Early Education Center Teacher

Description

Job Title: Early Education Center Teacher 

Classification Title: RNE (Regular Non-Exempt)-2 

Status: Hourly, Non-exempt 

Department: Early Education Center (EEC) 

Supervisor: EEC Director 

Primary Building Location: EEC 

The Highlands Recreation District operates under the Community Services District law pursuant to the government code 61000 et seq, for the purpose of providing recreational services within the District. Services are provided under the leadership and direction of an elected Board of Directors. The Highlands Recreation District maintains facilities including the Recreation Center, Early Education Center, After School Center, Tennis Courts, Pool, and Playgrounds in addition to a variety of programs, services and annual special events. 

Mission 

The Highlands Recreation District is dedicated to providing beneficial and enriching programs and services to its patrons and a place to create and promote health, well-being and community. 

Job Summary 

The Educator is responsible for caring for and educating young children aged three months through 2 years (infant) or 2 years to 5 years old (toddler/preschool). The educator is responsible for creating a warm and nurturing relationship with each child, designing and maintaining an environment which stimulates curiosity, and utilizes a dynamic “emergent” curriculum grounded in hands-on exploration and play, inspired by the Reggio-Emilia Approach. The Educator documents each child’s growth and learning to make learning visible for children and families. The Educator engages in a highly reflective teaching practice based on child observation, which informs the planning of learning experiences about their developmental level and the California Foundations for Early Learning and NAEYC Developmentally Appropriate Practice. Educators are expected to follow the NAEYC Code of Ethical Conduct principles. 

Essential Functions and Tasks  

The foundation of the learning environment at the Early Education Center is that relationships are the core of all experiences. 

• Develop and plan a developmentally appropriate curriculum that reflects children's needs, interests, and developmental stages. 
• Create and maintain a safe, clean, and organized classroom environment conducive to exploration, creativity, and problem-solving. 
• Implement and maintain a nutritious snack program that promotes healthy eating habits. 
• Conduct comprehensive observations of each child to document developmental progress, using this data to guide curriculum and lesson planning. 
• Provide a balance of child-initiated and teacher-initiated activities, ensuring a mixture of active and quiet learning opportunities throughout the day. 
• Plan and implement interest-based experiences and curriculum that support cultural diversity and promote physical, cognitive, and socio-emotional growth. 
• Utilize Reggio-Emilia philosophy and play-based learning to facilitate a rich learning environment. 
• Foster positive relationships with families, communicating through daily updates and tools such as Brightwheel, and facilitating annual conferences to discuss children's development. 
• Welcome parent participation and provide resources and support when needed to facilitate understanding of assessment results and child development. 
• Maintain consistent routines to support transitions and encourage self-help skills and independence in children. 
• Assist in creating a professional, collaborative, and respectful working environment by participating in team meetings, offering constructive feedback, and engaging in professional development opportunities. 
• Stay informed about licensing regulations and assist in compliance efforts with the director/assistant director. 
• Provide training and guidance to aides, substitutes, and volunteers in the classroom, ensuring they understand their role and the classroom expectations. 
• Regularly assess classroom supplies and materials, ensuring that everything needed for planned activities is available in advance. 
• Monitor and maintain the health and well-being of children in your care. 
• Assist with diapering, toilet learning, and hygiene practices for children, ensuring they are supported in developing good hygiene habits and independence in a positive and respectful manner. 

Requirements

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSA’s)  

