Position Title: FT/PT Early Childhood Teacher

Position Location: LEAH Schools Downtown Academy (LDA)

FLSA Classification: Non-Exempt

Reports To: Campus Administrator

Position Purpose: The Early Childhood Teacher will plan for and develop a positive, age-appropriate learning experience for young children that promotes social, emotional, physical, intellectual, and spiritual growth. The Early Childhood Teacher will create an atmosphere that provides an opportunity for developmentally appropriate achievement for all children characterized as a safe, joyful, and nurturing learning environment.

Job Requirements:

• Exhibit a fundamental knowledge of child development.
• Create age-appropriate learning opportunities that include routine, schedules, and activities.
• Set measurable, ambitious, and attainable developmental goals for students during each assessment term.
• Communicate professionally with students, parents, and the administration regarding student progress or deficits in a timely manner.
• Ensure that child-care routines are carried out in a manner that is prompt, hygienic, and consistent with child development principles and child-care licensing including diapering/potty training, hand washing, eating, napping, and transitioning between activities.
• Ensure the safety of children through constant supervision, effective arrangement of space, proper maintenance of equipment and regular practice of emergency procedures.
• Observe children to detect signs of illness, injury, abuse, neglect, emotional disturbance, or other special needs and communicate any concerns with school administration without delay.
• Maintain a clean, attractive, and engaging classroom environment.
• Greet parents and children with salutations and smiles.
• Conduct oneself in a professional, ethical, Christ-like way.
• Attend and actively participate in scheduled devotions, in-service meetings, open houses, parent conferences, and committee and staff meetings.
• Utilize educational opportunities and evaluation processes for professional growth.
• Cooperate with and support the administration in creating and implementing policies and procedures aimed to enhance school operations.
• Recognize the need for good public relations and represent the school in a favorable and professional manner to the community.
• Work as a team player exhibiting professional behavior and a positive attitude with leadership, staff, the church, volunteers, children, and families that reflects positively on the school and is consistent with school policies, practices, and code of ethics.
• Maintain a professional and respectful attitude toward students, staff, and families.
• Willingly fulfill other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

• CDA, associates, or bachelor’s degree in a field of study that is pertinent to early childhood education; or
• LEAH Early Childhood Assistant Teacher eligible for promotion.
• Strong organizational skills and the ability to maintain detailed records.
• Able to define problems and implement appropriate solutions.
• Must maintain a high standard of ethics and honesty.
• Maintain accurate, competent, and efficient performance.
• Guard the confidentiality of personnel and student records.
• Must be able to work with all levels of management, faculty and staff, along with outside services.
• Encourage a sense of teamwork and enthusiasm for the Christ-centered ministry of the school.
• Able to meet deadlines and give attention to details and accuracy when needed.
• Exhibits a strong ability to communicate both in spoken and written English.
• Is punctual and reliable in attendance.
• Prove eligibility for employment in a licensed preschool by passing a thorough background check.

Terms of the Position:

• Full/Part Time Position

• Will be reviewed annually by the Campus Administrator.

• Positive performance reviews are expected for continued employment. 

Physical Requirements and Work Environment:

• Regularly sit, stand, bend, lift, talk, and hear.
• Regularly uses close and distance vision.
• Work primarily in a traditional climate-controlled office/school environment.
• Able to work with young children without frequent illness.
• Work outside while supervising children.

Employees are held to the highest standards of professionalism, collegiality, and personal conduct.

The requirements listed in this document are the minimum levels of knowledge, skills, and/or abilities.

Addendum

Statement of Belief

FAITH STATEMENTS:

Every day, God gives us the opportunity to live, to learn and to love. He challenges those of us who follow Christ to do that by developing a Biblical worldview and to put our faith into action. These statements act as a template through which we strive to become all that God calls us to be. (For a more detailed explanation of these statements, go to The Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod website.)

What We Believe:

ABOUT THE BIBLE: The Bible is the true Word of God without error or contradiction and, therefore, is the final authority in all matters of faith and life. We believe that the Bible gives clear direction on critical issues such as homosexuality, abortion and the sanctity of marriage. Through the eyes of God's Word, we seek to develop a Biblical worldview that compels us to love and action. (Psalm 139:13-16; Mark 10:5-9; Romans 1:21-27; 2 Corinthians 5:16; 2 Timothy 3:15-17)

ABOUT GOD: There is only one true God, who has revealed Himself in three persons (Triune) - God the Father who created us, God the Son (Jesus Christ) who saved us, and God the Holy Spirit who brings us to Jesus and is our help throughout our journey here on earth. (Matthew 28:19; Romans 5:5-6)

ABOUT HUMAN BEINGS: Human beings are the crown of God's creation. Adam and Eve, the first man and woman created in God's image, chose to sin in the Garden of Eden. As a result, all people are conceived and born sinful and are completely incapable of saving themselves by good living. (Genesis 1:27; Genesis 3; Psalm 51:5; Romans 3:10-12,23)

ABOUT JESUS CHRIST: Jesus Christ is entirely God and at the same time entirely man. He was born of the Virgin Mary, lived a perfect life, died on the cross, rose from the dead, and now rules at the right hand of God. All of this, He did for us. One day He will come again to bring us home to heaven. (John 1:1-3, 14; 1 Timothy 2:5-6; Luke 1:26-38; Hebrews 4:15; Romans 5:6-8; 1 Corinthians 15:12-24; Ephesians 1:20-23; 1 Thessalonians 4:14, 17)

ABOUT GRACE: God, motivated by His unconditional love for us, provided for our salvation through His Son, Jesus Christ. This action of love is a gift called Grace, and by it we are saved through faith in Jesus Christ. (John 3:16; Ephesians 2:8,9)

ABOUT FAITH: Faith in Jesus Christ comes by the power of the Holy Spirit. He works through the means of Grace - His Word and the Sacraments of Baptism and the Lord's Supper -- through which we receive the blessings and benefits of Jesus' saving death and resurrection. These blessings are the restoring of our relationship with God, forgiveness of sins, eternal life, and salvation. Because we see faith as a journey, change is assumed, innovation is expected, and rebirth is welcomed. (John 6:63; Romans 10:17; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26; Matthew 28:19-20)

ABOUT BAPTISM: Baptism is water applied in the name of God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit according to Jesus' command and promise. This sacrament gives salvation to all people who receive it through faith, delivers and applies the forgiveness of sins, and makes us members of God's family. (Matthew 28:19-20; John 3:5; Titus 3:5; Ephesians 5:25-26; Romans 6:4; 1 Corinthians 12:13; Colossians 2:11-12; 1 Peter 3:21)

ABOUT THE LORD'S SUPPER: The Lord's Supper is the real body and blood of Jesus Christ present with the bread and the wine. Based on Jesus' command, we eat and drink this supper for the forgiveness of our sins and the strengthening of our faith. (Matthew 26:26-29; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26)

ABOUT THE CHRISTIAN LIFE: Good works, prayer, and holiness of life are the fruit of faith in Jesus Christ, not the cause of faith or salvation. It is a privilege to live for Jesus, seeking to serve and honor Him in all facets of life. We believe that all life is spiritual and through a relationship with Jesus Christ, all of our fears, failures, and brokenness can be restored and made whole. (John 15:5; Colossians 2:6-7; Ephesians 5:1-8; Galatians 5:16-25; Hebrews 11:16)

ABOUT MISSION: We take great joy in partnering with God to change the world. We do this by sharing His message of salvation, embracing the truth that all of life is sacred, knowing that hope is real and that tomorrow can be better than today. (Psalm 139; Jonah 3:4-9; Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15; Colossians 4:6)