Description

JOB PURPOSE: The Teacher is responsible for developing a cohesive teaching team, coordinating the curriculum and managing the day-to-day operational activities of the classroom. Teachers must understand children’s cognitive, social, emotional and physical development in order to ensure a safe and stimulating classroom environment where children are actively engaged and encourage to succeed. The Teacher must be skilled in communicating with both children and adults in order to meet the needs of the children, effectively guide teacher assistants and resolve parental concerns.

AGENCY EXPECTATIONS OF EMPLOYEE:

1. Must consistently reports to work on time prepared to perform duties of position.
2. Is able to concentrate and perform duties as workload necessitates.
3. Can work under stress of deadlines.
4. Demonstrates flexible and efficient time management and ability to prioritize workload.
5. Is able to react to change productively and to handle other tasks as assigned.
6. Supports the Mission, Values and Vision of Home of Hope, Inc. and the facility.
7. Must be able to adhere to Agency Policy and Procedures.
8. Is knowledgeable of resident rights and ensures an atmosphere which allows for the privacy, dignity and well-being of all residents in a safe, secure environment.
9. Must maintain a positive and respectful attitude.
10. Supports, cooperates with, and implements specific procedures and programs for:
11. Safety, including universal precautions and safe work practices, established fire/safety/disaster plans, risk management, and security, report and/or correct unsafe working conditions, equipment repair and maintenance needs.
12. Confidentiality of all data, including resident, employee and operations data.
13. Quality Assurance and compliance with all regulatory requirements.
14. Compliance with current law and policy to provide a work environment free from sexual harassment and all illegal and discriminatory behavior.
15. Supports and participates in common teamwork:
16. Cooperates and works together with all co-workers; plan and complete job duties with minimal supervisory direction, including appropriate judgment.
17. Uses tactful, appropriate communications in sensitive and emotional situations.
18. Follows up as appropriate with supervisor, co-workers or residents regarding reported complaints, problems and concerns.
19. Promotes positive public relations with residents, family members and guests.
20. Must act as a role model within and outside the Agency
21. Completes requirements for in-service training, acceptable attendance, uniform and dress codes including personal hygiene, and other work duties as assigned.

RESPONSIBILITIES/DUTIES:

• Coordinate and implement educational curriculum by developing classroom activities based on developmentally appropriate practices and early learning standards.
• Lead by example; encourage teaching team success through modeling and coaching.
• Plan individual and group age-appropriate activities to actively engage children and encourage social, cognitive and emotional growth.
• Maintain frequent communications with parents through informal discussions, progress reports and parent-teacher conferences.
• Ensure all center policies and state regulations are met.
• Ensure a healthy classroom environment – including maintaining appropriate hygiene and cleanliness standards and safety and security of children.
• Supervise teacher assistants and classroom volunteers to ensure they are following planned activities, hygiene and safety standards.
• Maintain accurate records, forms and files.
• Maintain personal professional development plan to ensure continuous quality improvement.

CORE VALUES:

Client Centered Care: We are committed to making all decisions and performing all actions with the well-being of our clients as our primary focus, and to always putting our clients’ interests ahead of our own.

Accountability: We take personal responsibility, as an organization and as individuals, for our actions, hold each other accountable, and expect to be held accountable at any point throughout the year for our decisions and actions.

Respect: While keeping the focus on the needs of our clients, we also commit to demonstrating mutual respect in communication and actions so that a positive environment for everyone is maintained.

Excellence: We are committed to using established best practices, to evaluating effectiveness of our efforts, and to demonstrating a willingness to change current practices at any point based on evidence that change is needed.

Requirements

SKILLS:

• Minimum of 2 years of professional child care experience, preferred but not required.
• High energy.
• Strong oral and written communication skills and basic computer skills.
• Ability to work well with others (staff, children and parents) and to foster a team environment.
• A strong understanding of child development.
• Excellent leadership, organizational and interpersonal skills.
• Must clear full background check.
• Must be 18 years of age.

PHYSICAL/MENTAL REQUIREMENTS:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) protects qualified persons with disabilities from discrimination who are able to do the essential functions of the job with or without reasonable accommodation providing they do not pose a safety hazard to themselves, fellow employees, client or the public.

• Standing and walking: Must be able to walk/stand up to 65% of time.
• Bending: May bend several times in order to meet the needs of the service recipient.
• Carrying: May carry up to 50 pounds. May move equipment (average push force 20 pounds).
• Lifting: May lift up to 50 pounds.
• Pushing: Maneuver emergency equipment up to 40 pounds.
• Stoop, crouch or crawl: Ability to work with children on the floor.
• Kneeling: may kneel in order to meet the needs of children being cared for.
• Vision and Hearing: Able to have visual capabilities consistent with Child Care Licensing safety requirements.
• Must be able to work outdoors in any variety of weather.