What are the responsibilities and job description for the Preschool Teacher position at Opportunity Council?
Detailed Summary:
The Teacher works as part of a Center Based Team, providing educational experiences and resource information for children, aged three-to-five years old, and their families. Teachers work in a classroom setting 4 to 5 days per week in sessions that range from 3.5 to 6.75 hours. In addition, Teachers complete conferences and home visits with assigned children and families according to the Head Start and/or ECEAP preschool model. Additional time will be scheduled for planning, record keeping, setup and training. Teachers are required to maintain a working knowledge of Federal Head Start Performance Standards, State ECEAP Standards, agency and department policies and procedures and other applicable regulations.
Bilingual Teacher: Serves as a support translator/interpreter in the classroom for communicating verbally and in writing with non-English speaking children.
Essential Functions and Responsibilities:
- General classroom activities will be cooperatively planned, implemented, and evaluated in accordance with Head Start/ECEAP performance standards, under the supervision of the Site Coordinator, including:
- Design and setup of developmentally appropriate learning center activities.
- Guidance and evaluation of children's progress in assigned classroom areas.
- Planning and implementation of curriculum for a core group of up to19 children.
- Assistance with implementation of classroom volunteers’ activities.
- Participation in the following daily/weekly classroom and program activities. Responsibility and maintenance of:
- Education materials/program equipment,
- Setup and tear-down /cleanup of classroom and meals, and janitorial duties as required,
- Assigned program inventory.
- Participation in planning and implementation of additional special program activities, including classroom visitors and interaction with outside agencies.
- Center specific activities:
- Inclusion: In cooperation with school district teachers and integrated services team, plan for integration of special needs children into classroom operation.
- Home Visitor services will be provided to families, based upon program Center Base Home Visit curriculum and the family and child's individual needs, including:
- Delivery, referral, facilitation, and evaluation of services in the area of community resources, parent involvement and education, health, nutrition, safety, and mental health.
- Sharing of goals and progress of children between home and school settings.
- Developing or supporting individualized family plans based on Family Interest Assessment including parent education one-to-one and in groups, and development of volunteer plans with families.
- May work with translators to facilitate service delivery to ELL families.
- Documentation: responsibility for maintaining individual child/family files, documenting plans and services in the following areas:
- Education:
- Classroom observation
- Individual objectives including speech/language and OT/PT goals
- Written lesson plans reflecting objectives
- Child's Individual Learning Plan
- May include Family Services:
- Family Partnership Plan (FPP)
- FPP goals and objectives
- Ongoing tracking
- In-kind
- May include health/special needs
- Education:
- Prepares for and attends integrated services staffings as scheduled.
- Required database (ChildPlus, TSG, ELMS, etc.) documentation is comprehensive and well-maintained. Data is complete far all required areas, entered according to the required to schedule, accurate, and current.
- Available for occasional parent events, evening meetings, extended day field trips, workshops, and training.
- Drives program vehicles and provides pupil transportation as assigned.
Other Responsibilities:
- Performs other duties as assigned.
- Provides occasional internal guidance to some individuals within several work teams regarding daily issues and some short-term planning, which enables others to act or make decisions.
Education, Experience, Training Requirements:
- An AA in early childhood education; or
- A BA or advanced degree in early childhood education preferred; or
- A BA or advanced degree and coursework equivalent to a major relating to early childhood education, with experience teaching preschool-age children.
- One year of volunteer or work experience in early childhood education preferred.
- Experience working with families under stress preferred.
- Bilingual skills, both written and verbal preferred.
- Valid Washington State driver’s license or obtain by date of hire.
- Must submit driving abstract of driving record for previous 3 years prior to start date.
- If recruitment is for a Bilingual position: Must bilingually speak, write, and read with fluency and proficiency between English and Spanish, Russian, Punjabi, and/or other languages.
Skills and Abilities Required:
- Competent language skills, including demonstrated ability to express oneself clearly verbally and in writing.
- Competence in documentation and record keeping.
- Demonstrated ability to relate in a supportive, nonjudgmental manner to families of varying cultural, educational, and socioeconomic backgrounds.
- Interpersonal communication and crisis intervention skills to relate supportively and assertively with families under stress.
- Be able to participate in program training activities and demonstrate a commitment to continuing professional growth.