• Curriculum Development: Must be able to develop and plan a developmentally appropriate curriculum that supports diverse learning needs and adapts based on children’s interests. 
• Safe Learning Environment: Must be able to create and maintain a safe, nurturing, and engaging classroom that encourages exploration and creativity. 
• Child Development Knowledge: Knowledge of human and child development to support the creation of an effective learning environment. 
• Observation Skills: Ability to complete comprehensive observations of children to assess developmental progress and adjust curriculum as necessary. 
• Licensing Compliance: Ability to complete the required documentation and forms in accordance with licensing regulations. 
• Adaptability: Must be able to tailor and adapt the curriculum to meet the varying needs of individual children and respond to their interests. 
• Teamwork and Collaboration: Ability to work effectively as a team member, collaborating with colleagues and participating in team discussions to enhance classroom practices. 
• Positive Guidance and Communication: Strong verbal and written communication skills and the ability to use positive guidance techniques to support children’s social-emotional development. 
• Professionalism and Flexibility: Must be reliable, flexible, and open to feedback in order to improve performance and meet the needs of the children and the program. 
• Physical Ability: Must be physically able to perform the duties required of an Early Childhood Educator, including lifting, bending, and actively engaging with children in both structured and spontaneous activities. 

Required Qualifications 

• Prior experience working with children. 
• High School Diploma or equivalent 
• A minimum of 12 college-level units in Early Childhood Education, this includes the core course required by licensing. 
• Child/Human Growth & Development 
• Child/Family & Community 
• Programs/Curriculum 
• 3 Infant/Toddler college-level units required for Infant/Toddler Teacher 

Desired Qualifications  

• CPR/First Aid qualified. 
• Mandated Reporter Certification or completed within one month of hire. 

Physical Demands and Work Environment  

1. The position works in an indoor classroom and outdoor play area which is subject to severe hot, cold and inclement weather. 

1. The physical demands of this position are described below: 
2. Sitting, walking, twisting, bending, climbing, pulling, pushing, squatting, crawling, kneeling, balancing, reaching, and coordination (eye, hand, foot). 
3. Fall, slip, trip conditions that result in falls (impacts) from height or traditional walking and playing surfaces.  
4. Heat illness/temperature extremes that result in heat stress, exhaustion, or metabolic slowdown such as hypothermia. 
5. Chemical exposure – absorption through the skin, inhalation, or through the bloodstream that may cause illness, disease, or death. 
6. Lifting and carrying, often 10-25lbs, frequently 26-50lbs. 
7. Hearing and speaking to exchange information in person or on the telephone. 

Compensation - $26.00 - $34.00 / hour 

This position is non-exempt from the provisions of Section 1 of the California Industrial Welfare Commission Orders.  

• In general, the position works on a schedule based on business needs and requires early morning, evening and weekend work. 
• May work up to, but not in excess of 40 hours per week (among all concurrent positions). 

Benefits 

This position is employed through the Highlands Recreation District which offers employees of this classification to receive medical, dental, vision insurance, health and dependent care saving accounts, paid sick and vacation time, paid holidays, and Simple IRA (if employee makes more than $5,000 in a year) and 457 retirement plans with District match, and employee discounts in accordance with Highlands Recreation District Employee Handbook. 

Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action  

The Highlands Recreation District is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer committed to nondiscrimination on the basis of age, ancestry, citizenship status, color, creed, disability, ethnicity, gender, genetic information, marital status, pregnancy, medical condition, national origin, race, religion or lack thereof, sex, sexual orientation, transgender, or protected veteran status consistent with applicable federal and state laws.  

Reasonable accommodation will be provided for applicants with disabilities who self-disclose. 

Required Staff Training  

Prior and during hiring process, all employees are required to complete the following compliance online training sessions through Paylocity. Employees will be enrolled in the training soon after their appointment is processed and will be notified via email from the HR department.  

• Injury and Illness Prevention Program - one time course  
• Job Health and Safety Trainings 
• Discrimination and Harassment - required every two years. 
• Mandated Reporter Training certificate 

Background Check and Fingerprinting 

Employees are required to undergo and complete a successful background check that includes verification of employment and education, as well as a check of criminal records for employment.  Candidates for positions where the employee will come in regular contact with minors will be required to be fingerprinted. This policy includes emergency hires and may also be applicable to volunteers depending on the work they will be doing.? 

In some cases, a background check will include a Department of Motor Vehicles check, as well as a check of licenses and certificates when applicable.  
 

California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act  

All childcare workers are considered mandated reporters under the California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act and are required to comply with the requirements set forth by the Department of Social Services, Child Care Licensing. 

Salary : $5,000