Lead Infant Teacher

Description

The Growing Place Position Description

Position: Lead Infant Teacher

Location: Marine Park or Lab School Campus

Status: Full-time

Reports to: Campus Director

Hours: 8 hours, M-F

Start Date: (includes one week of onboarding)

Description of the Position

The Co-Lead Infant Teacher is responsible for teaching, learning, observations, documentation, research, and communication within the Growing Place organization. They are expected to collaborate within their teaching team along with other fellow colleagues to plan, prepare, and implement developmentally appropriate lesson plans to provide a safe, healthy, and education program for infants and toddlers. This position requires a candidate to be a critical thinker, reflective, communicative, curious, inclusive, and professional; the candidate knows how to work with children in a developmentally appropriate manner with a social constructivist approach and fulfills Growing Place's mission, philosophy, and pedagogy.

Responsibilities and Duties

Teaching and Learning (70%)

• Plan, oversee, and implement daily infant/toddler instructional activities according to established policies, licensing regulations, and philosophy of the school.
• Participate in the physical care of infant/toddler children; oversee and participate in the preparation and serving of bottles, breakfast, snack, lunch, and afternoon snack; change diapers and toilet children as required.
• Provide for a safe and healthy environment for children; identify and correct safety hazards; report faulty or malfunctioning equipment; provide first aid; clean and sanitize classroom and play area equipment.
• Understand the development of self-regulation in infants and toddlers as well as age-appropriate expectations for prosocial behaviors.
• Plan, facilitate, and observe experiences for children that are aligned with the Growing Place philosophy and pedagogical practices
• Collaborate with the children, teaching team, and Education Coordinating Team to design, interpret, and research curricula such as lines of inquiry and provocations.
• Use research and documentation to inform teaching practices and curriculum decisions
• Establish strong daily routines and rhythms for adults and children
• Co-lead daily small group work and meetings with children and teachers
• Differentiate teaching for children with a variety of learning styles, temperaments, and interests
• Create a sense of joyful learning with children
• Establish a positive, warm, and safe atmosphere for children and adults to grow and develop
• Become a member of the community through collaborative teaching
• Intentionally design indoor and outdoor spaces that reflect Growing Place principles and pedagogy
• Build authentic partnerships with parents informally and formally
• Clearly communicate with parents regarding their child’s development and support parents in feeling a sense of belonging in the community

Research and Dissemination (30%)

• Regularly employ appropriate technology required to plan, organize, observe, document, and make accessible the experiences of children and adults including photographs, video/audio recordings, scanned work
• Employ strategies for making adult and children’s learning visible in a variety of ways, including Parent Square posts, documentation panels, and portfolios.
• Prepare and hold one Parent Teacher Meeting for new families with your teaching team
• Prepare and hold two Parent-Teacher Conferences for each child in the classroom your teaching team
• Regularly communicate evidence of reflective practice with the teaching team in daily team meetings and weekly Research and Inquiry Meetings
• Engage in events to create stronger partnerships in the community (ex: Back to School Night, Open House Night, Parent-Teacher Dialogues, Educator Tours, Admissions Tours)
• Actively participate in professional development opportunities
• Actively participate in all team and staff meetings
• Leverage networks and resources within the early childhood education field
• Contribute to workshops, committees, publications

Additional responsibilities will be assigned by the supervisor and outlined in work plans.

Requirements

Minimum Qualifications/Requirements

Skills

• A Bachelor’s Degree with at least 12 Early Childhood Units and 3 units of Infant/Toddler development (required); Master's Degree preferred
• Knowledge and experience with Resources for Infant Educarers (RIE)
• 2 years of experience working with children ages 3 months - 3 years old in a licensed child care program; NAEYC accredited child care center preferred
• Must meet the requirements of the California Department of Social Services (licensing), including an updated TB status, CPR certification, fingerprint clearance.
• Demonstrated understanding of child development
• Knowledge of the Reggio Approach or willingness to learrn

Competencies

• Values parents as important partners in the work of the school
• Pays attention to the many ways that children make meaning of the world
• Collaborates with children and adults in positive ways
• Exhibits a positive, team player spirit
• Has a keen interest and curiosity about the nature of learning and teaching
• Finds joy in working with children and adults
• Approaches teaching as a life-long learner
• Embraces reflection as a tool for growth and learning
• Demonstrates commitment to diversity, inclusion, and equity
• Seeks out resources to continually improve one’s practice
• Values learning from mistakes
• Establishes professional boundaries with children, parents, and colleagues
• Demonstrates professionalism in dress, attitude, communication, and punctuality
• Shows and values integrity for oneself and others
• Provides value add to the organization beyond the job position

Working Conditions

• Standing and sitting in indoor and outdoor environments designed for children ages 3 months - 2.5 years
• Ability to move rapidly from a sitting to standing position and to be able to get down and up off the ground as needed
• Ability to push, pull, or lift up to 50lbs
• Working in all weather conditions
• Requires developmentally normal hearing abilities and visual acuity
• Requires strong communication skills with children, families, faculty, and staff

Salary and Benefits

Salary Range: $25-$29/hr ($52,000-$60,320) DOE

Benefits:

• 4 Weeks of paid synchronized staff vacation (School Closures: Winter, Summer, and Spring Break)
• 10 Paid National/State Holidays
• 72 Hours of Paid Sick Leave (PSL) at the start of the school year. Mid-year hires accrue PSL at the rate of 1 hour for every 30 worked. At the end of each school year, any unused PSL will be rolled over to the next school year as Paid Time Off (PTO) to be capped at 108 hours.
• Medical, Dental, and Vision Benefits Covered at 100%
• Life Insurance with a fully paid premium and a $25,000 benefit.
• 403(b) retirement plan with a 50% match up to 3%
• Eligible for Public Loan Forgiveness Program

Salary : $25 - $29