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Go Kids

Nonprofit childcare and family support agency

Substitute Teacher/Associate Teacher - Toddlers or Preschool or School Age

Full-TimeUpdated on 10/10/2026
$21.42 - $27.70/hr
Mid
Bachelor's, Master's, Associate's
San Jose, CA, USA
In Person
EducationEarly Childhood Education

About the job

Requirements
  • Must be at least 18 years of age.
  • Must have 24 units in Early Childhood Education/Child Development, including core courses in Child/Human Growth and Development; Child, Family, and Community; and Program/Curriculum, along with 16 general education units, 6 specialization units, 2 adult supervision units, and 2–3 years of related experience (minimum 3 hours per day).
  • Must hold a Teacher Permit or be able to apply within 90 days of hire. Alternatively, an associate degree or higher in Early Childhood Education/Child Development or a related field, 3 units of supervised field experience in an Early Childhood Education/Child Development setting, and 2–3 years of related experience are accepted.
  • Must be able to develop and implement age-appropriate curriculum.
  • Must pass fingerprinting and criminal record clearance.
  • Must hold a current pediatric CPR and first aid certificate from an approved vendor.
  • Must be in good health as verified by a current health screening, including a tuberculosis test performed under physician supervision no more than one year before employment.
  • Must hold a current California driver’s license.
  • Requires general knowledge of child care and associated development, including federal, state, and local laws and regulations governing child care and safety, and sound techniques in all aspects of child care and development.
  • Must be able to present facts and recommendations effectively in oral and written form, including accurate grammar and business correspondence.
  • Must be able to establish and maintain effective relationships, communicate tactfully and with poise, and handle confidential information with discretion.
  • Must be able to adjust tasks and focus with composure in response to changing deadlines and priorities.
  • Must be able to read, analyze, and interpret general business periodicals and governmental regulations; write reports, business correspondence, and procedures in the prescribed style and format; and present information and respond to questions from government entities, employees, managers, clients, and the general public.
  • Must be able to apply fractions, percentages, ratios, and proportions to practical situations and calculate figures and amounts with a 10-key.
  • Must be able to define and solve practical problems and deal with concrete variables, including situations with limited standardization, and interpret written, oral, diagrammatic, or schedule-based instructions.
  • Must be able to perform the physical demands of the role, including regularly talking, hearing, handling objects, standing, reaching, and walking; occasionally sitting, climbing or balancing, stooping, kneeling, or crouching; and lifting or moving up to 25 pounds.
  • Must be able to work in an environment that may include outdoor weather and wet conditions, occasional electrical-shock risk, and moderate or sometimes noisy sound levels.
Responsibilities
  • Plan and implement developmentally appropriate curriculum and activities for children.
  • Establish a respectful classroom climate that recognizes each child’s personality, physical characteristics, culture, language, ethnicity, family structure, developmental needs, and behaviors.
  • Interact with children in encouraging and positive ways and support each child’s learning process.
  • Help children develop problem-solving skills, support their social-emotional development, model prosocial behaviors, teach responsibility for decisions and actions, and guide behavior in ways that foster self-respect and respect for others and the community.
  • Support, engage, and extend children’s play and learning experiences by offering assistance and additional materials or resources and creating opportunities for safe risks.
  • Establish and maintain positive relationships with each child’s parent or caregiver and converse regularly about the child’s development and program experiences.
  • Work as a team to maintain each child’s Desired Results Developmental Profile (DRDP) and portfolio and implement the child’s individual goals and objectives.
  • Replenish materials in the learning environment as needed.
  • Prepare healthy snacks for children as necessary.
  • Implement the Creative Curriculum model.
  • Conduct parent-teacher conferences.
  • Provide services to children and families in accordance with National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) standards.
  • Plan, supervise, and implement the program in accordance with Go Kids, Inc. policies and philosophy.
  • Complete and maintain lesson plans, staffing matrices, daily health checks, and Child and Adult Care Food Program (CCFP) paperwork.
  • Comply with Title 5, State Department of Education requirements, Child Development Division funding terms and conditions, and Title 22 Community Care Licensing regulations.
  • Supervise Teacher Assistants.
  • Maintain confidentiality of children, families, and employees.
  • Provide support to the Site Supervisor and Regional Director.
  • Provide a pleasant, safe, and clean learning environment for children and families.
  • Report safety hazards and injuries promptly to the Master Teacher and Site Supervisor or Regional Director.
  • Observe safety hazards and ensure children follow safety rules.
  • Keep floors and other necessary spaces clean and free of potential hazards.
  • Follow health and safety standards for food handling, toileting young children, handwashing, and universal precautions for exposure to blood.
  • Watch for signs of illness in children and direct ill children to appropriate medical attention.
  • Perform other duties as assigned by the Master Teacher, Site Supervisor/Regional Director, Program Director, Deputy Director, Human Resources Manager, or Executive Director.
Desired Qualifications
  • Early Childhood Education units in infant care, family and community, and child development are recommended.
  • Bilingual ability in English and Spanish is an asset.

About the company

Go Kids is a nonprofit child-development agency serving families in Santa Clara, San Benito, Monterey and Santa Cruz counties in California. It runs early learning and childcare programs, while an assistance program helps eligible families access free or subsidized care. Family support includes developmental screenings, home visits, counseling and parent-child playgroups, with referrals connecting families to other local services. Public grants and donations support its work, and its resource center also trains childcare professionals and helps parents find providers suited to their needs. Established in 1975 and incorporated in 1978, Go Kids is headquartered in Gilroy, California.

Company Size

51-200

Company Stage

N/A

Total Funding

N/A

Headquarters

Gilroy, CA

Founded

1975

Get referred to Go Kids

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Simplify Jobs

Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • FY2025 revenue hit $94.9 million, with $2.1 million net income.
  • Government grants supplied over 95% of revenue, preserving scale through 2025.
  • The January 2026 CCDF freeze was blocked, restoring California childcare funding.

What critics are saying

  • Federal funding drives 98.5% of revenues, exposing Go Kids to policy shocks.
  • July 13, 2026 child-care co-payment rescission squeezes low-income family affordability.
  • A prolonged grant cutoff would trigger layoffs, slot cuts, and core-operations collapse.

What makes Go Kids unique

  • Quad-county reach across Santa Clara, San Benito, Monterey, and Santa Cruz counties.
  • Hybrid model pairs seven centers with 100-plus Family Childcare Homes.
  • GK Financial diversifies revenue beyond classrooms with nonprofit fiscal services.

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Benefits

Health Insurance

Dental Insurance

Vision Insurance

Tuition Reimbursement

Student Loan Assistance

Life Insurance

Paid Vacation