards.
- Creates engaging, age-appropriate activities that support children's social, emotional, physical, and cognitive development.
- Practices, models, and promotes Conscious Discipline throughout the classroom, playground, field trips, and transportation activities.
- Uses positive guidance techniques consistent with state regulations and assists children with social, academic, behavioral, or adjustment concerns.
- Maintains accurate and current classroom records, including attendance, accident reports, anecdotal records, developmental checklists, and other required documentation.
- Establishes developmentally appropriate classroom arrangements, décor, learning centers, and environments that promote learning and positive behavior.
- Posts daily activities and maintains classroom bulletin boards and parent communication materials.
- Maintains appropriate caregiver groups and child-to-staff ratios at all times.
- Supervises and directs the activities of the assistant teacher assigned to the classroom.
- Ensures children are properly supervised during classroom activities, outdoor play, transportation, field trips, and other program activities.
- Maintains awareness of children's allergies, medical needs, and other relevant safety concerns.
- Completes incident reports and other required documentation when necessary.
- Maintains cleanliness and follows the required 4-step sanitation process and cleaning checklist.
- Ensures educational materials, toys, playground equipment, and classroom supplies are properly maintained and safely used.
- Immediately reports needed repairs or unsafe conditions involving the building, playground, equipment, vehicles, or toys to the Center Director.
- Ensures children are not exposed to equipment, conditions, or situations that could affect their health or safety.
Transportation & Bus Driver Responsibilities
- Safely operates the center's school bus, including a 14-passenger bus when assigned, in accordance with all traffic laws, transportation regulations, Ivy Kids procedures, and Texas Minimum Standards.
- Safely transports children to and from the childcare center, schools, field trips, and approved activities.
- Develops and follows designated transportation routes and schedules as directed by the center.
- Conducts required daily vehicle inspections before operating the bus and promptly reports mechanical, safety, or maintenance concerns to the Center Director.
- Ensures children are safely seated and properly secured according to applicable child passenger safety and transportation requirements.
- Maintains a calm, positive, and nurturing atmosphere while children are being transported.
- Monitors children's behavior and addresses transportation-related behavioral concerns using positive guidance and Conscious Discipline techniques.
- Maintains accurate transportation attendance and passenger records as required by center procedures.
- Communicates transportation schedules, route changes, delays, incidents, and concerns to center staff in a timely manner.
- Follows all emergency, evacuation, accident, fire, severe weather, and other transportation procedures.
- Is prepared to administer CPR/First Aid or other appropriate emergency procedures when required and properly trained.
- Maintains the cleanliness and sanitation of the bus according to Ivy Kids procedures.
- Ensures children are accounted for before, during, and after transportation.
- Never leaves children unattended in the vehicle and follows all required child transportation safety procedures.
Health, Safety & Emergency Responsibilities
- Maintains constant awareness of children's health and safety needs.
- Implements appropriate emergency procedures in the event of a fire, tornado, chemical leak, accident, medical emergency, or other emergency situation.
- Maintains current knowledge of CPR, First Aid, emergency procedures, and child safety practices as required.
- Immediately reports accidents, injuries, safety concerns, suspected hazards, or other significant incidents to the Center Director.
- Completes required incident, accident, attendance, and transportation documentation accurately and promptly.
- Ensures classrooms, playgrounds, buses, and other areas used by children remain safe, clean, and properly maintained.
Parent, Staff & Director Interactions
- Communicates professionally, respectfully, and appropriately with children, parents, families, coworkers, and management.
- Keeps the Center Director informed in a timely manner of significant issues involving children, families, staff, transportation, or program operations.
- Observes, documents, and reports significant child or staff behavior that could adversely affect the quality or safety of care.
- Communicates appropriately with current and prospective families.
- Works collaboratively with teachers, assistant teachers, bus staff, and center management.
- Participates in center events, staff meetings, training sessions, professional development, and programs.
- Accepts temporary assignments when needed, including assisting in classrooms, answering phones, cooking, cleaning, or supporting other center operations.
- May be required to work early mornings, evenings, weekends, or extended hours for center events, transportation needs, trainings, or other operational requirements.
Professional Standards
- Maintains regular and dependable attendance.
- Follows Ivy Kids dress code and professional conduct standards at all times.
- Maintains confidentiality regarding children, families, and center operations.
- Demonstrates professionalism, patience, flexibility, dependability, and a positive attitude.
- Maintains required annual training hours and participates in ongoing professional development.
- Follows all Ivy Kids Critical Procedures and applicable state and local regulations.
Qualifications
- Must meet or exceed Texas state licensing requirements for age, education, training, and experience.
- High school diploma or equivalent required.
- At least two years of experience working in early childhood education preferred/required as applicable to licensing requirements.
- At least one year of experience working with children in a childcare center.
- Knowledge of Texas DFPS Minimum Standards.
- Valid driver's license and ability to legally operate the center's school bus.
- Must meet all applicable requirements for transporting children, including any required licensing, endorsements, certifications, training, or driving qualifications.
- Clean driving record with no history of serious traffic violations or disqualifying accidents.
- Must successfully pass required background checks and employment screening.
- Must be authorized to work in the United States.
- CPR/First Aid certification or ability to obtain and maintain required certification.
- Strong communication, organization, leadership, and interpersonal skills.
- High-energy, self-motivated, dependable, and safety-conscious individual.
- Ability to effectively communicate and interact with children, parents, staff, and management.
- Ability to repeatedly bend, stoop, kneel, run, and engage in active supervision.
- Ability to repeatedly lift and carry children weighing up to 50 pounds, depending on the age and weight of the child.
- Ability to safely supervise children in both classroom and transportation environments.
- Ability to maintain at least 24 hours of required training each year.
Core Competencies
The successful candidate will demonstrate:
- Child Safety & Supervision
- Classroom Leadership
- Conscious Discipline & Positive Guidance
- Safe Transportation & Defensive Driving
- Communication & Customer Service
- Reliability & Professionalism
- Organization & Record Keeping
- Emergency Preparedness
- Teamwork & Leadership
- Flexibility and Adaptability
Physical Requirements
This position requires the ability to remain active throughout the workday and may involve prolonged periods of standing, walking, sitting, driving, bending, stooping, kneeling, reaching, lifting, carrying, and running. The employee must be capable of safely lifting and carrying children weighing up to 50 pounds and responding quickly to children's safety and emergency needs.
Work Schedule
The position may require a flexible schedule, including early mornings, afternoons, evenings, weekends, extended hours, and additional hours for center events, field trips, staff meetings, trainings, transportation needs, or other center activities.
Overall Responsibility
The After-School & Summer Camp Lead Teacher / Bus Driver is responsible for providing a safe, nurturing, structured, and engaging environment for children both inside and outside the classroom and while in transit. The employee is expected to serve as a positive role model, maintain high standards of safety and care, support children's development, and consistently represent Ivy Kids professionally..
Pay: $13.00 - $14.00 per hour
Benefits:
- Employee discount
- Paid time off
- Professional development assistance
Education:
- High school or equivalent (Required)
Language:
License/Certification:
- CPR Certification (Preferred)
- Child Development Associate Certification (Preferred)
Work Location: In person
