Associate Preschool Teacher

Position Summary: Provides care and education for children and their families in a child care center.
Supports Administration, Center Supervisor and Teacher(s) at the center in carrying out overall program goals and objectives in a positive, open and productive manner.
Shares responsibility for overall quality of children’s educational experience.
May support the Bus Driver in the safe transportation of children to and from the child care center.
Assumes responsibility of a Teacher in the absence of the Teacher, and may give direction to Instructional Assistants, parents, community volunteers or other staff.
Supports CAPSLO’s mission by ensuring all children in the program are taught effectively to promote growth within the program.
Required Education and Experience: • Twelve (12) semester units ECE/CD(a)(b), with a grade C or better, or CDA Credential or CTC • Six (6) months related experience with children ages 0 – 5 years of age • Associate Teacher Permit or higher • HS/EHS/MSHS/State-Braided Associate Teachers must also meet at least one of the following criteria: • Have a child development associate (CDA) credential or the California equivalent of an Associate Teacher Permit (12 ECE semester units including core courses; and for EHS and infant/toddler classrooms must also have 6 infant/toddler semester units) OR • Be enrolled in a CDA credential program that will be completed within 2 years; OR • Have an associate or bachelor's degree (in any area) or be enrolled in a program leading to such a degree Additional Education and Experience: • Semester Units in ECE/CD include coursework in early childhood education/child development and at least one course in each of the following core areas: • child/human growth and development • child, family and community, or child and family relations • programs/curriculum.
Must have received passing grade of “C” or better or credit.
• For infant/toddler center(s), 3 semester units in infant/toddler development and/or programs must be included as part of the coursework requirement.
• Experience must be in a licensed day care center, comparable home day care or group child care program for children ages 0-5 under the supervision of a person who would qualify as a Center Supervisor.
College internships and labs in a licensed day care center will count as experience.
Preferred Education and Experience: • Experience working with children with a diversity of special needs is desirable.
License & Certifications: • Valid California Driver’s License and reliable insured vehicle available for business use (mileage to be reimbursed) and acceptable driving record.
• A DMV printout and proof of insurance will be required (not required for Substitutes).
• Must possess a valid Associate Teacher Permit or higher, or qualify for and apply for one within 60 days of commencing employment.
• State Child Development program requires permit be held prior to beginning employment (Temporary County Certificates also acceptable).
Essential Functions: • Supports the Teacher(s) and Center Supervisor in carrying out responsibility at the center level for the overall quality of the experience offered to children and families including the assurance that laws, regulations, guidelines and policies are adhered to on a daily basis.
• Assists in the safe supervision of children engaged in learning and play activities by: a) paying close attention to the safety of the children at all times, and b) maintaining firm, but gracious limit setting.
• Participates in planning the overall education plan for the center and assumes responsibility for ensuring the plan in the classroom.
• The plan will include Weekly Lesson Plans, written observations, program individualization for each child, tracking each child’s development and development of individual goals for each child with input from the parent.
• Assists the Center Supervisor and Teacher(s) in planning developmentally appropriate activities for all children by: • collecting supplementary books, paper, art supplies and other materials for instructional use • providing input into lesson plan development • participating in learning and small group activities • encouraging language development conversation with children (including the child’s first language, if other than English) • encouraging children to be involved in activities with respect to their individual preferences.
Responsibilities & Duties: • May conduct home visits and parent conferences, and schedules the visits at times that are suitable for the families (may require evenings and weekends), as delegated by the Center Supervisor.
• Participates in physical activities (games, music & movement, outside play) with children which involve lifting, bending, carrying, twisting, stooping, pulling, pushing, reaching and other repetitive motions.
• In addition, centers caring for infants & toddlers will require lifting, carrying, diapering, changing, feeding and cleaning of children.
• Plans, with the Teacher(s) and/or Center Supervisor, the environment at the center including learning areas.
