Pre K Specialist

Early Childhood Center

Who We Are:

School in the Square (S2) is a fast-growing charter school currently serving elementary and middle school students, with plans to serve families from Pre-K through High School. S2 engages, educates and empowers its students to respond mindfully and creatively to life’s opportunities and challenges. Drawing its name from the concept of the public square or “la placita”, S2 is where communities come together to solve problems and celebrate successes. Here, students, families and educators are seen, heard, and inspired. S2 students build the academic foundations, social-emotional intelligence, and the leadership skills necessary to excel in college and professional life. Our community is grounded in principles of justice, equity, diversity and inclusivity (JEDI), enacting a culturally responsive and sustaining lens to our pedagogical practice and consistently examining the ways we can continue to walk firmly in the pursuit of social justice and against injustice of any kind. S2 provides a progressive and rigorous learning community in which students thrive physically, emotionally, and academically through differentiated and personalized education and adults grow through rich and robust professional development. 

We take seriously our obligation as an anchor institution in our community. We understand that our students’ ability to learn is directly impacted by their access to basic needs. Through our Family Support Program, we support over 200 families every month with bimonthly food pantries and other essential services, including internet hotspots and rent relief. 

Our Early Childhood Center:

We believe a culture of care leads to a culture of achievement. Our ECC is located in Washington Heights where our programs are designed with students' personal interests and learning styles in mind. Our ECC provides robust educational programming in both Spanish and English. S2’s program is dedicated to providing each student with the tools and support to become lifelong learners. That includes embracing that 89% of S2 families are Hispanic or Latinx. 

Job Summary

The Pre K Arts Specialist is responsible for coordinating joyful and robust arts programming for our Early Childhood Center. The Specialist will also complete a variety of other school support roles as director by the Director. 

Responsibilities

• Prepare/set up play areas prior to the start of the school day. 
• Set up equipment prior to class.
• Provide an atmosphere and environment conducive to the intellectual, physical, social, and emotional development of students through purposeful play aligned with the thematic curriculum. 
• Implement ECR lessons plans, providing modifications for appropriate learning experiences for each student.
• Establish and enforce rules of conduct; supervise students in the gymnasium, playground and cafeteria, or parks. 
• Participate in school-wide behavioral programs, document student behavior and physical incidences using incident reports. 
• Demonstrate skills being taught; assist students in performing skills. 
• Teach safety rules related to each activity. 
• May team teach with another Physical Education Teacher 
• Research, and order physical education and recess equipment. 
• Maintain inventory of equipment. 
• Plan, organize, and coordinate field day; develop activities; set up for activities.
• Monitor and evaluate student skill levels and outcomes. 
• Maintain updated student rosters. 
• Prepare notes for trimester report cards. 
• Communicate and interact with students, parents, staff, and the community. 
• May plan and supervise field trips following established procedures. 
• Meet and coordinate with specialists; adapt activities to students’ special needs; develop appropriate modifications for I.E.P and 504 plans. 

Who You Are:

• Fluent Spanish and English speaker preferred
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• A high level of integrity and a strong work ethic
• Belief in School in the Square’s mission, education model and core values
• Basic proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
• Impeccable organizational and time management skills
• Strong sense of urgency
• Keen eye for detail
• Associate’s Degree
• Experience working with children is a plus

Expected salary range for this role is $30,000 - $45,000, depending on experience, level of education, internal equity, and the budgeted amount for the role.

What You Can Expect From Us:

At S2 we take as much care of our teachers and staff as we do of our students. S2 is committed to supporting our teachers by helping them build sustainable, rewarding careers that center on each educator’s passions and multi-disciplinary interests. All of our faculty and staff are valued professionals and we are proud to provide extended planning time, team-building and collaboration, comfortable and friendly working conditions and more, to ensure our team members all have the tools they need to succeed.

In addition to meaningful and rewarding work, S2 provides ultra competitive salaries including opportunities for supplemental compensation, an excellent benefits package with employer-paid life insurance, a 401K program with a 6% organizational match, longevity bonus, generous paid time off, access to a federal student loan debt reduction program and a supportive work environment. 

Anyone who joins our team must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

School in the Square understands specific groups are subject to marginalization. We believe these powerful groups should be centered in our community and are highly encouraged to apply. We are an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer.