POSITION SUMMARY:
Contribute to a teaching team, effectively guiding children and modeling best practices for building relationships with children and teaching team in a mixed-age classroom. Express caring and respect for the growth processes of children while providing direct care and education in a full-day program.
PRINCIPLE ACCOUNTABILITIES:
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Practice and model appropriate interaction and respect for each child, including setting limits with the goal of helping children internalize self-regulation and build social skills.
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Create and manage a healthy, organized, exciting, and safe environment, indoors and out.
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Monitor the health of children.
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Become part of team of 3-4 teachers in mixed age classroom of 20 children between 2 years 9 months old and their entry into kindergarten.
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Support a larger preschool program, including two additional classes of the same makeup as above, especially as collaboration occurs in the outside environment.
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Connect families to the daily lives of their children through verbal or technology-aided communication, through sharing time in the classroom during volunteer participation hours, through home visits, and Family Cafés.
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Collaborate with all teachers and all staff, using strong communication skills.
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Support weekly team meetings and ideas for professional development days.
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Encourage a strength-based image of self, other teachers, and the children.
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Model a collaborative and reflective stance towards planning and providing an engaging early education program based on an emergent curriculum model.
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Notice, empower, and develop children’s strengths, especially those with special needs.
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Integrate all volunteers and family members into the classroom program as appropriate.
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Show and model respect and appreciation for all children’s families.
SKILLS:
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Alert, gentle, and flexible in behavior and approach.
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Able to multi-task: work with children, manage tasks, and respond to adults.
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Sensitive and responsive to children’s and adults’ needs.
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Emotionally stable in the workplace.
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Able to effectively, flexibly, subtly manage, and guide a diverse and inclusive group of children.
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Familiar with developmentally appropriate assessment methods, including Desired Results Developmental Profile, Classroom Assessment Scoring System, Early Childhood Environment Rating Scale, and NAEYC accreditation process.
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Comfortable using a tablet or iPad and computer for communications and assessments.
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Comfortable with or eager to learn about the Emergent Curriculum approach to curriculum development.
PERSONAL RELATIONS/LEADERSHIP SKILLS:
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Set a positive, warm, and welcoming tone in the classroom.
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Show effective management of groups of 6-8 preschool children.
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Show respect for all children, staff, and families, regardless of race, cultural background, neurological or physical capabilities.
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Communicate with parents in supportive, informative, and compassionate ways.
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Communicate effectively with colleagues, frequently using verbal, written, and visual modalities, depending on the situation.
MISCELLANEOUS:
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Dependable and prompt – modeling timeliness in all aspects of work.
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Read and incorporate the teaching style and behaviors outlined in the All Five Employee Handbook.
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Able to work some evenings and Saturdays.
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Understand Requirement to Report Child Abuse.
EQUIPMENT TO BE USED:
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Some kitchen equipment.
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Variety of indoor and outdoor materials for children.
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Computer or tablet as needed for documentation and communication.
TYPICAL PHYSICAL DEMANDS:
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Bend, kneel, and otherwise interact with small children; be able to spend time on bent knees to continue eye contact with them.
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Sit on the floor with children.
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Lift and hold children up to 40 pounds.
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Lift equipment up to 20 pounds and put away toys.
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In good health and able to stand and/or squat while supervising children, inside and outside, even in challenging weather conditions.
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Move your body up and down from the floor to standing, from small chairs to standing, quickly and frequently.
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Successfully pass a physical exam, including a negative TB test or questionnaire, and provide proof of immunization for pertussis and measles.
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Willing and able to use hands in sand, playdough, and clay.
TYPICAL MENTAL DEMANDS:
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Apply academic knowledge of child growth and development to work with young children.
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Proactively problem-solve as a team member with other teachers in the classroom.
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Respond to children’s challenging behavior, sometimes repeated, with calm, flexibility, and a positive attitude.
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Maintain composure and positive attitude in high-stress situations.
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Understand that early education is full of “gray areas” and little “black and white.”
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Practice taking the initiative to understand children’s needs and how the environment can serve their needs and interests.
WORKING CONDITIONS:
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Both indoors and – a lot - outdoors in children’s play areas, including during cold or rainy weather and hot and sunny weather.
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Regular exposure to children’s illnesses.
EDUCATION:
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Evidence of pursuit of Master Teacher or Site Supervisor permit from the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing.
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Show pursuit of ongoing professional growth opportunities.
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Certified in CPR and First Aid for young children.
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Current or pursuit of current Mandated Reporter Training (required every two years).
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Familiar with children’s illnesses and minor injuries.
EXPERIENCE:
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5 years of experience in a child-initiated classroom of 20 children, minimum.
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Evidence of experience managing or co-teaching with other teachers in a classroom.
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Evidence of work with families and children who have experienced life challenges.
OTHER:
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Successfully pass a physical exam, including a TB test or questionnaire.
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Complete/pass fingerprint screening.
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Participate in and seek out ongoing training opportunities.
COMPENSATION range for this role is between $68,000 - $72,000 depending on experience, education and other factors. In addition to the salary range above, a basic healthcare plan, 12 PTO days, and other benefits are included. More information is available. Just ask!