What are the responsibilities and job description for the Early Childhood Resource Teacher position at UMass Amherst?
Title: Early Childhood Resource Teacher
Executive Area: Student Affairs & Campus Life
College/School/MBU: Center for Early Educ and Care
Department: Center for Early Educ and Care
Work Location: Amherst
Schedule:Full Time
Work Arrangement:Onsite
Job Summary
The Early Childhood Resource Teacher provides staff coverage for all classrooms, develops and implements curriculum, classroom environment, behavior guidance, and parent partnerships according to the Center for Early Education and Care (CEEC) guidelines, the Department of Early Education and Care (EEC) state licensing regulations, and national accreditation criteria. The Early Childhood Resource Teacher provides a nurturing, safe environment for children, which facilitates their social, emotional, intellectual, and physical growth.
Essential Functions
Program Development
Uses positive and constructive methods of behavior guidance, and emphasizes personal safety and emotional well-being at all times.
Plans and implements developmentally appropriate curriculum that complies with guidelines, based upon observation and assessment of individual children and goals developed with parents.
Incorporates a culturally sensitive approach to early childhood programming and a respect for the diversity of the children's families.
Designs and maintains classroom and outdoor play environments that comply with licensing standards.
Documents children's learning through anecdotal notes and may be responsible for bi-annual child assessments, documentation materials, and referrals of children for diagnostic services.
Communicates appropriately with children and individualizes the classroom program to meet special needs of children.
Develops a partnership with families through daily communication, newsletters, conferences, and family involvement activities.
Trains and supervises student employees in positive behavior guidance techniques according to licensing policy and CEEC practices, and is responsible for their orientation and involvement in the classroom.
Health and Safety
Keeps the safety of the children as a first priorityand follows CEEC and EEC protocol for reporting suspected child abuse and/or neglect.
Utilizes universal healthcare precaution protocol to prevent exposure to and spread of childhood diseases, infections, human bodily fluids and wastes.
Maintains a safe, clean, and attractive classroom environment and instructs children to use health and safety practices.
Notifies Director of unsafe facility issues.
Administrative Support
Provides coverage for planned and unplanned absences of professional and student staff in order to ensure that classroom teacher/child ratios are met at all times. Adheres to coverage schedules which may be adjusted as program needs change and which includes working in all classrooms.
Respects and adheres to staffing/classroom schedules, which may be adjusted to fit program needs.
Collaborates with colleagues in curriculum development and implementation of classroom activities.
Understands and implements affirmative action and non-discrimination regulations, policies, and procedures.
Must be able to comply with state regulations in regard to required health verification and documentation.
Participates in professional development opportunities as required.
Maintains confidentiality.
Other Functions
Performs related duties as assigned or required. Understands responsibilities with respect to Title IX, Clery and other compliance requirements.
Demonstrates capacity, skill, and willingness to engage students and contribute to student success.
Understands responsibilities with respect to conflicts of interest and behaves in ways consistent both with law and with University policy.
Contributes toward creating a positive and respectful workplace. Uses access to sensitive and/or not yet public university related information only in the performance of the responsibilities of position and exercises care to prevent unnecessary disclosure to others.
Minimum Qualifications
Associate's degree in Early Childhood Education or related field, and two (2) years full-time experience in a licensed early childhood classroom OR a Bachelor's degree with classroom experience.
Must be EEC Teacher qualified for Infant/Toddler or Preschool.
Must hold current CPR and First Aid certifications, or be certified at time of hire.
Strong written and verbal communication skills.
Able to lift, move, and hold children and objects up to 40 pounds.
Able to engage in full range of motion to lift, reach, squat, climb, sit, and otherwise fully participate in classroom activities.
Able to supervise and interact with children outdoors for extended periods of varied weather conditions.
Preferred Qualifications
Infant/Toddler and Preschool EEC certification
Lead Teacher qualification for Infant/Toddler and/or Preschool
Experience with ethnically diverse populations and/or bilingual fluency
Additional Details
Under supervision from the Assistant Director of Curriculum and Professional Development.
Supervises student staff and interns.
Working Conditions
Work is primarily performed in an indoor university environment and involves lifting and transporting materials or equipment and general physical activity, including prolonged standing, walking, or assuming low postures.
Work Schedule and Work Arrangement
Monday-Friday 8:00am-4:30pm; some evenings and weekends
Salary Information
Pay Grade:PSSAP Grade 25
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Special Instructions for Applicants
Upload your resume, along with your completed application. Our team will check references at the final stage of the interview process. Please be prepared to provide contact information for at least three (3) professional references.
This position will remain open for the time period required by any applicable collective bargaining agreement and will continue until a suitable candidate pool is identified. Interested applicants are strongly encouraged to apply early.