Job Title: Preschool Teacher\n

Department: Child Development Center \n

Summary: (Summarize primary purpose of job function.) The Preschool Teacher is a member of the teaching team who is responsible for the care and education of an assigned group of children; planning and implementing the curriculum, supervising children, communicating with parents, and providing a healthy and safe environment for children.\n

Reports To: Director, Child Care\n

Titles Supervised: Child Care Assistant\n

Essential Responsibilities: To take care of the children in The Child Development Center.\n

To establish and maintain a safe and healthy learning environment.\n\nDesigns appropriate room arrangement to support the goals of the classroom which is to keep it clean, safe, and stimulating and which is appropriate for each child's developmental level.\nMeets and maintains licensing requirements for ratio.\nMaintains a safe and orderly learning environment through posting necessary information as appropriate.\nAssures the safety, hygiene, and well-being of children in an assigned group.\nFollows the State Licensing policies and procedures for sanitizing and disinfecting toys and surfaces.\nUses proper hand washing, diaper changing and toileting procedures.\n\n

To advance physical and intellectual competence\n\nProvides an integrated curriculum that meets the needs of individual children and a balance between child-initiated and teacher-directed activities.\nInvolves children in planning and implementing learning activities.\nPlans and implements experiences that promote language and literacy development, the acquisition of number concepts, art, music and science concepts.\nPlans and helps to coordinate inter-generational programs.\n\n

To support social and emotional development and provide positive guidance.\n\nPlans and implements hands-on activities that develop positive self-esteem and social skills.\nPlans and implements culturally diverse and non-sexist experiences.\nUses and promotes positive guidance techniques.\nProvides a wide variety of creative and expressive activities.\nManages the classroom through positive redirection, problem solving, setting appropriate limits and active listening.\nEstablishes routines with smooth transition periods.\nCommunicates with children at their developmental level and encourages children to be independent.\n\n

To establish positive and productive relationships with families\n\nConsiders the individual family and child in relationship to his\/her culture and socio-economic background.\nRelates assessment information to parents and offers support for dealing with children at different developmental stages.\nPromotes communication with parents through weekly progress notes, and semi-annual parent conferences.\nEncourages parents to participate in the program by offering them a variety of ways to volunteer.\n\n

To ensure a well-run, purposeful program responsive to participant needs\n\nMaintains daily attendance records; daily schedules posted in the room; written plans on a weekly basis ; as well as documentation and observations of individual progress through anecdotal notes, developmental checklists, assessments and other designed screenings.\nAssesses program supplies and materials needed prior to implementing activities.\nCoordinates and helps supervise assistants and volunteers working in the classroom.\nAssesses children's needs and developmental progress on an ongoing basis and uses the results of assessments to plan activities.\n\n

To maintain a commitment to professionalism\n\nIs guided by the Core Values of Mozaic Senior Life\nTreats each child, parent, family member and co-worker with dignity and respect.\nPromotes The MSL Child Development Center's mission and vision, philosophy and educational objectives.\nCompletes required paperwork in a timely fashion, hands in weekly lesson plans to Director, completes conference and progress reports in a timely fashion.\nKeeps open communication with the Director and other teachers at all times.\nMaintains professional attitude, appearance, and loyalty to the program at all times.\nMaintains confidentiality regarding staff, families, and children at all times.\nUpon hire, each employee must begin training to meet state requirements.\nEngages in ongoing staff development to improve personal and professional skills.\nSupports the professional growth and development of colleagues by sharing materials and information and providing helpful feedback and encouragement.\nAttends staff meetings, workshops and in-service training provided by the Child Development Center and MSL\nAttends and prepares for Open House Night.\nIs prompt, reliable, and flexible and adheres to schedules.\nDemonstrates a desire to grow and be open to new ideas or suggestions and constructive feedback.\nHas comprehensive working knowledge of the MSL Employee Handbook, The State of Connecticut Rules and Regulations for Child Care Centers, The MSL Parent's Handbook, and any policies and procedures specific to The MSL Child Development Center.\n\n

Any other tasks as needed by the Department\n

Minimum Qualifications:\n

Education: Associate or Bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education, Family Studies and Human Development with an Early Childhood Concentration; or Elementary Education, including or supplemented by 12 semester hours of credit in child development or early childhood education. \n

Certificates needed: Pediatric First Aid and CPR certification.\n

Experience: 1-2 years in the early childhood field or a closely related field.\n

Licensure: A valid work permit, which must be proven with necessary documentation as specified on an I-9 form.\n

Knowledge\/Skills\/Abilities: Must have a warm, friendly personality, be sensitive to the feelings and needs of others and be able to relate well to children. Must be able to recognize child abuse and neglect; have professional level knowledge of educational theory, child development and teaching skills; be flexible in receiving assignments or adapting to changes in the program; willing to accept supervision in order to improve work performance; willing to provide exceptional customer service and perform other duties as required. Must have knowledge of developing lesson plans and have the ability to handle multiple demands and meet deadlines. Must be able to read and communicate effectively.\n

Physical and Mental Demands:This description of responsibilities is intended to reflect the major responsibilities and duties of the job but is not intended to describe minor duties or other responsibilities as may be assigned from time to time.