Master Teacher

Your role

As a Master Teacher at Child Development Schools, you will lead a classroom where children thrive and families feel confident in the quality of care their child receives every day. Your credential is not just a qualification -- it directly expands the number of children our center can serve, making your role one of the highest-impact positions in the building.

Your day-to-day will look and feel like that of a Lead Teacher, with one important distinction: you bring a higher level of demonstrated expertise that sets the standard for your classroom and contributes to the overall quality of the program.

What your day looks like

• Lead a classroom of children, delivering age-appropriate lessons and activities aligned with developmental milestones
• Maintain a safe, organized, and nurturing classroom environment that meets licensing and ratio requirements
• Observe and document each child's development and communicate progress regularly with families
• Build strong relationships with parents and caregivers through daily communication and scheduled conferences
• Serve as a model of best practice for classroom educators across the center
• Collaborate with your co-teacher and center leadership to maintain program quality and consistency
• Complete required documentation including attendance, incident reports, and developmental assessments

Qualifications

Pay and benefits

Pay

$15.00-$17.00 per hour based off experience. Master Teachers are compensated above our standard Lead Teacher rate in recognition of your credential and its impact on our program capacity.

Full-time employees receive

• Medical, dental, vision, life insurance, and short- and long-term disability
• 401(k)
• 9 company-paid holidays and 8 days of PTO
• 50% tuition discount for your own children enrolled at a CDS center
• Up to $5,250 in annual tuition reimbursement for continued education
• Access to PerkSpot for discounts on major brands and services
• Coaching, mentoring, and ongoing professional development

Requirements

• To qualify as a Master Teacher in Oklahoma, candidates must hold a credential at PDL Level 4 or above on the Oklahoma Professional Development Ladder. Qualifying credentials include:
• PDL Level 4: Oklahoma Competency Certificate in Early Care and Education (960 hours of child care training plus passing the Master Teacher competency exam)
• PDL Level 5: CDA Credential (Child Development Associate), CCP Credential, or 12 college credit hours in Early Childhood Education, Child Development, or School Age
• PDL Level 6: Oklahoma Certificate of Mastery in ECE or Child Development (15 college credit hours in ECE/CD plus 3 hours of English composition)
• PDL Levels 7 through 11: Various college coursework and degree programs in Early Childhood Education or related fields

Additional requirements

• At least 18 years old
• High school diploma or GED
• Ability to pass a background check
• Genuine care for children and a commitment to their safety and well-being
• Strong communication skills and the ability to build relationships with families
• Physical ability to meet the demands of working with young children

About child development schools

Child Development Schools is a childcare and early education provider with 270+ centers across 11 states, serving over 30,000 children ages six weeks to twelve years. We are committed to providing high-quality developmental education and supporting the families and communities we serve.

We believe every child deserves the opportunity to thrive, and we are committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion in our workplace. Child Development Schools provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants regardless of race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or expression.