Job Title: Early Childhood Teacher

Reports To: Early Childhood Director

FLSA Status: Non-Exempt

Prepared By: Diocesan Office of Human Resources

This VPK Teacher position will begin on June 24th, 2024.

MISSION STATEMENT FOR CATHOLIC SCHOOLS

"…A Catholic school is unique because of its total commitment to the three-fold purpose of Christian education: message, community, and service. It creates an atmosphere where Catholic faith can be integrated with life and learning...It equips the student to understand his role in his individual, and in his global family, and deepens his awareness of human needs...."

SUMMARY

The Early Childhood Teacher is a qualified professional in education who meets the requirements to teach in a Catholic school in the Diocese of Orlando. The teacher, being creative and resourceful, utilizes instructional materials which are suitable, and provides a variety of meaningful, engaging learning experiences which are academically sound.

The Diocese of Orlando four core values lay the foundation for the work performed by its employees.

1. Authenticity: Conviction that God has called us to reflect exteriorly our inner life of faith in our daily living.

2. Respect: Affirming each person’s God-given dignity and uniqueness.

3. Courage: Inspired by this gift of the Holy Spirit, we proclaim and live the Word of God fearlessly and devotedly.

4. Commitment: Individually and collectively, we are steadfast to the team and its purpose.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILTIES include the following. Other duties may be assigned.

• Instructs preschool-aged children in activities designed to promote social, physical, and intellectual growth needed for primary school.
• Establishes and enforces rules for behavior and procedures for maintaining order.
• Organizes and leads activities designed to promote physical, mental, and social development, such as games, arts and crafts, music, storytelling, and field trips.
• Teaches basic skills, such as color, shape, number and letter recognition, personal hygiene, and social skills.
• Observes and evaluates children's performance, behavior, social development, and physical health.
• Provides a variety of materials and resources for children to explore, manipulate, and use, both in learning activities and in imaginative play.
• Serves meals and snacks in accordance with nutritional guidelines. Teaches proper eating habits and personal hygiene.
• Prepares materials and classrooms for class activities.
• Enforces all administration policies and rules governing students.
• Identifies children showing signs of emotional, developmental, or health-related problems and discuss them with supervisors, parents or guardians, and child development specialists.
• Establishes clear objectives for all lessons, units, and projects and communicate those objectives to children.
• Meets with parents and guardians to discuss their children's progress and needs, determines their priorities for their children, and suggests ways that they can promote learning and development.
• Adapts teaching methods and instructional materials to meet students' varying needs and interests.
• Arranges indoor and outdoor space to facilitate creative play, motor-skill activities, and safety.
• Maintains accurate and complete student records as required by laws, district policies, and administrative regulations.
• Attends professional meetings, educational conferences, and teacher training workshops to maintain and improve professional competence.
• Prepares reports on students and activities as required by administration.
• Collaborates with other teachers and administrators in the development, evaluation, and revision of preschool programs.
• Plans and supervises class projects, field trips, visits by guests, or other experiential activities and guides students in learning from those activities.
• Attends staff meetings and serves on committees as required.
• Attends faculty functions, such as monthly faculty meetings, Diocesan educational conferences, and other events of the school.
• Selects, stores, orders, issues, and inventories classroom equipment, materials, and supplies.
• Administers tests to help determine children's developmental levels, needs, and potential.
• Prepares and implements remedial programs for students requiring extra help.
• Performs administrative duties, such as hall and cafeteria monitoring and bus loading and unloading.
• Supervises, evaluates, and plans assignments for teacher assistants and volunteers.

ACADEMIC/SUPERVISORY DUTIES

Teachers are academically qualified and prepared for each day's lessons. They are accountable to the principal, the parents, and the students in the following ways for example but not limited to:

• Lesson planning and class preparedness;
• Evaluation of student performance;
• Parent conferences;
• End of year records;
• Daily Attendance.

QUALIFICATIONS

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

• Associate’s or Bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education or similar field required; VPK candidates must hold a VPK Certification.
• Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience in early childhood education.
• Complete Department of Children and Families 45 Hour Training.

CHARACTERISTICS OF EARLY CHILDHOOD TEACHERS

Areas of Personal Accountability

• The teacher accepts and supports the on-going building and living of a faith community that carries over into interpersonal relationships among all members of the school and community.
• The teacher accepts, understands and uses the philosophy of Catholic Education as the foundation of their teaching.

Areas of Professional Accountability

• Teachers are accountable professionally to the diocese, the pastor and principal, their peers, the parents, and the students.
• Teachers participate and share in the professional evaluation of their classroom performance.
• Teachers meet Florida DCF certification requirements.
• Teachers comply with the GSCS Teacher Handbook Expectations.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

Caring for children can be physically demanding. The Early Childhood Teacher may be required to lift and/or carry children or equipment (up to 40 lbs.), and may spend time sitting on the floor or child sized furniture. Expected to clean and maintain equipment and facility, and may move throughout the community with children. Ability to stand and sit for long periods of time, walking, bending, stooping/squatting, and reaching. May come in contact with children who are ill and/or contagious, and must take precautions to ensure the health and safety of all children, parents, staff and themselves.

WORKING CONDITIONS

The Early Childhood Teacher will be working in a busy and occasionally noisy environment. There may be a number of activities and situations happening at once, and the teacher will have to supervise all children at all times.

Sensory Demands - The Preschool Teacher may experience smells associated with toileting and children who are ill. There may be times that the environment is noisy and busy.

Mental Demands - Caring for children can be stressful. The Preschool Teacher must ensure that children are supervised at all times, and that children are involved in safe and appropriate activities. There may be a number of situations happening at once, and the Preschool Teacher must be prepared to handle accidents and emergencies at any time.