Assistant Preschool Teacher - Othello

Position is responsible for assisting the Lead Preschool Teacher in preparing and executing daily activities and lesson plans for children. Incorporate a child’s home/language/culture functionally in activities of the center. Provides opportunities and encouragement throughout the program for children to acquire and enlarge their vocabulary and provide a good language model by speaking clearly and distinctly on a level that children understand and respect.

Distinguishing Characteristics

Inspire Development Centers provides Early Childhood Education (ECE) and social services to more than 4000 children, in center based and home based setting, at more than 25 Child Development Centers (CDC) throughout the State of Washington. Inspire provides services under various federal and state funded programs with differing regulations and stipulations, which must be coordinated and adhered to, including, but not limited to: Regional Head Start (RHS), Migrant Seasonal Head Start (MSHS), Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program (ECEAP) and Early Head Start (EHS). The agency is required to meet an annual quota of non-federal share (in-kind) funds. A large majority of children’s first language is Spanish.

Supervisory and Other Relationships

The Assistant Preschool Teacher reports to the Lead Preschool Teacher and Center Manager and works closely with the Floaters, Volunteers, School Readiness Liaison, Early Learning Mentor Coaches, Center Staff, ECE Specialists, Leads, Parents and Children.

Examples of Essential Duties and Accountabilities

The following examples of duties and accountabilities illustrate the general range of tasks assigned to the position but are not intended to define the limits of required duties. Other essential duties may be assigned consistent with the general scope of the position.

1. Assists Lead Preschool Teacher implementing appropriate curriculum planning for Preschool classroom. Assists in formulation of lesson plans for classroom activities and Home Learning Tasks. Contributes to evaluation of progress of children in the classroom.
2. Models appropriate instructional techniques for Substitutes, Floaters and Volunteers.
3. Assists in analyzing children and classroom outcome reports and implements school readiness goals for the classroom.
4. Assists in completion of all appropriate documentation: i.e. Daily Assessment form, Meal Guide, Health Checks, Home Visits, and Parent/Teacher Conferences are completed within set timelines. Assists in daily completion of USDA Meal count and the safe release of children.
5. Provides a safe and healthy learning environment for children. Follows all state and federal regulations regarding instruction practices, fire, health, and safety standards; to include hand washing, laundry, and housekeeping practices.
6. Enhances physical and intellectual competence in children by promoting physical, cognitive, language, and creative skills, including children who require special services. Attend Teacher Meetings as scheduled to facilitate mentoring classroom staff in ECE.
7. Reinforces positive communication, respect, and interaction between children and adults.
8. Communicates with and actively involves parents in all aspects of center activities, through Home Visits, Parent Teacher Conferences, Open House, Make-n-Take, and Brainstorming sessions.
9. Follows established program curriculums, procedures, documentation, and service plans. In coordination with the Lead Preschool Teacher, School Readiness Liaison, Early Learning Mentor Coaches, and program support ECE Specialists. Perform administrative duties as assigned.
10. Actively participates with age appropriate interactions and classroom activities such as free play, mealtime, floor time and class room activities. May include bathing, diaper changing for special needs children. Follows center procedures to receive and discharge the children.
11. Administer educational screenings, identify, and refer children with potential high risk of health, disability or behavioral concerns.
12. Maintains confidentiality of program and client related information at all times.
13. In-Kind Contributions: Responsible for contributing in any procedure or activity that fosters the contribution of in-kind funds, through the request of goods, services, cash donations, and/or through encouraging professional, community members and parents to volunteer time to the program.

Minimum Qualifications

Incumbents are required to demonstrate knowledge and abilities in these areas:

• Current Preschool Child Development Associate Certificate (CDA) or equivalent Preschool certificate; or AA Degree in ECE or an Associate’s Degree, with 30 ECE related college credits with experience in teaching infant/toddler and/or Preschool children;
• Extensive knowledge and understanding of child development theories and practices;
• Experience working in a federally funded and regulated environment;
• Experience in policy and procedure processes;
• Experience in planning and facilitating groups;
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills;
• Excellent problem-solving and decision-making skills;
• Experience in the classroom risk management;
• Understanding of the interrelationships between services and systems;
• Ability to learn new tasks quickly and efficiently;
• Ability to handle multiple tasks simultaneously and meet deadlines;
• Ability to gather and analyze data for reports;
• Strong customer service focus;
• Ability to work with culturally diverse population;
• Knowledge with personal computer, including Microsoft Office; and
• Accurate data, documentation and recordkeeping skills.

These skills and abilities are typically acquired through a combination of education, training and experience which would include at least six (6) months experience in a child care setting. The combination of education and experience will provide the competence and skills to perform the work of the position. Candidates that do not have a Preschool Child Development Associate (CDA) or equivalent Preschool certificate would be required to obtain it within two (2) years of hire as Assistant Preschool Teacher.

Preferred Qualifications

• Previous Head Start experience;
• English/Spanish bi-lingual fluency;
• AA Degree in ECE or an Associate’s Degree, with 30 ECE related college with experience in teaching infant/toddler and/or Preschool children; or a BA degree in Early Childhood Education (ECE); or BA degree in a related field with thirty (30) or more ECE college credits.

Position Requirements

Incumbents are required to have the following:

• Must be at least 18 years of age;
• Valid Washington State driver’s license;
• Proof of automobile insurance;
• Ability to travel to perform job duties and responsibilities;
• Must pass initial and periodic criminal and background check;
• Must pass initial and periodic Department of Early Learning (DEL) background check;
• Must pass initial and periodic employee health clearance; (present it within forty-five (45) days of employment);
• Current Food Handler card; (obtain the training within thirty (30) days of employment);
• Current First Aid / CPR cards, (obtain the training within thirty (30) days of employment);
• Subject to initial and periodic TB screen;
• Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV / AIDS) training, (obtain the training within thirty (30) days of employment);
• Blood Borne Pathogen training, (obtain the training within thirty (30) days of employment);
• Subject to random drug screen;
• Obtain Fifteen (15) hours continuing in-service training annually;
• Sign a Professional Development Plan (PDP) to learn to read, write and speak English (recommended);
• Must sign a Confidentiality Agreement; and
• Must complete and sign a Conflict of Interest Disclosure Statement on an annual basis.

Work Environment & Physical Demands

Work is performed at the Childhood Development Center. Time is spent with and around children providing a safe and healthy learning environment.

The demands and abilities described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

• Ability to sit, stand, walk, balance. stoop, catch, move to music, and run occurrence is frequent
• Ability to communicate in person, or via telephone or video conference, occurrence is occasional;
• Ability to lift and/ or move up to forty (40) pounds, occurrence is occasional;
• Ability to restrain child occurrence is occasional;
• Ability to push/pull, kneel, bend taste or smell, occurrence is frequent;
• Ability to travel, locally and statewide, occurrence is occasional;
• Ability to travel out of state, occurrence is occasional;
• Ability to write and keyboard, occurrence is occasional;
• Ability to read, occurrence is frequent;
• Ability to use hands to finger, handle, feel or move objects, tools or controls, reach with hands and arms, write occurrence is frequent;
• Specific vision abilities required include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus, read, occurrence is frequent;
• Handles cleaning/sterilizing agents occurrence is frequently;
• Ability to adjust to noise level that is usually quiet to moderate; and
• Incumbent frequently exposed to moderate temperature generally encountered in a controlled environment.

Benefits Information

A summary of benefits associated with this position can be found at https://inspirecenters.org/careers/. To learn more, click on the following link: https://youtu.be/MnlRqkvydRw