Childcare Cook + Float

Role: Childcare Float + Cook

Reports to: Program Director

Schedule: 7 am – 1 pm Monday – Friday (30 hours per week, up to 40 available)

Start Date: May 2026

Responsibilities:

The float plays a vital, flexible role in supporting the daily operations of the center. This position is responsible for planning nutritious meals, managing grocery shopping, and preparing food in accordance with health and safety guidelines, as well as handling center laundry to maintain a clean and organized environment. In addition, the float assists in classrooms as needed, providing support to teachers and ensuring consistent care for children across all age groups. This individual must be adaptable, organized, and proactive, as they help fill gaps throughout the day and contribute significantly to the smooth, efficient functioning of the center. Our ideal candidate will be someone who is: highly reliable/dependable, loves children and cooking, can juggle many tasks, and thrives in a high paced environment.

Our Mission:

St. Margaret’s mission is to provide young children with the extension of a nurturing, healthy home life, utilizing the expertise of our community, to assist our families in developing accomplished individuals rooted in a foundation of faith and love.

Our Core Values:

• LOVE: We serve and nurture others with kindness and compassion.
• RESPECT: We appreciate the unique qualities and dignity of each individual person.
• INTEGRITY: We behave in ways that promote trust and accountability.
• FAITH: We aim to facilitate the beginning of a loving relationship with Jesus Christ.
• COMMUNITY: We utilize the expertise of our community to provide a well-rounded foundation for the children in our care.
• GROWTH: We educate with a whole child growth mindset, focusing on the development of social-emotional, physical, cognitive, spiritual, and language skills within a safe and supportive environment.

SMCC Expectations:

Family Relationships and Communication:

• Maintain communication (in person, via our app, phone calls, other means as necessary)
• Warmly greet families at drop-off and pick-up
• Report concerns to the appropriate parties
• Answer any questions and be available to meet with parents as needed/necessary
• Communicate and embody SMCC values, mission, and policies in a courteous and compassionate manner

Parent Education:

• Communicate updates about classroom routines, schedules, expectations, curriculum, and learning goals
• Share helpful information and resources in collaboration with the Director

Classrooms:

• Maintain classroom routines and schedules while providing constant supervision
• Complete developmental and learning screenings/assessments periodically
• Strictly and carefully maintain KDHE licensing/safety ratios, rules, and regulations
• Maintain and submit documentation and records, as needed
• Ensure that children are signed in and out each day for recordkeeping purposes
• Log pertinent information about each child’s day in the Procare app
• Work with the program director to develop specialized behavioral plans, as needed

Team Work and Leadership:

• Give and receive feedback to and from team members. Direct assistants as needed.
• Liaise with the Program Director on the professional development needs of your team
• Ensure that substitutes within the classroom are welcomed, oriented, and directed appropriately. Assist with new hire training as requested.
• Share resources and stay up to date on best practices within the field
• Cooperate and problem solve appropriate solutions with colleagues and leadership

Environmental Design:

• Adjust and individualize your learning environment to meet the needs of your group
• Maintain the environment according to program standards
• Keep the learning environment free of clutter and hazards
• Keep classroom storage areas clean and orderly
• Create systems for parents and children in the classroom
• Keep the environment clean with daily cleaning and disinfecting procedures

Curriculum Development:

• Create and prepare developmentally appropriate lesson plans tailored to each child’s individual needs, goals, and skills in advance
• Post lesson plans in the classroom each week and ensure they are followed
• Research and request curriculum materials, make materials as needed
• Regularly change/rotate learning materials in the classroom environment
• Provide children with group learning opportunities as well as 1:1 lessons

Collaboration:

• Work closely and professionally in collaboration with community leaders and joint programs (CES Pre-School, etc.)

Professional Development:

• Meet annual continuing education credit requirements per KDHE
• Attend and participate in SMCC functions, mandatory meetings, and/or training opportunities

Code of Conduct:

• Respect student and family confidentiality
• Show a dedication to dependability – show up for work on time and as scheduled
• Display a friendly, positive team-player attitude while exhibiting self-motivation
• Refrain from gossip, negativity, or profanity
• Provide a positive, encouraging, and loving classroom environment
• Use a calm, kind, and respectful tone of voice when interacting or responding to the children. Handle children gently and with care.

Pay: $14.00 - $15.00 per hour

Work Location: In person