Infant/Toddler Teacher - $22.98/hourly

at  Catholic Charities Comm

KNOWLEDGE

1. Knowledge of child development theory; specifically early childhood development
2. Understanding of the scholastic structures required for the coordination and delivery of a developmentally appropriate early education program
3. Familiarity with Head Start standards, requirements, goals, objectives, policies, and procedures
4. Strategies to motivate children and parents to become involved in activities
5. Understanding of and sensitivity to cultural differences within the community, program, and agency
6. Techniques for accurate record-keeping and data management
7. Awareness of community resources and available support services
8. Understanding of Head Start Act and Performance Standards preferred

SKILLS

1. Directing individual and group activities for children and families
2. Proper English grammar and usage
3. Communicating effectively with parents and children
4. Using, structuring, and managing time effectively
5. Understanding, following, and carrying out written and oral instructions
6. Critical thinking and resourcefulness to overcome challenges and solve problems
7. Managing change and demonstrating adaptability, flexibility, and responsiveness to varying needs and situations
8. Proficiency in Microsoft Office Applications including Word, Outlook, PowerPoint, and Excel
9. Maintaining cooperative work relationships
10. Bilingual (English/Spanish) skills preferred

ABILITIES

1. Work successfully with socio-economically disadvantaged and culturally and linguistically diverse pre-school age children and their parents in a fast-paced environment
2. Identify and utilize a variety of materials for use in a pre-school developmental setting
3. Read, understand, interpret, and apply rules, regulations, and policies
4. Maintain a structured schedule, adhere to timelines, and meet deadlines
5. Visually and auditorily assess students/parents to ensure their safety and well-being
6. Stand and/or sit for prolonged periods of time
7. Lift children up to 40 pounds and assist them to the bathroom as necessary
8. Sit on floor and ambulate over uneven floor surfaces including stairs, steps, and playgrounds
9. Other significant physical abilities include lifting/carrying/pulling, stooping/kneeling/crouching, reaching/handling/fingering, talking/hearing conversations and other sounds, near/far visual acuity/depth perception/accommodation/field of vision

EDUCATION/BACKGROUND

1. Must meet one of the following educational requirements:

• Minimum of a Child Development Associate (CDA) credential or comparable credential, and have been trained or have equivalent coursework in early childhood development with a focus on Infant and toddler development.
• Associate degree in Early Childhood Education (ECE) or other directly related discipline
• Associate degree with 12 credit hours of approved ECE coursework
• Associate degree and a current Arizona Department of Education Teaching Certificate that includes qualification to teach preschool age children
• Bachelor or higher degree in ECE or other directly related discipline
• Bachelor or higher degree with 12 credit hours of approved ECE coursework
• Bachelor or higher degree and a current Arizona Department of Education Teaching Certificate that includes qualification to teach preschool age children

1. Demonstrated competency in the following areas:

• Providing effective and nurturing teacher-child interactions
• Planning, facilitating, and evaluating learning experiences that ensure effective curriculum implementation
• Promoting children’s progress as described in the Head Start Early Learning Outcomes Framework and applicable State early learning and development standards, including children eligible for services under the Individual Disability Education Act (IDEA)

1. One year of preschool experience with AA and six months with BA/BS.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES:

Child Development, Health and Safety
1. Delivers developmentally appropriate site based services to infants and toddlers during operational hours.
2. Plans and implements a designed bilingual, multicultural curriculum for children assigned to the classroom that advances the intellectual and physical development of the children and improves their readiness for school
3. Develops children assigned to the classroom in their: literacy, phonemic and print awareness; understanding and use of their primary language, including increasingly complex and varied vocabulary; appreciation of books; understanding of early math and science; problem-solving abilities; and approaches to learning
4. Creates and maintains a welcoming, inclusive, safe, and developmentally supportive environment to encourage the cognitive, language, social/emotional, and physical development of children and families
5. Meets the individual needs of each child by providing an environment that allows for the inclusion of children with special needs and children who speak a home language other than English
6. Effectively serves children with disabilities and their families; making appropriate adaptations for any disabilities and achieving goals and objectives set forth in the child’s Individualized Education Plan (IEP)
7. Models use of proper English grammar for all children, particularly children acquiring English as a second language, to support proper language development
8. Translates and interprets daily activities and events to the child’s home language and/or uses additional strategies when lacking proficiency in the child’s home language to ensure conceptual understanding and support dual language learning
9. Completes developmental and social/emotional screenings within 45 days of enrollment and accurately documents required health information
10. Completes regular and on-going assessments according to program guidelines to identify proficiencies, strengths, possible concerns, and/or delays by monitoring children’s progress and performing all necessary observations
11. Utilizes information from child screenings, assessments, observations, and parent input to establish individualized child goals and plan learning activities for children
12. Develops lesson plans that include at least one (1) home task and one (1) food experience per month
13. Follows specialized physical health care procedures and, as needs of students dictate, provides first aid and performs cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)
14. Implements approved emergency plan and conducts/documents monthly fire drills
15. Complies with all Child/Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) guidelines and completes daily, weekly and end-of-the-month food services documentation and reporting