Abundant Life Family Services·Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
The Substitute ECE Teacher plans and implements individualized and group instruction for children ages 3-5 in inclusive settings. They are responsible for managing the classroom, implementing IEP goals, and collaborating with multidisciplinary teams and families.
Salary Range: $450/day for Master's Degree ($250/day for Bachelor's Degree) Schedule: Monday–Friday, 7:30 AM – 4:30 PM
At Abundant Life Family Services, we believe that every child deserves access to high-quality, compassionate, and developmentally appropriate education. Our Substitute Early Childhood Education Teachers are essential in promoting school readiness by nurturing children’s cognitive, social-emotional, adaptive, and physical development in inclusive learning environments.
The Substitute Early Childhood Education (ECE) Teacher is responsible for planning and implementing individualized and group instruction aligned with the developmental needs of children ages 3–5 in inclusive classroom settings, in partnership with Elwyn. The Substitute ECE Teacher works closely with an Assistant Teacher to maintain a structured, supportive, and engaging classroom environment that promotes growth across developmental domains and aligns with each child's IEP. This role requires strong instructional leadership, inclusive practices, and effective collaboration with families and interdisciplinary teams.
Instruction & Curriculum Develop and implement daily lesson plans aligned with Creative Curriculum and/or other approved frameworks. Differentiate instruction to meet the developmental levels and IEP goals of children with and without special needs. Guide the Assistant Teacher in supporting small-group and individualized instruction throughout the day. Utilize developmentally appropriate practices to promote children’s growth in all domains.
IEP Development & Implementation Assist in writing and updating present levels, annual goals, and progress reports in collaboration with the IEP team and service providers. Ensure IEPs are implemented with fidelity in all instructional and non-instructional routines.
Data Collection & Monitoring Collect, analyze, and report student progress toward IEP goals using data-informed instructional strategies.
Behavioral Support Implement Positive Behavior Support Plans and collect behavior data as needed. Participate in Functional Behavior Assessments (FBAs) and interdisciplinary team meetings as required.
Administer Developmental Assessments Administer standardized tools such as the DAYC-2 as part of the re-evaluation process to assess each child’s cognitive and social-emotional development. Use assessment data to determine progress or regression in developmental milestones and to inform individualized intervention planning.
Staff Direction Supervise and guide the Assistant Teacher in daily implementation of routines, instructional support, and behavior strategies.
Classroom Management Maintain a safe, nurturing, and inclusive classroom environment in collaboration with the Assistant Teacher. Apply proactive behavior management strategies to support positive behaviors. Ensure that classroom materials, activities, and interactions reflect cultural diversity and inclusion.
Collaboration & Communication Work collaboratively with the Assistant Teacher, therapists, families, and Elwyn administrators. Participate in multidisciplinary team meetings, IEP meetings, and other planning sessions. Provide regular updates to families and document student progress toward IEP goals and developmental milestones.
Compliance & Documentation Complete all educational documentation—including lesson plans, student observations, re-evaluation assessments, and progress reports—in a timely and accurate manner. Ensure ongoing compliance with all requirements set by Elwyn, Abundant Life Family Services, and state licensing authorities. Maintain up-to-date training through Relias and complete continuing education credits as required to uphold your teaching certification. Adhere to all school-wide initiatives, safety protocols, and organizational policies.
Master’s degree in Early Childhood Education, Special Education, or related field (required) Pennsylvania Instructional I Certificate in Early Childhood Education, PreK–4 or N–3 (required), preferably Special Education K-12 Minimum 1–3 years of experience working in inclusive early childhood settings Familiarity with IEP development, documentation systems (such as IEPWriter), and educational data collection tools Completion of or willingness to complete training in CPR and de-escalation strategies (e.g., Safe Crisis Management or CPI) Experience working with multidisciplinary teams and related service providers Knowledge of IEPs, child development, and inclusive education practices Excellent communication, organization, and classroom leadership skills Ability to collaborate effectively with the Assistant Teacher and a multidisciplinary team Clearances: PA Child Abuse, Criminal History, FBI Fingerprints (required prior to start)
Position requires frequent standing, walking, sitting on the floor, and lifting up to 25 pounds. Must be able to navigate classroom and playground environments. Occasional local travel may be required for meetings or training. Clean and sanitize the centers/classroom each day.
Requires a Master's degree in Early Childhood or Special Education and a Pennsylvania Instructional I Certificate (PreK-4 or N-3). Candidates need 1-3 years of experience in inclusive early childhood settings and must obtain required PA clearances.
Market context
Teaching assistant openings in Pennsylvania are often driven by school staffing needs, especially in classrooms supporting students with special needs. These roles can be competitive because employers often prefer candidates with an associate degree or college credits, plus experience with children, crisis intervention training, and CPR. Review the AI-summarized requirements and benefits on this platform to save research time, then highlight any special education, behavior support, or safety training in your application.
