Assistant Teacher - PreK

JOB TITLE:   Assistant Teacher Prek                                         STATUS: Full Time

FLSA STATUS:  Non-Exempt                                      

HOURS/WEEK:   40                  

DIVISION:       Marillac Social Center

DEPARTMENT:   Birth to Three

DIRECTLY SUPERVISES: None

Mission

As stewards of the Vincentian spirit, employees of Marillac St. Vincent Family Services are committed to strengthening and empowering those most in need to reach their greatest potential.  We fulfill our mission through quality programs for children, teens, families, seniors and homeless.

Core Values

Our employees commit themselves as individuals to live out the core values of integrity, excellence, creativity, advocacy, respect and empowerment in our daily work, as we serve the needs of others.

Integrity - Acting with transparency, humility and honesty

Excellence - Providing quality care with compassion

Creativity - Being continuously resourceful and inventive

Advocacy - Supporting the cause of those who lack resources for a reasonable quality of life

Respect - Recognizing our own value and upholding the dignity and value of all people

Empowerment - Providing skills and resources to achieve full human development

Team Behaviors

1. Versatility – Understanding and appreciating different and opposing perspectives on an issue; adapting one’s approach as the requirements of the situation change; an eagerness for positive action; self-control; active listening.
2. A collaborative work model – Cooperatively working and sharing responsibility; contributing to the group effort; realizing a sense of commitment and ownership in the success of the organization’s goals. 
3. Mutual accountability – Holds others accountable with their roles; provides and receives feedback and takes constructive action.
4. Client/customer advocate – Identifies opportunities to improve quality of services; presents one’s self professionally.
5. Protects confidentiality & privacy – Respects and protects information about all staff and clients.

General Summary

Plan and implement a child development program designed for emotional, social, educational and 

physical development of the very young child, within the framework of the agency’s philosophy and objectives, under the direction of the Child Development Supervisor and Director.

Duties & Responsibilities

1. Create a secure environment that invites learning through exploration and discovery
2. Respectfully guide and implement family-style mealtimes, eating with the children to model healthy nutrition habits and table manners. 
3. Talk with children in ways that show respect, caring and build optimum self-esteem.
4. Work collaboratively to assist children in resolving conflicts by using a problem-solving approach. Ask children open-ended questions and make suggestions to promote problem solving.
5. Attend regularly to children's physical needs such as nose wiping, hand and face washing ,toilet training and toilet accidents. 
6. Staff practices regular and proper hand washing techniques. Practices proper use of rubber gloves. These procedures should be handled in a relaxed manner. 
7. Quickly comfort children in distress infants in distress. 
8. Respect cultural diversity. Support parents helping them feel confident as parents. Provide opportunities for parents to learn about the curriculum and how they can extend learning at home. Conduct parent-teacher conferences twice a year. 
9. At least annually, conduct an assessment with the Supervisor & Director to identify the strengths and weaknesses of the program and set program goals for the next year.
10. Act with integrity and aspire to model our Core Values in the delivery of all services.

Administration

•  Work Collaboratively with team to ensure that they develop and maintain confidential education information for each child.
• Facilitate and document weekly team meetings
• Ensure all required program documentation is completed accurately and submitted in a timely manner
• Monitor and ensure that daily attendance and meal participation reports are completed.
• Ensure all confidential information is protected.
• Work collaboratively with Supervisor and Director to assess strengths, challenges and develop goals annually.  
• Input classroom data into appropriate information systems.

Child Development

• Observe, assess, and document each child’s health, skills, behavior, growth, and development.
• Provide opportunities for the children to develop positive self-images and experience success.
•  Work collaboratively with Lead Teacher to ensure the development of individualized education for each child is documented.
•  Work collaboratively with the Lead Teacher to ensure the development and implementation of individualized educational activities is incorporated into lessons plan for each child.

Curriculum

• Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of Early Childhood Education.
• Demonstrate knowledge of child development
• Work collaboratively with Lead teacher and teaching team to Plan and prepare weekly and long-term lessons/ study projects.
• Work collaboratively with Lead Teacher to plan and implement developmentally appropriate classroom activities which will promote the social, emotional, physical, and cognitive development of each child.
• Work collaboratively with Lead teacher to develop lesson plans with goals, objectives activities, and outcomes for children that integrate health, nutrition, mental health, disabilities, and parent involvement into the plans.

Classroom Environment

•  Work collaboratively with the team to establish and maintain a classroom environment which includes positive guidance techniques that meets state and local licensing regulations, NAEYC performance standards and Marillac St. Vincent’s philosophy and curriculum.
• Establish and create a secure environment that invites learning through exploration and discovery.  
• Ensure that all children are always under appropriate supervision.
• Develop and maintain an attractive, clean, safe, and engaging environment that encourages children’s independence and self-selection of activities. 
• Work collaboratively with team to ensure they care for equipment and materials. 
• Notify supervisor and appropriate parties of any needed repairs or maintenance in classroom, playground, gym, and large motor room.
• Work collaboratively with the team to ensure that daily, weekly, and monthly health and safety policies and procedures are implemented and documented 

Parent Involvement

• In coordination with teaching team and Family Support: 
  1. Schedule and participate in at least two Parent Teacher conferences for each child.
  2. Encourage and provide opportunities for parent participation in the program.
  3. Provide examples and ideas for educational activities for parent/child participation at home.
  4. Develop effective partnerships with families.

Other

• Attend all required meetings and trainings, including mentoring and coaching trainings.
• Regularly participate and make contributions at Teacher meetings, trainings, supervision, weekly team meetings; etc.

Complete a minimal of (20) CEU’s annually to meet DCFS and Accreditation continuing education with infant and toddler focus

• Performs other duties as assigned within the scope of the job description.
  1.  In collaboration of team, track the utilization of materials, recommends supplies, equipment and supplies needed for program.
  2. Provide classroom coverage as needed to ensure teacher, child ratios.
• Follow all mandates of NAEYC, state and local licensing and St. Vincent’s philosophy and curriculum.

Act with integrity and aspire to model our Core Values in the delivery of all services

Job Requirements

Experience/Education

All positions:  Associates Degree or Bachelor in Early Childhood/Child Development from an accredited college or university is desired. Member of Gateways.

Teacher Assistant:  Associate Degree or Minimum 1 to 3 years of experience in group childcare and Minimum 30 semester hours (or 60 quarter hours) of credits from an accredited college or university with 15 semester hours (30 quarter hours) in Early Childhood Education or Child Development and Gateway  ECE Level 1.  Candidates must commit to continuing to pursue the Associate degree in ECE.  

Qualifications

Qualified candidates possess emotional maturity, respectfulness, nurturance, and patience for children. Furthermore, they must demonstrate the ability to model appropriate behavior; and to contribute to each child's physical, intellectual, social, emotional, and developmental needs. Additionally, the ability to lift thirty pounds and to accompany young children on program related outings is required. 

Language

Ability to read and speak English proficiently.  Bilingual (Spanish) is preferred.  

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Must be able to physically interact with children, including talk, hear, sit, stand, walk; use hands and fingers, handle or feel objects, tools, or controls; reach with hands and arms; and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl and lift and or move items.
• Must be able to manually operate and use a computer and other office equipment.
• Possess the ability to fulfill all activities normally expected in a classroom setting, to include, but not limited to active participation in group activities.