Teacher – Preschool (Venture Way)

Are you passionate and enthusiastic to work with children in a team environment? Join our Early Head Start/Head Start team, providing early childhood education services. Penquis, a social services agency serving Penobscot, Piscataquis, and Knox counties for over 50 years, is currently seeking a full-time (40 hours per week; 42 weeks per year, benefits eligible) – Preschool (age 3-5) Teacher at our Venture Way Child Development location. You are charged with developing and administering an appropriate daily activity program to assure that the needs of the group and the individual children are met.

Location: Bangor, Maine

Teacher Responsibilities:

• Carry primary responsibility for the daily operation of a Penquis early education classroom but not limited to: Serve as primary contact between the center and the family, gather family information, identify needs, make referrals and follow up, provide child- specific information to the family on a periodic basis, provide emergency information and referral; and provide opportunities for individual parent participation in center activities.
• Provide educational, supportive home visits for eligible families that establish a trusting relationship.
• Provide or oversee the provision of needed administrative and support functions for the center.
• Provide education and support services to families.
• Promote parental involvement in curriculum planning, program governance, and the overall Early Head Start/Head Start program.
• Maintain adequate client files and keep them confidential.
• Supervise and evaluate assigned staff.

Teacher Requirements:

• Associate degree in early childhood education, social services or related field, and 1-2 years related work experience required. Bachelor’s degree is preferred in early childhood education or child development including coursework with a focus on preschool development and appropriate practicum experience. (Appropriate practicum experience may be substituted for two years paid experience in an early education/childcare setting)
• Ability to lift up to 50 pounds.
• Computer proficiency and experience, including word processing skills. Work directly with children aged birth to 5 years old, managing noises and behaviors typical of this age group, including potentially unsafe actions like hitting, kicking, and biting.
• Upon hire and periodically thereafter, must comply with Penquis background check requirements with satisfactory results as outlined in current contract provisions.

Penquis Child Development will pay for newly hired staff to obtain appropriate credentials or continued educational opportunities.

Excellent Benefits Package: (benefit eligible)

• 14 Paid Holidays (Including your Birthday!)
• Paid Time off 3 Days upon hire
• Paid training for all required certifications
• Dental/Health/Vision
• Retirement Plans
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Wellness Incentives
• Employee Assistance Program

The starting rate of pay for the Teacher position is $22.76 per hour and additional compensation may be given consideration with relevant experience.

Eligible upon hire, new employees in our Early Childhood programs who work 24-40 hours per week will receive a monthly stipend which is based on your lattice through MRTQ (Maine Roads to Quality).

Please submit application materials, including relevant educational course work and transcripts.

Penquis offers an excellent benefits package and competitive wages. Apply on line at www.penquis.org or contact us at 973-3500 (TDD: 973:3520) or by email at employment@penquis.org to request an application and job description.

In accordance with federal regulations, Penquis does not discriminate. Reasonable accommodation will be made for otherwise qualified persons with disabilities. Penquis is a smoke-free workplace.