A quality learning center located in Rapid City, South Dakota - where we nurture and inspire every child to reach their full potential in a safe, inclusive, and stimulating environment. Our full-time childcare center offers the finest facilities available for children aged 6 weeks to school-aged. Our preschool program is designed for 3- to 5-year-olds to prepare them for their all-important school years ahead. We offer an extensive school-age program for after school and planned activities to keep them busy with age-appropriate groupings. Highlights/Quick Facts: All-Inclusive Tuition Developmentally Appropriate Curriculum Nutritious Meals and Snacks Qualified, Caring, and Experienced Staff Safe & Secure Our vision is simple, to be the most nurturing environment for children and the most trusted by parents. Every day, we recommit ourselves to the future by focusing on the needs of our children through age-appropriate activities in a loving and safe setting.

Nursery Support Teacher

Infant, 1-Year-Old, and 2-Year-Old Classrooms | Impact Kidz Academy | Rapid City, SD

Full-Time and Part-Time Positions Available

Pay: $14–$19/hour, depending on education and experience

About Impact Kidz Academy

Impact Kidz Academy is a children-first childcare and preschool program committed to creating a safe, nurturing, developmentally supportive environment where every child feels loved, valued, and cared for.

Our nursery classrooms serve some of the youngest children in our center, including infants, 1-year-olds, and 2-year-olds. These early years are full of growth, movement, communication, exploration, emotional development, and important milestones. We are looking for a Nursery Support Teacher who is nurturing, dependable, patient, attentive, and excited to support young children as they learn and grow.

This is a great opportunity for someone who enjoys working with young children and wants to grow in the early childhood education field while being part of a supportive, purpose-driven team.

Position Summary

The Nursery Support Teacher is an assistant teacher role that supports the Lead Teacher in one of our nursery classrooms, which may include the infant room, 1-year-old room, or 2-year-old room. This position helps provide high-quality care, active supervision, classroom support, developmental play, cleaning, documentation, and daily routines.

The ideal candidate is warm, calm, dependable, flexible, and comfortable working with young children in a busy childcare setting. This person should understand that nursery care is much more than meeting basic needs. It is about helping children feel safe, loved, supported, and successful as they develop independence, communication, social skills, emotional regulation, and early learning skills.

Schedule

We have full-time and part-time positions available.

All Nursery Support Teachers must be available for a consistent schedule every day, Monday–Friday, in order to qualify for the position.

Because young children thrive with routine and familiar caregivers, we are not looking for candidates who can only work occasional days, rotating days, or inconsistent weekly availability.

Examples of possible schedules may include:

• Full-time Monday–Friday schedule
• Part-time morning schedule, Monday–Friday
• Part-time afternoon schedule, Monday–Friday

Specific schedule options will be discussed during the interview process.

Pay

$14–$19 per hour, depending on education, childcare experience, nursery classroom experience, training, and overall qualifications.

Key Responsibilities

Child Care, Supervision, and Safety

The Nursery Support Teacher will:

• Provide warm, nurturing, attentive care to children throughout the day.
• Maintain active supervision of children at all times.
• Support the Lead Teacher in maintaining required staff-to-child ratios.
• Ensure children are safe, accounted for, and supervised during classroom activities, transitions, meals, diapering/toileting, outdoor play, and rest time.
• Follow classroom routines and safety procedures under the direction of the Lead Teacher.
• Ensure children are never left unattended in any classroom area, on changing tables, in highchairs, in cribs, on cots, on the playground, or during transitions.
• Help create a classroom environment that is physically safe, emotionally supportive, and developmentally appropriate.
• Report safety concerns, illness symptoms, injuries, behavior concerns, or unusual observations to the Lead Teacher or leadership immediately.

Feeding, Meals, Diapering, Toileting, and Daily Care

The Nursery Support Teacher will:

• Assist with feeding, snacks, meals, bottles, and age-appropriate self-feeding routines.
• Follow individual feeding instructions for infants as applicable.
• Hold infants for bottle feeding until they are developmentally able to hold their own bottle.
• Ensure bottles are never propped.
• Assist 1-year-olds and 2-year-olds with meals, utensils, cups, handwashing, and table routines.
• Change diapers promptly, respectfully, and according to sanitation procedures.
• Support toilet learning for children who are developmentally ready.
• Help children with handwashing, dressing, transitions, rest time, and other daily care routines.
• Follow proper handwashing and cleaning procedures before and after feeding, diapering, toileting, and cleaning.
• Keep children clean, comfortable, and cared for throughout the day.
• Help document meals, bottles, diaper changes, toileting, naps/rest time, mood, supplies, and daily care routines as assigned.

Developmental Support and Play

The Nursery Support Teacher will:

• Engage children in developmentally appropriate play and interaction.
• Support infant development through tummy time, floor play, music, books, sensory exploration, movement, and early communication.
• Support 1-year-olds and 2-year-olds through music, movement, books, sensory play, art, dramatic play, outdoor play, early language activities, and hands-on learning.
• Talk, sing, read, play, and interact with children throughout the day.
• Encourage communication, independence, social skills, emotional regulation, and early problem-solving.
• Support developmental milestones such as reaching, rolling, sitting, crawling, walking, talking, self-feeding, following routines, peer interaction, and early play skills.
• Respond to children’s cues and needs with warmth, patience, and consistency.
• Help create an environment where children feel safe, loved, and encouraged to explore.