• Aids children in developing cognitive, physical, one-to-one or small group skills.
• Performs special exercises, follow-up occupational or physical therapy, and other related activities, as needed by individual children.
• Must have visual supervision of all children at all times.
• Aids children in developing self-help skills such as: toileting, feeding, dressing, napping, etc.
• Assists with, as a member of a multidisciplinary team, each child’s Individual Education Plan (IEP)/Individual Family Service Plan (IFSP) and participates in case conferencing, as needed.
• Assists Teacher(s) in maintaining narrative records on each child, including anecdotal records and daily charts.
• Attends and participates in all staff meetings and required trainings.
Attends in service training as assigned by the program manager.
• Assumes responsibility for center maintenance, including orderliness and cleanliness levels that ensure proper standards of safety and sanitation.
• Participates in the housekeeping duties including lifting, moving furniture and equipment, dusting, sweeping, mopping, vacuuming, dishwashing, etc.
• Keeps Center Supervisor and Teacher(s) informed of problems and concerns related to individual children, families and/or operations of the center program.
• Documents parent contacts and child abuse reporting.
• Shares responsibility for overall quality of education experience for all children, including child/children with disabilities.
• Ensures that all pertinent laws, guidelines and policies are followed.
• Maintains confidentiality of records and information of program families.
• Provides appropriate guidance to all children.
Ensures personal rights of children are maintained at all times.
• Responsible as a Mandated Reporter of Child Abuse and Neglect.
Accordingly, follows procedures for reporting known or suspected child abuse and neglect.
• Must use reasonable precaution in the performance of one’s duties and adhere to all applicable safety rules and practices, and act in such a manner as to assure at all times, maximum safety to one’s self, fellow employees and children.
Responsibilities & Duties (when assisting on the bus): • Assists in the safe supervision of children engaged in boarding, riding and exiting the bus by: • Welcoming and helping children get on and off the bus • Assisting the children in fastening seat belts • Paying close attention to the safety of the children at all times • Maintaining firm, but gracious limit setting • Keeping children seated while the bus is in motion • Assisting the children during emergency evacuations • Keeps Bus Driver informed of problems and concerns related to individual children or families.
• Participates in occupying the children during the ride with activities (games, songs & conversation).
• Assists with bus inspections at the end of each trip.
Part of the daily inspection includes straightening seat belts, picking up trash and checking for children and items left in the vehicle.
• Ensures that the established bus seating chart is enforced.
• Verifies that at the end of the day children are being released only to the parent/legal guardian or other individual identified in writing by the parent/legal guardian.
• Assists the Bus Driver at the end of each bus route, to check that all children have been dropped off.
Sign in sheets should be used to verify delivery.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: Knowledge: • Must have knowledge of and the ability to comply with applicable laws and regulations.
Skills: • Must have strong written and verbal communication skills, and be able to communicate effectively with clients and program staff.
• Must demonstrate sound judgment, supervisory and administrative skills.
Abilities: • Must be able to maintain good working relationships with other program staff.
• Must be self-motivated and able to work with a minimum of supervision.
• Must be willing to increase basic knowledge of child development and early childhood education, as well as techniques of working with children with special needs and their families.
Infant/Toddler center staff must be willing to participate in Program for Infant/Toddler Care (PITC) cohorts as they become available.
• Must be able to direct the work of others, when applicable.
• Must be dedicated to the goals and philosophy the program.
• Must uphold program Standards of Conduct at all times.
• Must be able to relate well to all people of the community regardless of color, national origin, religion, sex, pregnancy, age, marital status, veteran status, sexual orientation, disability or socio-economic level.
• Must understand, uphold, and continue working toward accomplishing the mission, strategic goals and performance measures of the agency.
Supervisory Responsibility: • May supervise Instructional Assistant(s), volunteers and visitors.
Work Environment: • This job operates in a classroom environment as well as outdoors.
Additionally, this role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, printers, copiers and phones.
