Description

Job Overview

This position is responsible for providing children a safe and developmentally appropriate environment that promotes the child’s cognitive, social/emotional, health and physical development through effective delivery of instruction/activities in accordance with performance standards, Federal, State and Local regulations, and AVANCE policies.

Job Responsibilities

• Promotes and models the organization’s Core Values.
• Maintains an open, friendly, and cooperative relationship with each child’s family, encourages their engagement in the program, and promotes parent-child bonding and nurturing parent-child relationships.
• Follows program confidentiality policies concerning information about children, families, and other staff members.
• Provide effective and nurturing teacher-child interactions, plan and implement learning experiences that ensure effective curriculum implementation and use of assessment and promote children’s progress across the performance standards and applicable state early learning and development standards, including for children with disabilities and dual language learners, as appropriate.
• Uses positive methods of child guidance and will not engage in corporal punishment, emotional or physical abuse, or humiliation. In addition, staff will not employ methods of discipline that involve isolation, the use of food as punishment or reward, or the denial of basic needs.
• Provides children with experiences and opportunities that allow them to develop curiosity, initiative, problem-solving skills, and creativity, as well as a sense of self and a feeling of belonging to the group.
• Conducts developmental screenings of children’s’ motor, language, social, cognitive, perceptual, and emotional skills.
• Ensures that no child will be left alone or unsupervised while under our care.
• Encourages parents to always have their child(ren) in class and when the child is absent, staff should inquire as to the reason(s) for the absenteeism.
• Responsible for reporting to supervisor any patterns of absences or any special circumstances surrounding absenteeism.
• Responsible for initiating appropriate family support procedures for all children with two or more consecutive unexcused absences. Reports any chronic absenteeism to supervisor if it persists so that the child’s enrollment can be evaluated, and a decision made as to whether to keep the child in the program or vacate the child’s slot.
• Participates in pre-service training, to plan and set up the program at the start of the year, to close the program at the end of the year, to conduct home visits, to conduct health examinations, screening, and immunization activities, to maintain records, and keep service component plans and activities current and relevant.
• Actively encourage parents to participate in two home visits annually for each child enrolled in a center-based program option; home visits must be initiated and carried out by the child’s teacher. The major purpose of the home visits is to enhance the parental role in the growth and development of the child.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Education

Required:

• Associate degree in Early Childhood Education or related field with the required 18 hours of Early Childhood Development.

Preferred:

• Bachelor’s degree in early childhood education or related field with the required 18 hours of Early Childhood Development.

Work Experience

Preferred:

• Six months in a licensed childcare facility or in a public/private school or early childhood facility or has completed an early childhood degree program where practicum(s) were required.

Additional Skills Required

• Excellent writing, editing and proofreading skills.
• Proficiency in MS Office software applications.
• Spanish fluency helpful, but not required.
• Demonstrated ability to achieve high performance goals and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong organizational skills that reflect ability to perform and prioritize multiple tasks seamlessly with excellent attention to detail.
• Very strong interpersonal skills and the ability to build relationships with stakeholders, including staff, board members, external partners, and donors.
• Highly resourceful team player, with the ability to be extremely effective independently with the capability of managing numerous simultaneous projects.
• Forward-looking thinker, who actively seeks opportunities and proposes solutions.
• Strong analytical, presentation, verbal and written communication, problem solving and decision-making skills.
• Ability to generate, analyze, evaluate, and summarize reports.
• Ability to travel to various training sessions.
• CPR and First Aid Training
• Evening and/or Weekend activities may be necessary based on program need.
• Must have dependable transportation daily, valid driver’s license, a clean driving record, current auto liability insurance and be bondable by AVANCE, San Antonio, Inc.

Disclaimer(s)

This is not necessarily an all-inclusive list of job-related responsibilities, duties, skills, efforts, requirements or working conditions. While this is intended to be an accurate reflection of the current job, management reserves the right to revise the job or to require that other or different tasks be performed as assigned. Nothing in this job description forms or is intended to form a contract of employment. Neither shall the content in this job description be interpreted to conflict with, or to eliminate or modify in any way, the at will employment status of AVANCE San Antonio employees. Employment remains on an at-will basis.

Travel

0-5% annually on average, mostly local.

Equipment

Computer, computer software programs and peripherals, resource materials and equipment, copier, fax, and other equipment applicable to the position.

Working Conditions

Mental and Physical Demands

General office and sedentary. Regularly required to sit; use hands to handle or feel; reach with hands and arms; and talk or hear. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus. Use of personal computing equipment.

Maintain emotional control under stress; work with interruptions and deadlines; walking, standing, stooping, bending, pulling, and pushing; occasional: lifting/carrying, pulling/pushing 10-30 pounds. Work evenings and weekends as needed.

Environmental Factors

ADA/ADAAA Statement

AVANCE is committed to equal opportunity in employment for persons with disabilities and complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), as amended, and any other applicable state and federal laws. Accordingly, AVANCE does not discriminate against qualified individuals with disabilities regarding application, hiring, advancement, discharge, compensation, training or other terms, conditions, and privileges of employment. Moreover, it is AVANCE’s policy to provide reasonable accommodations in employment to qualified individuals with disabilities so that they can perform the essential functions of the job, unless the accommodation would impose an undue hardship on the operation of AVANCE’s business or would change the essential functions of the position. Retaliation against an individual with a disability for utilizing this policy or seeking a reasonable accommodation is prohibited. Individuals with any questions or requests for accommodation should contact the Human Resources Department.

EEO/AAP Statement

AVANCE values diversity and is committed to providing equal employment opportunity to all individuals regardless of their race, color, creed, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, age, sexual orientation, genetic information, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by state, federal, or local law. It is also our goal to employ and advance in employment women, minorities, individuals with disabilities and protected veterans, and to treat qualified individuals without discrimination based on their physical or mental disability or veteran status.

Qualifications