Lead Toddler Teacher-FT

Come work at Building Blocks Childcare Center, Inc. an Early Achievers Level 4 rated, independent childcare center in Pullman, WA.

Lead Teachers at Building Blocks Child Care Center, Inc. are ambassadors of secure relationships, creating opportunities every day that reflect our mission to make a difference in the lives of children, their families, and communities. Our passionate teachers use a growth mindset to develop young minds and inspire a love of learning.

Schedule (No Weekends):

Monday-Friday, 8:15am-3:15pm

Essential Duties:

• Lead, coach, and mentor less experienced teachers in your classroom; model behaviors and provide feedback.
• Responsible for the overall classroom management, leading a safe, nurturing, and engaging learning environment.
• Serve as a role model, using a growth mindset to develop young minds and inspire a love of learning.
• Implement curriculum supporting our Emergent Philosophy, working with Infant children in a way that is consistent with the unique needs of each child.
• Create a safe, nurturing and engaging environment where children can play and learn.
• Communicate regularly with parents, sharing their children’s latest adventures and achievements through a variety of avenues, including mobile apps and personal discussions.
• Support the center’s success by partnering with the center teaching teams and leadership to achieve our overall goals.
• Build relationships with families and coworkers and create a dynamic environment where play and learning are seamless.
• Plan the implementation of culturally responsive individual, small group, and large group activities based on the developmental needs of the children, which cultivate each child's sense of importance and belonging across indoor and outdoor settings within the Infant classroom.
• Assist in the developmental assessment and screening of each child using program-approved tools and instruments to maintain a healthy, safe, and developmentally appropriate program.
• Model positive communication skills, positive guidance techniques, and nurturing qualities while promoting positive attachments between caregivers, children and families, consistent with program-approved best practices.
• Use and be knowledgeable of all educational equipment and supplies routinely used in the program and maintain and request equipment and supplies through the director as necessary.
• Create and provide classroom visual aids and resources as necessary.
• Complete, secure, and deliver all required documentation as assigned.
• Recognize parents as their child’s primary teachers and become familiar with family circumstances.
• Maintain positive, open communication, that foregrounds a child’s strengths and assets, and developmental needs, while recognizing parents as their child’s primary teachers and becoming familiar with family circumstances
• Encourage and support parental involvement in the classroom and all other educational opportunities.
• Provide opportunities for parents to learn about the growth and development of their child, including ways to increase connections between school and home.
• Maintain appropriate professionalism and confidentiality consistent with NAEYC ethics and professional standards.
• Support dual language families with classroom and program resources where necessary with existing and emerging partnerships.
• Maintain professional, respectful, and productive relationships with parents, prospective families, and community partners.
• Collaborate and partner with external coaches, including those designated from Early Achievers
• Support all necessary and relevant center requirements, such as ensuring student progress, complying with standard and conduct agreements, and documenting progress and observations.
• Complete required reports and maintain all required documentation of services provided.
• Participate in meetings with center staff, families, external partners, and specialists, as well as center activities such as graduation and family events as necessary.
• Participate in training as required.
• Perform other duties as assigned.
• Plan, oversee, and implement daily preschool or infant/toddler instructional activities according to established policies, licensing regulations, and philosophy of the school.
• Provide for a safe and healthy environment for children; identify and correct safety hazards; report faulty or malfunctioning equipment; provide first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation to ill and injured children; clean and sanitize classroom and play area equipment.
• Train and provide work direction to field study students, volunteers and others as assigned; provide a positive role model at all times; explain the preschool and infant toddler program, rules, and regulations to visitors, parents and others.
• Plan, implement and revise daily activities in the classroom and on the playground.
• Participate in physical care of preschool and infant/toddler children; oversee and participate in the preparation and serving of breakfast, lunch and snacks; change diapers and toilet children as required.
• Conduct parent conferences and prepare written assessments of the developmental progress of assigned children as specified by Washington State Early Achievers and Department Children Youth and Families.
• Attend staff development activities, workshops, and conferences; conduct special training and share information with co-workers.
• Collaborate effectively with teaching team.
• Maintain ongoing, open communication with parents, co-workers and supervisors.
• Ensure that each family receives an opportunity to build strong relationships with you and your team.
• Provide a classroom environment that encourages parent partnership.
• Collaborate with children's families to ensure a smooth transition from home to your classroom.
• Perform ongoing developmental evaluations of children as required.
• Maintain licensing regulations.
• Maintain Early Achievers level 4 rating standards or exceed.
• Set up classroom materials or equipment and maintain cleanliness and please aesthetics of the classroom.
• Provide for basic needs of children.
• Maintain student records.
• Prepare reports detailing student activities or performance.
• Display student work.

Minimum Qualifications:

• An A.A. or B.A. in Early Childhood Education or related degree OR
• Equivalent classroom experience (2 years of full-time classroom experience) and a signed an educational contract to obtain the education requirements for a lead teacher per DCYF in the timeline outlined by DCYF will be required (full scholarship available)
• At least 1 year of lead full-time teaching experience in a professional childcare and/or preschool facility 

Requirements Needed Upon Hire:

• Registration in MERIT Workforce Registry, followed by fingerprinting appointment for background clearance
• Valid CPR certification & First Aid Certification (Infant, Child and Adult) or proof of upcoming class registration
• Current Bloodborne Pathogens Training
• Negative TB Test

Additional Requirements:

• Begin the 30 Hours Childcare Basics Certification Training through the state of Washington.
• DCYF trainings: safe sleep, mandated reporter, etc.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Able to maintain an overall positive and professional disposition.
• Strong knowledge of Microsoft Office programs
• Effectively plan, organize and implement educational activities.
• Demonstrable record of making decisions on behalf of children with their well-being the top priority
• Excellent leadership, organizational, and interpersonal skills.
• Requirements include the ability to take frequent walks, use hands and fingers, handle objects, tools, or controls, talk to and hear voices at many levels. May also be required to kneel, bend, squat or crawl and lift up to 30 lbs.

Indicated Salary (hourly) is starting, depending on education:

• The the range of the pay scale is someone with minimum years of experience (2 years, FT) and no education ($17) and someone with 10 years of experience and a Bachelor's in ECE or related ($22.50)
• At 1 year, teacher will be eligible for a raise based on the wage metric and with "good" 1 month, 90 day and annual evaluations (must show summative growth).
• Merit raised can be given at any time for exceptional performance above minimum job requirements and duties.

Benefits available immediately:

• accumulation of sick days
• accumulation of family medical leave
• full childcare tuition for all children (averages ~$1500/child)

Available after 1-year Evaluation for Full-time Staff:

• 20% Health reimbursement benefit (toward private health insurance)
• Accumulated PTO (3 days/calendar year)
• Paid Holidays (6/calendar year)
• Health and Wellness Package (1 paid day off/quarter, 25% gym membership reimbursement)
• Employer matched Simple IRA plan

• scholarship opportunity for continuing education in ECE (bachelor's pathway)

Salary : $17 - $23