What are the responsibilities and job description for the Early Childhood Education Teacher position at The WRK Group?
Position Summary
The Early Childhood Education Teacher is responsible for the planning and implementation of age-appropriate high-quality learning experiences that ensure effective curriculum implementation and the use of assessment. The Early Childhood Education Teacher provides a safe, developmentally appropriate learning environment where children have the opportunity to develop cognitive, social, emotional, self-care and physical skills. This position utilizes superior classroom management skills while providing effective and nurturing teacher-child interactions and promoting individual child development. The Early Childhood Education Teacher also builds partnerships with families to assist them in identifying goals, strengths, needed services, and support systems.
Essential Functions
Program Development
- Ensure the implementation of high-quality early childhood curricula and activities, following national best practices and standards in early childhood education.
- Prepare weekly lesson plans within the framework of the Creative Curriculum and following Head Start standards.
- Plan and provide learning opportunities to children which support growth in the areas of cognition, early literacy and language, social development, play skills, fine and gross motor development, fine arts, adaptive/self-care skills, health, and nutrition.
Instruction and Facilitation
- Assist in the direction and supervision of children while maintaining high standards of health and safety.
- Encourage experimentation, exploration, problem solving, cooperation, socialization, and choice making.
- Work with the Director of Early Learning and support services staff in the classroom to develop a collaborative approach that benefits all children and meets the needs specified on the Individualized Learning Program (IEP) and/or Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP).
- Contribute to the development and implementation of organized and well executed program activities.
- Serve as a role model to participants and staff in attitude and behavior.
- Monitor children’s attendance and behavior; follow up with families to reduce barriers to participation.
- Encourage experimentation, exploration, problem solving, cooperation, socialization, and choice making.
- With supervisor’s guidance, may provide leadership and direction to Teaching Assistants and Classroom Aide(s), practicum students, and parents; may provide leadership in a co-teaching system.
Community Engagement
- Maintain an active understanding of agency programs to increase opportunities for support and collaboration.
- Attend regular staff meetings and supervisory meetings as scheduled.
Resource Management
- Maintain a clean, safe, and developmentally appropriate environment, including the organization of space, storage of supplies and materials, and sanitation of equipment.
- Collaborate with support services staff and program partners to ensure that the needs of each child are met.
Data Management and Reporting
- Implement a developmentally appropriate and ongoing assessment of student progress. Assessments are conducted bi-weekly via Teaching Strategies Gold.
- Uphold compliance with agency policies and standards, legislative regulations (e.g. licensing, Delaware STARS, accidents, incidents, and disciplinary actions) and compliance with contractual requirements.
- Analyze information and maintain complete, organized, and accurate documentation (including email communication). Prepare and submit timely reports and other documentation.
- Practice continuous learning through individual study, classroom training, accredited early childhood development courses, seminars, and conferences. Work with the Director of Early Learning to develop and implement a Professional Development Plan.
Other Duties
Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.
Competencies
Candidate must have the ability to:
- Communicate and present effectively.
- Manage multiple activities with strong attention to detail and effective time management skills.
- Work with multiple age levels of children.
- Be a team player, adapt to change, and demonstrate flexibility.
- Demonstrate excellent judgment, interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills to achieve goals and objectives.
- Thrive in a fast-paced environment.
- Be culturally sensitive.
- Be pro-active regarding job responsibilities.
- Maintain confidentiality.
Supervisory Responsibility
This position does not have supervisory responsibility.
Position Type and Expected Hours of Work
This is a fulltime position, and general hours of work and days are Monday through Friday, 9:00 am to 5:30 pm with additional hours available during the daytime when school is in session.
This is a fulltime position, and general hours of work and days are Monday through Friday, 9:00 am to 5:30 pm with additional hours available during the daytime when school is in session.
Education and Experience
- Child Development Associate’s (CDA) required; Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university (which has equipped applicant with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the duties of the position) preferred.
- Previous experience with Montessori schools preferred.
- Must have coursework with a focus on child development.
- Must be at least 18 years of age.
- At least one year of working with youth ages 6-12.
Certification Requirements
- First Aid/CPR preferred; must be certified within first 30 days of hire.
- Certification through Delaware First as an Intern or Assistant Teacher preferred; must be certified within first 60 days of hire.
Conditions of Hire
- A satisfactory criminal background and reference check, state fingerprinting, child abuse/neglect registry check, and sex offender registry check required at time of appointment and throughout employment in this position.
- Must be eligible to work in the U.S. without sponsorship.
Physical Tasks and Working Conditions Include the Following:
The physical demands described in the job description 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.
Work is performed in an office, classroom, and in the community (such as schools, businesses, parks/playgrounds). Office and classroom work require sitting for periods of time and the use of a computer, keyboard, and screen, as well as teaching tools (whiteboard, projector, etc.). The incumbent sits, stands, walks, kneels, crouches, twists, climbs stairs and inclines, reaches, bends, grasps, pushes, pulls, and drags. Office/classroom work is often performed with moderate noise levels and requires the ability to focus. The incumbent must be able to move about to facilitate workshops, access files, operate equipment and office machinery, and lift and/or move up to 20 pounds.
Work performed in the community requires the incumbent to be subject to different environmental conditions, including outdoor conditions, extreme heat and/or cold, and loud noise levels. Outdoor work may require periods of walking, standing, stooping, crouching, kneeling, reaching, pushing, pulling, and lifting, as well as peripheral vision, distance vision, depth perception, and the ability to focus.
If driving a vehicle on organization business, the incumbent must be able to meet the physical requirements of the driving class and have mobility, vision, hearing, and dexterity levels appropriate to the duties to be performed.
Equipment Use: Telephone, copier/scanner, computer/laptop (Microsoft Office Applications), fax machine, tablet, and projector.
Mental demands: Solve problems, make decisions, exercise sound judgment, supervise, interpret data, organize, write, plan, prioritize, communicate clearly, de-escalate situations, model respectful non-abusive behavior, critical thinking, critical reasoning, attention to detail, ability to recall, coordinate schedules, work as a member of a team, and speak in public.
Evaluation of Performance: Performance in this position will be evaluated in accordance with the Personnel Practices Manual.
We are an Equal Opportunity Employer
Kingswood Community Center is an Equal Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, marital status, age, veteran status, or any other status protected under local, state, or federal laws.
Kingswood Community Center is an Equal Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, marital status, age, veteran status, or any other status protected under local, state, or federal laws.
