Early Learning Center - Assistant Teacher

POSITION OVERVIEW

The Early Learning Center - Assistant Teacher is responsible for the care and education of a group of children as part of a teaching team.  The Assistant Teacher supports the Lead Teacher in planning and implementing a tailored curriculum and, with the active participation of other teaching team members, works with parents and assesses the needs of individual children.

Supervisor: Director of Early Learning Center, Classroom Lead Teacher

Supervisory Responsibilities:  None

Position Status:  Salaried, Non-exempt, Full-time, 10-Month

Hours of Work: Standard work week.  Typical hours are Monday through Friday. Occasional weekend and evening work may be required.

REQUIREMENTS AND QUALIFICATIONS

The requirements below represent the knowledge, skills, and abilities required for a successful candidate.

• At least 18 years of age
• Minimum of a Child Development Associate degree and a strong demonstrated background working with young children
• Able to meet the requirements of the State Licensing Agency, Bright From the Start, which includes but is not limited to a National Fingerprint background check and additional training to be completed annually
• Possess current/valid CPR and First Aid Certification, or willing to obtain once employed
• Ability to interact effectively with a broad constituency while representing the school with professionalism and enthusiasm
• Ability to maintain strict confidentiality
• Team player with a positive attitude, proactive approach, and customer-service mindset
• Demonstrated commitment to early childhood development and teaching

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITY: Establish and Maintain a Safe and Healthy Environment

• As an integral member of the classroom team, assists in maintaining an environment for children that is clean, safe, and stimulating and that is appropriate for each child’s developmental level
• Maintains a classroom and center that adheres to Bright from the Start Rules and Regulations for childcare centers
• Maintains classroom appearance, décor, and learning environment 
• Assumes an equal share of the joint housekeeping responsibilities of the staff that ensure a clean and organized classroom. This involves sanitizing surfaces throughout the day (between meals, the end of the day, etc.)
• Maintains room arrangement that supports the goals of the classroom
• Promotes healthy eating practices
• Promotes proper hygiene practices to prevent illnesses (i.e., handwashing, use of Kleenex, sneezing into the elbow, etc.)

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITY: Advance Each Child’s Motor and Intellectual Competence

• Assists the Lead Teacher in providing a supportive emerging literacy and language development through the provided curriculum, and meets each child where their needs and interests lie 
• Assists in implementing a curriculum that fosters the construction of mathematical knowledge through hands-on activities
• Assists in implementing activities that foster fine and gross motor development 
• Follows an integrated curriculum that meets the needs of each child 

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITY: Support Each Child’s Social and Emotional Development and Provide Positive Guidance

• Under the direction of the Lead Teacher, implements a program that is tailored to the needs of the individual child and his/her pace of learning and takes into consideration each child’s culture and socioeconomic background
• Alongside the Lead Teacher, establishes and fosters a safe, nurturing environment where the children feel welcomed and included.
• Ensures that each child, co-worker, and parent are treated with dignity and respect
• Helps each child, co-worker, and parent to become aware of his/her role as an integral member of a family unit/group
• Assists in implementing a curriculum that reflects the diversity of the group and the larger world
• Assists in maintaining an environment that provides hands-on activities that enhance the development of each child’s self-esteem

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITY: Establish a Positive and Productive Relationship with Families

• Partners with parents/guardians to focus on the development of each child’s strengths and abilities
• Utilizes positive guidance techniques and a variety of creative and expressive activities

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITY: Ensure a Well-Run, Purposeful Program that is Responsive to Participants' Needs

• Assists in the implementation of the curriculum under the policies and philosophy of the program
• Adheres to the approved daily schedule for your group to provide routine/consistency in your classroom.
• Assists in observing and documenting each child’s progress to collaborate with the Lead Teacher’s anecdotal notes, developmental checklists, and portfolio assessments.

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITY: Maintain a Commitment to Professionalism

• Attends all staff meetings, parent meetings, and other required meetings and in-service training, which includes a minimum of 10 hours per year to meet Bright from the Start requirements 
• Conducts themselves in a professional manner at all times 
• Maintains flexibility, which includes but is not limited to providing coverage in another classroom at the discretion of an administrator
• Maintains professionalism, consistency, and confidentiality at all times
• Adheres to work schedule, ensuring consistent on-time arrival for work; strictly follows established protocol and procedure for clocking in and out
• Maintains a positive, professional, respectful relationship with all children, co-workers, families, and visitors
• Performs other duties as assigned

PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORK ENVIRONMENT

While performing the duties of this position, the employee is required to sit; stand; walk; use hands to finger, handle, and feel objects, tools, or controls; reach with hands and arms; climb stairs; balance; stoop, kneel, crouch and crawl; talk and hear; engage in moderately strenuous physical activity both indoors and out; and smell. The employee may occasionally lift or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this position include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus. The ability to become CPR, AED, and First Aid Certified is required.

While performing the duties of this position, the employee is occasionally exposed to outside weather conditions and may frequently walk on slippery or uneven surfaces.  The noise level in the work environment is often loud.

Westminster is a drug-free, smoke/vape-free campus.

TRAVEL

Travel is primarily local during regular business days.  Overnight and out-of-area travel may also be required and is associated mainly with planned events, conferences, and professional development opportunities.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY STATEMENT

Westminster is committed to the principle of equal opportunity in employment.  It is Westminster’s policy to provide equal employment opportunities and administer terms and conditions of employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, amnesty, or status as a covered veteran under applicable federal, state and local laws.  EOE/M/F/D/V.