What are the responsibilities and job description for the Interim Little Gate Early Childhood Teacher (Toddler/Preschool) position at Louise S McGehee School?
Department: Little Gate
Reports to: Head of Little Gate
FLSA Classification: Exempt (Salary)
Job Type: Full-time, 10-month
Hours: 40 hours a week
Start Date: January 2025
Little Gate Program:
The Little Gate Program is play-based, inspired by the Reggio Emilia philosophy of early childhood education. We view the child as capable and curious. This natural inquisitiveness leads children to explore, discover, question, experiment, and construct their own knowledge about the world they live in and their role in it.
Overall Responsibility:
The Little Gate program is looking for a dedicated educator for children between the ages of one- and four-years-old. The ideal candidate should love young children, remain calm while multitasking, and approach the work with inquisitiveness and curiosity, while grounding the practice in the Reggio Emilia philosophy. Little Gate hires educators who put children first, are flexible and nimble thinkers, and act as collaborative problem solvers. The expected start date for the position is the 2024-2025 school year.
Duties and Responsibilities:
- Communicates clearly and openly with parents
- Is detail oriented
- Knowledgeable about developmental milestones and able to document and communicate this knowledge to parents
- Sets up classroom in a developmentally appropriate manner
- Incorporates story and song into daily routines
- Offers age appropriate innovative and exploratory play
- Knows and understands the importance of exploring the outdoors with young children as an extension of the classroom
- Prepares weekly online newsletters to parents
- Maintains the class Brightwheel or Seesaw blog page
- Creates individual and group documentation pieces that are reflective of development and special moments
- Knows or is willing to learn licensing guidelines and proper procedures
- Maintains a collegial relationship with a co-teacher and a positive attitude within our program
- Attends weekly after school faculty meetings
- Participates in professional development provided by the administrative team
- Participates and engages in a faculty feedback and goal-setting program that focuses on individual professional growth
- Meaningfully and honestly engages with a mentor teacher during and after school for the first two years of employment
- Remains flexible within the contracted hours to ensure that the transition between the classroom and the next environment has been completed
- Sets up and changes the classroom environment with materials for different daily interactions.
- Sits on the floor with the children to offer open ended questions that facilitates deeper thinking regarding interests shown in play
- Engages in play with children to help extend learning opportunities sometimes requiring sitting, kneeling or standing for periods of time.
- Transitions children to various environments throughout the day depending on the daily schedules
- Sits at the children's level on the floor to execute a morning meeting.
- Assist children with putting away their bags, cups and nap mats as needed. May require reaching overhead or bending over at the waist.
- Rotate with your co teacher for carpool, helping to transition various children from car to classroom including lifting children out of the car.
- Set up, execute and clean up snack
- Set up, execute and clean up lunch
- Respond to emergencies related to health or safety- potentially bring them to the nurses office as needed, escort down the stairs or out of the building.
- Help settle children for nap as needed- potentially sitting next to them, patting backs or giving verbal reminders that it is rest time.
- Help children with shoes, jackets as needed as well as change the clothes of any children who have had a potty accident.
- Assist children with wiping in the bathroom as needed.
Work Conditions & Physical Capabilities
- Able to walk up 3 flights of stairs
- Lift and/or move between 10 pounds up to 45 pounds
- Must be comfortable being in and around water
- Repetitive tasks
- Attention to detail
- Frequent combinations of sitting, climbing, standing, walking, balancing, bending, kneeling, and crouching
- Combination of indoor and outdoor environments
- Exposure to; high noise levels, bodily fluids, infectious illness/diseases, occasional inclement weather
- Attend, facilitate and oversee outdoor play in multiple environments for approximately 1 to 2 hours per day
Technical Skills
- Proficient in Google Suite (such as: copy/paste, creating documents, creating links, transferring photos, etc.)
- Ability to operate all classroom management software and systems
Physical Stamina
Most children have plenty of energy and need physical activity to stay healthy. Expect to be in motion during most of your time around children, whether you're participating in outdoor playtime or cleaning up after activities. Physical stamina allows you to stay engaged with children in a multitude of ways, providing a healthy, safe environment where you are able to react in the moment to each individual situation and its needs.
If you have questions, please email careers@mcgeheeschool.com.
EEO Statement
Louise S. McGehee School is an equal opportunity employer dedicated to building an inclusive and diverse workforce. McGehee does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, religious creed, color, national origin, ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, marital status, sex, gender or gender identity, age, sexual orientation, or any other status protected by applicable federal, state or local law.