Physical Demands: 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.
Physical: • Must be able to lift up to 40 pounds.
• Must be able to bend, squat, reach, kneel, and climb stairs.
• Position requires intermittent sitting, standing, walking, twisting, and bending for long periods of time.
• Must be able to move from a sitting to standing position quickly, safely, and without difficulty.
• Must be able to chase a fleeing child.
Must be able to join the children’s active play including jumping and running indoors and outdoors.
• Simple grasping and hand manipulation required as well as reaching above below shoulder level.
• Must be able to withstand exposure to noise in a daycare environment.
• Must be able to assist children with diapering, toileting, and change of clothing.
Vision, Hearing and Speech: • Corrected or uncorrected vision and hearing within normal ranges.
• A clear speaking voice and other abilities necessary to ensure child safety in the classroom, other areas and when in the community.
Position Type/Expected Hours of Work: • Flexible work hours required, including, but not limited to evenings and weekends.
• Head Start: Regular, Fulltime, 40 hours per week Travel: • Must have dependable, insured transportation and valid California Driver’s License (mileage to be reimbursed) and acceptable driving record.
• A DMV printout and proof of insurance will be required (not required for Substitutes).
Additional Eligibility Qualifications: • Must be at least 18 years of age by date of hire.
• Must submit proof of current vaccination status for measles, pertussis, and influenza (or a current, signed influenza declination form) in compliance with SB 792.
• Must comply with the CAPSLO COVID-19 Vaccination Policy, either being fully vaccinated or sign a COVID-19 vaccination declination form.
• Must complete a health screening physical completed within 30 days prior to employment and a current TB skin test/Chest X-Ray.
• Employment is contingent upon meeting all job requirements and background requirements: criminal history check (Inclusive of DOJ, FBI and Child Abuse), acknowledgement of child abuse reporting responsibility, criminal record statement (Form LIC508), etc.
A criminal history clearance is required prior to employment.
• Upon hire agency staff will check the Megan’s Law (or the current sexual predator website) to ensure each staff being hired is clear for employment.
Program administrative staff will check the website annually to ensure all program staff are cleared to work.
• Must meet the Head Start Performance Standards and State requirements.
• Employment in Head Start, Early Head Start and Migrant and Seasonal Head Start Programs is contingent upon approval of the Policy Council.
Other Duties: Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job.
Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.
Reasonable Accommodations: I have read and understand the Essential Functions of this position, including the Responsibilities and Duties.
I also acknowledge that the Responsibilities and Duties for this position may change in the future with or without prior notice.
I further understand that I can request a reasonable accommodation, should one be necessary for me to carry out the Essential Functions of this position.
I can perform these with or without reasonable accommodation.
Benefits & Perks: Stay Healthy! • Keep yourself healthy with our comprehensive Medical, Dental, Vision and Life Insurance plans (Did we mention we pay your monthly premium at 100% if you are full time, YES…100 %!) • Keep your family healthy with the same comprehensive Medical, Dental, Vision available for you to purchase! • Address everyday concerns with access to our Employee Assistance Program for you and your family.
• Get involved with company-sponsored monthly wellness challenges! Be Financially Fit! • Save for your future by enrolling into our retirement plan with generous company matches after 6 month.
• Set aside pre-tax dollars to cover medical or child care expenses through our Flexible Spending Plans.
• Utilize Discounts from our partners (reduced rates for pet insurance, cell phone services, car rentals and more).
Take time for you! • Relax, recharge, and reconnect with friends and family or plan your get away for a few days while using your vacation time awarded to you every pay period! • Relax when you are sick, rest assured you are covered by your awesome team and accrued paid sick time! • Enjoy the holidays! You get 13 of them…PAID! Have fun at work! • Celebrate birthdays and anniversaries with your team! • Join one of our committees and meet employees across the agency.
• Rock your CAPSLO provided hats, t-shirts, sweaters and more! • Be you!