Infant Classroom Teacher

SUMMARY: Responsible for planning and implementing the early childhood education program for Fun Time Academy children in accordance with Fun Time Academy standards.  Work hours must be flexible.

Program Effective Start Date: 07/27/2023

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Providing a safe, nurturing, and stimulating environment for infants (typically aged 2 weeks to 24 months) to support their growth and development.
• Planning and implementing developmentally appropriate activities and experiences that promote infants' cognitive, physical, social, and emotional development.
• Creating a daily schedule that includes feeding, diapering, nap times, and playtime to ensure a consistent routine for infants.
• Building positive relationships with infants and their families, maintaining open communication, and addressing their needs and concerns.
• Monitoring and documenting infants' progress timely, completing reports as required, milestones, and behavior, and sharing observations with parents and colleagues as appropriate.
• Collaborating with other members of the childcare team to ensure a cohesive and integrated approach to infant care and education. The curriculum will incorporate the culture of the communities served in accordance with the Fun Time standards.  Supports the development of the daily classroom schedule, planned transition and weekly activity plans that document program experiences.
• Adhering to health and safety guidelines, including maintaining cleanliness, sanitation, and proper hygiene practices in the infant classroom.
• Participating in staff meetings, ongoing professional development, and training opportunities to stay updated on best practices in infant care and early childhood education.
• Exhibit a positive professional attitude with supervisor, co-workers, clients, and community.  Role models positive language and behavior skills for children and families. Welcome parents to the center, and encourage and foster parent participation.
• Maintains confidentiality of all family information in accordance with Fun Time Academy policies/procedures.
• Participates in curriculum/classroom scheduling/procedures.
• Interacts with children at their level throughout daily activities, encouraging the development of problem-solving skills. Helps to supervise and facilitate children’s involvement in the classroom, on the playground, and on field trips.
• With direction from the supervisor and cooperation with Co-Teachers Teacher directly communicates children’s individual progress and their needs to parents through individual contacts, home visits (HS), staff/parent conferences and in writing.  Documents them in the child’s record in locked file cabinet.
• Assures classroom and related areas are clean, safe, healthy and developmentally appropriate for all children and performs cleaning/laundry duties as needed.  Implements safe work practices.  Assists with the daily safety inspection of the environment.  Helps ensure adequate adult coverage for the classroom at all times. Remedies unsafe conditions or, when necessary, reports them to the Director of Education and/or Executive Director.
• Responsible for remaining up-to-date and following Fun Time Academy policies and procedures, including but not limited to mandated reporting to DCF for suspected Child Abuse and Neglect.
• Assists the program in maintaining required adult/child ratios at all times.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS: To fulfill the duties of this position successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skills, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

REQUIRED ABILITIES

• Ability to observe the classroom and outdoor activities
• Ability to organize and meet deadlines
• Ability to maintain records accurately and concisely
• Ability to communicate both written and verbally
• Ability to lift up to 40 pounds
• Ability to move quickly to intercept/redirect children
• Ability to interact with children at their eye level
• Ability to move classroom furniture about sweeping/mopping floors.
• Ability to stoop and bend to child’s level and squat to the floor throughout the workday.

Education/Training Requirements

• High School Diploma or GED
• Experience working with young children.
• Must be proficient in the English language, both verbal and written
• Must have 45 hours of mandated, or have a higher education degree and be willing to meet mandated training requirements.
• Preferred Child Development Associate (CDA) or have a higher education degree in a related field or a non-related field with at least two early childhood courses. If not enrolled prior to employment, must enroll and begin 45 hour training within 30 days of employment and completed within one year of employment.
• Attend continuing education training with topics that benefit the age group you are working with.
• Meet all required pre-employment screenings.
• Maintain annual professional development as required by DCF and accrediting agency.

Work Environment

Childcare center'

(Although educational attainment may indicate certain desirable performance abilities, equal consideration will be given for relevant past experience when considering employment or advancement unless educational attainment is mandated by state or local laws or accrediting agency.)

Job Type: Full-time

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• 8 hour shift
• Monday to Friday

Work Location: In person