- Knowledge of other languages and cultures would be helpful.
- Innovation skills. May occasionally be involved in projects that require new ideas or approaches; position is responsible for developing modifications to established procedures.
- Ability to interpret and/or discuss information with others which involves terminology or concepts not familiar to many people; regularly provide advice and recommend actions involving rather complex issues. May resolve problems within established practices. May work with outside contacts, including other agencies and community resources.
- Must be proficient in the use of computer software applications including word processing and spreadsheets. Macintosh experience preferred.
- Must adapt interpersonal skills in response to individual styles, personalities, and cultures.
Additional Requirements Upon Hiring:
- Initial health examination indicating that you are fit for duty and free from communicable disease. Medical checkups are required every 2 years thereafter, including submission of documentation to HR.
- Completed TB test and test results submitted to HR prior to hire date.
- Criminal record check (Portable Background Check through DCYF) to ascertain that the applicant has not been convicted of a child abuse or neglect offense per Washington State Child Abuse Law (Ch. 486, Laws of 1987) or DSHS licensing requirements.
- Must provide, in compliance with the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986, acceptable proof of identity and authorization to work in the U.S.
- Current First Aid card and Infant/Child CPR training (or obtain within 30 days) and must maintain current certificates for length of employment.
- Have (or obtain prior to hire date) and maintain current Washington Food Handler’s Permit during length of employment.
- May obtain a Class “C” commercial driver’s endorsement (CDL) when the program offers training. This license must be maintained during the length of employment.
WORKING CONDITIONS:
Work is generally performed in a noisy, active preschool classroom environment or office environment, following current COVID-19 mandates. Regular exposure to communicable diseases and body fluids and occasional crisis situations. Regularly requires local travel to and from classroom sites, administrative office, and clients' homes, as well as for community networking, meetings, special workshops and trainings, and other job-related activities. May drive program vehicles to transport children.
Required Education and Experience
- High school completion or equivalent.
- A.A. in Early Childhood Education, or two years of relevant post-secondary preparation, or B.A. with 48 college semester hours (at 100 level or above) in Early Childhood Education.
- Candidates in the process of obtaining their A.A. in Early Childhood Education may be considered.
- Work or volunteer experience in an early childhood education classroom or similar setting, preferably with preschool-age children.
- Must have a copy of education transcripts
Preferred Education and Experience
- B.A. or advanced degree in Early Childhood Education or field directly related to the responsibilities of this position.
- Bilingual with proficiency and fluency in speaking, writing and reading both English and either Spanish, Russian, Punjabi, and/or another high-need language.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
- Knowledge of child development and elements of effective instruction to support teaching and learning for every child.
- Ability to interact with preschool-age children in a patient, warm, confident, and trusting manner to build a caring and empathetic relationship with each child.
- Ability to work with families of diverse backgrounds, including those from vulnerable populations and those in difficult, stressful situations.
- Ability to build relationships of trust and work effectively and efficiently as a member of a collaborative professional teaching team.
- Ability to work independently to implement instructional programs developed by specialized ELAFS staff.
- Ability to exercise independent judgment, remain flexible, engage in collaborative decision-making, work well under pressure, and de-escalate volatile situations.
- Ability to perform administrative and clerical tasks related to instructional support, maintain student records, prepare reports, complete data and documentation entry into required data systems, and maintain confidential information.
Special Requirements
- Must have a valid Washington State Driver’s License by date of hire.
- Must submit driving abstract for 3 years prior to date of hire and must be able to be insured under Opportunity Council's policy for duration of employment in this position.
Remote Work: job is performed on-site; may remote work during closures.
Working Conditions
Work is generally performed in a noisy, active preschool classroom environment or office environment in accordance with required health and safety mandates. Regular exposure to communicable diseases and body fluids, and proper ELAFS safety protocols must be followed. Will be expected to assist in occasional crisis situations per Opportunity Council and ELAFS policies. Regularly requires local travel to and from classroom sites, administrative office, and clients' homes, as well as for community networking, meetings, special workshops and trainings, and other job-related activities. May drive program vehicles to transport children. Required to follow all Opportunity Council and ELAFS policies and procedures.
Opportunity Council requires all employees to have received the two-dose COVID-19 vaccination prior to the first day of employment.
