Early Childhood Teacher - Rochester Southeast, MN

ABOUT JEREMIAH PROGRAM

Jeremiah Program (JP) is a nonprofit organization helping single mothers invest in themselves so they can thrive and take steps towards economic mobility by helping them access higher education, affordable childcare, housing, skills training and career development. JP envisions a world where poverty is no longer feminized; where race is not divorced from gender; where career and financial opportunities are not gentrified; and where women who experience poverty not only hold a seat at the table but hold the mic and curate the agenda.

Jeremiah Program offers one of the nation’s most successful strategies for disrupting poverty, two generations at a time. At JP, we believe that no mother should have to make the untenable choice between investing in herself or supporting her children. Our holistic approach invites single mothers into the leadership tent and encourages families to bring all of their identities to bear in achieving their goals in pursuit of economic mobility.

Founded in 1993, this year JP is supporting over 2,000 moms and kids across nine residential and non-residential campuses: Austin, Baltimore, Boston, Brooklyn, Fargo, Las Vegas, Minneapolis, St. Paul, and Rochester.

POSITION SUMMARY:

Our Child Development Center (CDC) Teachers bring warmth, patience, and understanding to the classroom every day, encouraging children to learn and grow while reflecting Jeremiah’s mission and encompassing the program’s values, vision, and purpose. They inspire children to be lifelong learners using a curriculum that promotes social, physical, verbal, and cognitive development. Our CDC Teachers are committed to making their center successful and know that creating meaningful relationships with children, families and that their team plays a crucial role in that success.

At Jeremiah Program, we provide instruction using a collaborative co-teach model where teachers work together to create lesson plans and activities that bring together the strengths of each team member in service to our children. From time to time, CDC Teachers may be asked to work within the full range of classrooms, from infants to pre-kindergarten. CDC Teachers also work closely with the Family Services Team to ensure families are getting all the support they need. The ideal candidate is passionate about providing a foundation for lifelong learning and development, building on each child’s individual strength, and can challenge them at various levels during the same lesson/activity to keep engagement.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Classroom Management

• Create and maintain a classroom environment that stimulates and is conducive to learning.
• Implement, and post cross-cultural, developmentally approved curriculum for children using the ASQ tool and Teaching Strategies GOLD platforms as guides.
• Maintain accurate and complete files for children as required by DHS (emergency cards, field trip and conference forms, attendance, CACFP, accident/incident reports).
• Maintain order within the classroom, storage areas, changing room, indoor and outdoor play areas to be attractive, sanitary, orderly, and compliant with governing bodies.
• Manage classroom supplies and materials and report needs to CDC Director. Note: Our centers provide formula, diapers, and wipes for all children. Understand State Licensing requirements to operate and maintain a childcare program.
• Serve meals according to USDA/CACFP meal portion guidelines.

Direct Service

• Develop lesson plans through approved curriculum to ensure the entire class’s progress. For curriculum requiring notes to be kept, ensure up-to-date notes are taken.
• Develop and maintain positive, respectful relationships with parents, working with them to enhance their child’s education and development and providing resource referrals for parental questions and concerns.
• Ensure children are supervised at all times in the classroom, hallways, and offsite.
• Demonstrate positive interactions with parents through Family Goal Planning meetings and Parent-Teacher conferences that are held bi-annually.
• Encourage and participate in center-wide parent involvement initiatives. (e.g., Preschool graduation).
• Communicate classroom activities daily with parents regarding changes in their child’s development, behavior, and well-being by completing daily written reports.
• Develop growth plans regarding the child’s development and other support resources in collaboration with parents, co-teachers, and the Family Coach when necessary.

Program Support

• Maintain compliance with all applicable regulatory requirements (e.g., CACFP and state licensing requirements).
• Always provide and promote healthy boundaries and confidentiality.
• Leverage volunteers and interns to increase organizational capacity within the Child Development Center.

Other Duties as Assigned

• All Jeremiah Program employees are mandated reporters and are legally required to ensure a report is made when abuse or neglect is observed or suspected.
• Other Duties as Assigned: This job description provides a comprehensive overview of the role's responsibilities, but it's important to note that duties, responsibilities, and activities may evolve with or without prior notice.

Physical Demands/Environmental Conditions

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee is frequently required to walk, sit, use hands for fine manipulation, handle or feel and reach with hands and arms. The employee is occasionally required to stand and stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl and climb stairs. The employee must maintain emotional control under stress, and occasionally work prolonged and/or irregular hours. The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally up to 40 pounds. The noise level in the work environment is usually low to moderate.
• These statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this job. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all job responsibilities.