Early Childhood Teacher, Morgridge Campus (Hope Circle)

This is a full-time position with excellent benefits.  The work hours are 8:30 am - 5:30 pm.  

SUMMARY

The teacher will provide a safe, nurturing environment in which developmentally appropriate practices are employed. Students will be actively engaged in instructional activities that relate to the adopted curriculum. Teachers will ensure that communication with parents and colleagues is conducted in a professional manner. Student assessment will be an integral component and the basis for instructional decisions.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES and RESPONSIBILITIES

• Establish and create a developmentally appropriate classroom setting, including creating weekly lesson plans.
• Provides instruction to meet the diverse needs of the children within the classroom utilizing developmentally appropriate practices.
• Implements the curriculum that is outlined for the specific age range within the class.
• Utilizes appropriate instructional methodologies for the individual children and for the group.
• Creates a safe and nurturing educational environment where all children feel important and cared for.
• Responds to children’s needs when crying, frightened, hungry, sleepy, needing diapering, etc.
• Provides supervision and accurate count of children at all times.
• Engages actively with children on the playground encouraging and scaffolding learning experiences.
• Fosters a classroom environment that promotes social interaction and acceptable behavior.
• Arranges classroom in a manner that reflects learning centers, instructional areas, and rest time areas.
• Assumes overall responsibility for all of the activities that occur within the children’s day.
• Employs disciplinary procedures as outlined in the staff and parent handbook using a coaching approach. At no time will any discipline be humiliating or degrading to a child. No physical discipline is permitted.
• Supervises and models appropriate eating/feeding for students. This includes sitting with the children at lunch and encouraging a family style meal.
• Completes daily health checks.
• Inspects room every day for safety and cleanliness.
• Assesses students on a regular basis, as determined by the Director, using the approved instrument and utilizing observations as the basis for the written report.
• Communicates with parents on a daily basis. Communication will be positively focused.
• Makes parents feel a part of the family and included in the decision-making process related to their child.
• Attend and participate in staff meetings and/or i-service training sessions.
• Keep abreast of current theory, research, and practices in Early Childhood Education by reading related literature, journals, magazines, etc. as well as taking coursework or attending workshop/seminars annually.
• Follows all local, state, and federal laws related to teaching, reporting of child abuse, and general health guidelines.
• Demonstrates dependable personal and professional habits in the areas of attendance, professional dress, ability to meet deadlines, fairness to all fellow employees and administrators.
• Takes out trash after lunchtime and before the end of the workday.
• Disinfects classroom each night, prior to leaving, by wiping, chairs, counter tops, and doorknobs down with a disinfectant.
• Clean sink inside classroom twice daily.
• Sweep classroom floor after every meal and at the end of the workday.
• Vacuum floor at the end of the workday.
• Ensures safety in the workplace.
• Reports any accidents to supervisor as soon as the incident occurs.

Other Duties: Please note this job description is designed to a cover typical listing of activities, duties and/or the responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

SKILLS & ABILITIES

• Ability to communicate clearly, and to read and write in English, Spanish and/or Creole a plus
• Ability to follow directions, regulations, safety guidelines, and policies and procedures
• Ability to develop and implement lesson plans
• Ability to write reports
• Ability to work cooperatively with colleagues and supervisors
• Ability to assess the children following established guidelines
• Ability to communicate with parents in a positive, non-threatening manner

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE

• Minimum of high school education and 45 hours through DCF
• CDA equivalent or CDA
• Willing to complete all state required licensing courses within mandated timelines

WORKING CONDITIONS & PHYSICAL EFFORT

• Work performed inside the facility, outside on school grounds, and on field trips
• May be exposed to short, intermittent, and/or prolonged periods of sitting and/or standing in performance of job duties
• Ability to lift 25 pounds
• Ability to stand, bend, stoop, kneel, sit on floor