Preschool Program - Associate Teacher

Description

Center teaching staff support the planning and implementation of CDI’s program for children ranging in age from toddlers, pre-school, kinder, and school age, depending on the site. CDI Teachers must be able to facilitate a variety of age appropriate activities, support children’s’ social emotional development, and ensure all children are supervised at all times in a healthy and safe environment.

• Create and implement developmentally appropriate curriculum directly connected to the interests and development of children and youth supported by learning foundations and promotes positive child/youth development
• Create, implement and maintain intentional, enriched and supportive learning  environments connected to curriculum and quality experiences that are appropriate for all children
• Provide excellent customer service by establishing and maintaining authentic connections and reciprocal, culturally responsive relationships with children, youth, families, schools, communities and center/classroom team 
• Keep children/youth healthy and safe by connecting proper supervision, positive interactions, healthy habits, and compliance
• Work collaboratively with each other connecting work place values, education and experience to provide the highest quality programs and creative workplaces

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

All teaching staff are expected to demonstrate behaviors that are essential for successful programs and environment including the following:

• Positive interactions with children and youth
• Maintain kind, respectful, and safe emotional and physical environments for children
• Be on time and present on a regularly scheduled basis
• Be active in outdoor and indoor programs
• Be physically and mentally capable of interacting with children up to 13 years of age, meeting all their needs and ensuring their safety
• Be aware of and implement safety guidelines; report any health & safety issues or incidents to management, and remain calm if providing first aid (as needed) during emergency situations

Physical and Environmental conditions: Teaching staff are responsible for various program elements on a daily basis and will routinely be exposed to indoor and outdoor elements. Teaching staff may be required to:

• Visually inspect the environment for hazards to children; identify hazards and implement preventative actions (i.e., set up cones to limit the play area) to maintain a safe environment for children 
• Be comfortable with occasional loud noise in or outside the classroom during active/loud activities
• Be comfortable with frequent bending, lifting, twisting, reaching, pushing and pulling
• Push, lift, carry, and hold various objects up to 15 lbs. - by individual or team effort - such as equipment carts, emergency back packs, food coolers, classroom furnishings, and other similar program materials
• Work inside the classroom or outside the room in all weather conditions which are safe for children 
• Traverse various terrains (grass, blacktop, dirt) and heights (ladders, playgrounds) depending on the school outdoor environment
• Adapt to the physical level of children (example, sitting on the floor, kneeling, squatting) for activities and problem-solving/interactions
• Supervise field trips to destinations such as aquatics parks, beaches, and trampoline parks

Qualifications & Details

Associate Teachers are members of the teaching team who share responsibility for the care and education of an assigned group of children/classroom.  There may be more than one person designated as an Associate Teacher for each group of children.  

EDUCATION: 
Education and permit requirements may vary by center needs and/or require age group specific units depending on the program, such as Infant, Toddler, School-Age, Title 5 or Title 22 status. 
Associate Teacher education/permit requirements:

• 12-24 postsecondary semester or equivalent quarter units in ECE, CD, or related field such as Recreation, Human Services  completed, with passing grades (C or better for Credentialing Process), OR
• Associate Teacher or above Child Development Permit issued by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing 

EXPERIENCE & SKILLS:

• 6-12 months of experience in a group care environment where care/teaching was provided for a consistent age group preferred
• Effective problem solving, conflict resolution, classroom management, and communication with children and families
• Effective organization, time management, curriculum and assessment documentation (lesson plans, portfolios, anecdotal notes)
• Ability to work alongside colleagues and maintain a professional team environment
• Current adult and infant/child CPR/First Aid certification preferred 
• Bilingual/Multilingual language preference based on individual center needs

Typical Activities 
Actual job duties/tasks of staff may vary depending on staff schedules, part-time status, and staffing levels of the site and are not dependent on the job title.

Curriculum/Program Implementation:    

• Anecdotal notes
• Portfolios
• Parent communication form
• Center documentation
• Weekly planning forms
• Analyzing and Interpreting data/assessment results
• Facilitate flow of the day/daily routines/daily schedule
• Appropriate interactions

Health & Safety:

• Supervise children
• Counts/whiteboards/updates
• SIOS sheet audits for signatures
• Health & safety checklists 
• Ouch reports
• Safety and  emergency drills and procedures
• Sunscreen application
• Check attendance/parent calls
• CCFP daily meal sheets
• Snack/meal preparation
• Snack/meal service (family style)
• Clean/sanitize tables & kitchen
• Order food
• Minute menu
• Bathroom/nap supervision

Enriched, Intentional Environment:

• Clean, restock, label, organize
• Summer/Fall environment change
• Materials/supplies lists

Customer Service: 

• Daily communication to school partners
• Behavior documentation
• School events (K roundup, etc.)

  Teamwork/Collaboration/Professionalism:

• Staff development - identify goals for permit, QRIS, performance
• Follow schedule/rest/meal breaks attendance
• Attend events at school
• Answer center phones
• Maintain positive work environment/support colleagues day to day

Pre-Hire Requirements: If selected for this position you will need to complete the following:

• Health clearances for Pertussis, Influenza, Measles and Tuberculosis (TB) 
• Fingerprinting/Live Scan for criminal background check 
• Successful Reference Check

We Offer:

• Career Development and Training
• Discounted Childcare
• Paid Vacation/Holiday/Sick Time
• Medical/Dental/Vision Benefits
• 401K
• Life Insurance
• Commuter Benefits
• Company Discounts

We are proud to be an EEO/AA employer M/F/D/V. We maintain a drug-free workplace.