Preschool Teacher

Job Summary

The Teacher is responsible for providing early care and education to all children in the classroom ages six weeks to three years of age; creating an environment that stimulates adequate development in the social, emotional, physical and educational processes; and recognizing that children are best understood and supported in the context of family, culture, community and society. The Teacher plans, organizes, implements, and delivers a program based on the Head Start Performance Standards, Prevention Initiative requirements, and developmentally appropriate practice, as appropriate; manages the classroom environment; interacts with parents directly; and participates as a member of an interdisciplinary team.

Regular and consistent attendance is an essential function of this position.

Essential Functions

• Develop and implement daily schedules, routines and activities in accordance with Early Head Start Performance Standards, Prevention Initiative Standards, DCFS Licensing Regulations and CACFP requirements.

• Organizing the classroom and maintain a safe and healthy learning environment using the Infant-Toddler Environment Rating Scale-Revised (ITERS-r)

• Create lessons plans using Creative Curriculum. This includes small group, large group and individualized plans.

• Using Teaching Strategies GOLD, make ongoing observations and assessments of each child in the areas of fine motor, gross motor, language, social/emotional, and cognitive skills.

• Develop an understanding of the program’s School Readiness Goals and how to create plans to meet the goals.

• Maintain classroom discipline by using techniques from Conscious Discipline which includes positive reinforcement, praise, and encouragement.

• Maintain a positive, calm attitude and a pleasant, soothing voice, and model this behavior for families and others working or volunteering in the program.

• Oversight of foster grandparents, volunteers and interns in your classroom.

• Collaborate with the Disability Coordinator in carrying out intervention strategies in the classroom. This includes having an understanding of an IFSP.

• Helping to implement a successful transition for children with disabilities or other special needs from the Baby TALK program into local school or other community programs.

• Provide constant supervision of all children during all activities indoors and outdoors.

• Maintain a clean sterile environment by sterilizing all toys, cribs, sweeping floors, etc.

• Complete all required documentation in a timely and accurate manner.

• Conduct 2 Parent/Teacher Conferences each school year.

• Partnering with families in setting goals for their child.

• Promote parent-child bonding and nurturing parent-child relationships.

• Meet the requirement of 20 hours of training for each calendar year.

Oher Job Requirements

• Adhering to dress code set by Baby TALK as a representative of the program.

• As a professional Baby TALK staff member, maintaining confidentiality of all information concerning families.

• Assisting in daily maintenance of the center.

• Perform other related responsibilities as assigned.

• Effective management skills including: written and verbal communication skills, decision making skills, time and stress management skills, organizational skills, and observational skills.

• Ability to work with diverse populations including special needs families.

• Ability to represent the agency in a professional capacity.

• Ability to work as a member of a team where diverse program content must be well integrated to provide quality services.

• Treat all staff and families with dignity and respect.

• Possess current First Aid and CPR cards with infant/child CPR or a willingness to complete.

• Ability to travel occasionally.

• Ability to pass agency sponsored physical examination and provide proof of MMR & TDAP immunizations.

• Becoming a member of Illinois Gateways to Opportunity program.

• This position is an authorized driver and must possess current driver’s license, good driving record, and auto insurance coverage and have a car available.

• Ability to relate positively to children and adults.

• Judgment and discretion in interpreting and adapting guidelines to specific problems; situations are somewhat varied and moderately complex.

• THIS IS A MANDATED REPORTER POSITION.

Other Skill Requirements

• Must have ability to operate computers and possess basic knowledge of MS Windows, Microsoft Word and willingness to learn Child Plus, Teaching Strategies and other BT software

• Excellent supervision, managerial, and organizational skills.

• Excellent communication skills.

• Effective training/development skills.

• Skill in collecting and assembling data, preparing reports, monitoring progress and analyzing data.

• Must perform duties with moderate direction given, operating from established directions and instructions. Decisions are made with general agency policy constraints, but occasionally requires independent decision- making.

Education and Job Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education is preferred. Baby TALK ensures center-based teachers that provide direct services to infants and toddlers have a minimum of a Child

Development Associate (CDA) credential or comparable credential, and have been trained or have equivalent coursework in early childhood development with a focus on infant and toddler development.

BT defines a CDA equivalent as 60 total college credit hours with fifteen of those credit hours in ECE with a focus on Infant/Toddler Development, in addition to at least 1 year experience working directly with infants and toddlers or a State of Illinois Developmental Therapy Credential.

Early Childhood teachers shall be at least 19 years of age.

The Teacher must have the ability to establish a good working relationship with parents and their support person(s).

The Teacher will have the ability to understand and promote education and early childhood development as defined in Early Head Start Performance Standards.

Physical Requirements of the Job

Job Conditions:

The teacher may work outdoors intermittently with exposure to typical weather providing outside activities for children (this includes 1 hours outside in temperatures of up to 95 degrees with heat index & down to 29 degrees factoring in wind chill).

There may be frequent interruptions.

May be exposed to illnesses generally attributed to children.

The Ability to adjust to unpredictable changes and flexibility to adapt quickly with a positive attitude is essential.

Physical requirements:

Must be able to stand and sit for long periods of time.

Must be able to frequently kneel, stoop, and bend.

Must be able to move quickly move from a sitting to standing position or a standing to sitting position.

Must be able to lift up to 45 pounds.

Mental Requirements of the Job:

Continual interaction with co-workers, parents, and children to provide information. Must relate positively to children and adults. Must be able to handle multi-faceted tasks on a frequent basis.

Accountability The Teacher is directly accountable to a Baby TALK Early Care and Education Coordinator. The Baby TALK Early Care and Education Coordinator evaluates the Teacher once annually and more frequently if needed. The Teacher is evaluated based on the responsibilities described in this Position Description, with particular emphasis on creating a setting that stimulates growth and exploration and facilitating developmentally appropriate activities to enhance development.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: From $20.29 per hour

Benefits:

• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Tuition reimbursement
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• Monday to Friday

License/Certification:

• Child Development Associate Certification or CDA Equivalency (Required)

Work Location: In person

Salary : $20