Positive Guidance and Behavior Support

The Nursery Support Teacher will:

• Use calm, positive, developmentally appropriate guidance.
• Support children in learning routines, transitions, sharing, turn-taking, communication, and safe play.
• Respond calmly to crying, frustration, tantrums, biting, pushing, difficulty transitioning, and other common early childhood behaviors.
• Use redirection, modeling, simple language, and consistency to support appropriate behavior.
• Follow the Lead Teacher’s classroom management expectations.
• Avoid yelling, shaming, harsh discipline, or punishment-based responses.
• Communicate behavior concerns to the Lead Teacher or leadership team promptly.

Classroom Support

The Nursery Support Teacher will:

• Work under the guidance of the Lead Teacher and leadership team.
• Follow classroom routines, schedules, procedures, and child-specific care plans.
• Help maintain a clean, organized, and well-stocked classroom.
• Clean and sanitize toys, tables, chairs, diapering areas, cribs, cots, classroom materials, and surfaces according to procedures.
• Restock diapers, wipes, extra clothing, bedding, feeding supplies, art materials, and other classroom supplies.
• Assist with laundry, classroom organization, and daily opening or closing tasks as assigned.
• Help prepare classroom materials and activities.
• Communicate respectfully and professionally with coworkers.
• Be flexible and willing to support different nursery classrooms as needed.

Family Communication

The Nursery Support Teacher will:

• Greet families warmly and professionally.
• Support positive, respectful relationships with parents and guardians.
• Share basic daily information with families as directed by the Lead Teacher.
• Use Brightwheel or other center communication systems as assigned.
• Maintain confidentiality regarding children, families, and staff.
• Direct parent concerns, detailed questions, or sensitive communication to the Lead Teacher or leadership team.

Health, Safety, and Compliance

The Nursery Support Teacher will:

• Follow all Impact Kidz Academy policies and South Dakota childcare licensing expectations.
• Complete required orientation and ongoing training within required timelines.
• Maintain current pediatric CPR and First Aid certification as required.
• Complete safe sleep training if working with infants.
• Follow mandated reporter responsibilities for suspected child abuse or neglect.
• Support compliance with supervision, ratios, sanitation, safe sleep, allergies, illness procedures, emergency procedures, confidentiality, and positive guidance expectations.

Required Qualifications

Applicants must:

• Be at least 18 years of age.
• Be able to pass all required childcare background checks prior to employment.
• Be available for a consistent schedule every day, Monday–Friday.
• Be dependable, punctual, patient, and professional.
• Be comfortable working with infants, 1-year-olds, and/or 2-year-olds in a childcare setting.
• Be comfortable assisting with feeding, diapering, toileting, rest time, transitions, cleaning, soothing, play, and daily care routines.
• Be able to follow directions from the Lead Teacher and leadership team.
• Be able to communicate respectfully with families, coworkers, and supervisors.
• Be willing to complete required training and ongoing professional development.
• Be physically able to lift young children, sit on the floor, bend, kneel, carry children, move quickly when needed, and remain actively engaged throughout the day.
• Maintain confidentiality and professionalism at all times.

Preferred Qualifications

Preference may be given to candidates who have:

• Previous experience working with infants, 1-year-olds, or 2-year-olds in a licensed childcare center.
• Experience in a nursery, toddler, or early childhood classroom.
• CDA credential, early childhood coursework, or interest in early childhood education.
• Current pediatric CPR and First Aid certification.
• Current safe sleep training.
• Experience using Brightwheel or another childcare communication platform.
• A desire to grow in the childcare or early childhood education field.
• A work history that demonstrates reliability, consistency, and commitment.

Professional Growth Opportunity

Impact Kidz Academy values team members who want to grow in the field of early childhood education.

Eligible Impact staff have the opportunity to participate in the Child Development Associate credential program at no cost. This is a great opportunity for team members who want to strengthen their skills, increase their qualifications, and continue building a meaningful career in childcare and early childhood education.

Ideal Candidate

Our ideal Nursery Support Teacher is someone who:

• Truly enjoys caring for young children.
• Is calm, gentle, nurturing, playful, and patient.
• Understands that infants, 1-year-olds, and 2-year-olds need consistency, safety, structure, and loving interactions.
• Notices small details and responds quickly to children’s needs.
• Can stay calm when multiple children need care at once.
• Is dependable and takes attendance seriously.
• Can commit to a consistent Monday–Friday schedule.
• Works well as part of a classroom team.
• Is willing to learn and follow established procedures.
• Communicates respectfully and professionally.
• Takes safety, sanitation, supervision, and documentation seriously.
• Wants to be part of a team that makes a meaningful difference in children’s lives.

Why Join Impact Kidz Academy?

At Impact Kidz Academy, you will be part of a team that values children, families, growth, professionalism, and high-quality care. We believe early childhood educators do some of the most important work in the world.

This position is a great fit for someone who wants to work with young children, support a strong classroom team, and grow in a meaningful career in early childhood education.

How to Apply

Apply through this posting.

Please include your availability when applying. Applicants must be available for a consistent schedule every day, Monday–Friday.

We are looking for candidates who are ready to love, support, learn, and make a lasting impact in the lives of children every day.