(2024-2025) Pre- K Teacher, La Salle Academy - Diocese of Allentown

DIOCESE OF ALLENTOWN

La Salle Academy, Shillington

Position Description

Job Title: Pre-Kindergarten Teacher

Job Status: Full-Time

Reporting Functions: Reports to Pastor and School Principal; direct reports are Pre-School Aid(s)

Job Function: Creates an environment that promotes learning and social interaction promoting Catholic values within the process. Provides daily instruction and selects age-appropriate activities to meet the needs of the students. Evaluate and record information on each child's developmental progress and provide feedback to parents.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Provide daily instruction and select learning activities appropriate to students' needs adhering to the Early Childhood Pre-Kindergarten Guidelines & Requirements as set by the Diocese of Allentown. Supervise and direct the classroom aide to participate fully in all classroom activities to assist teacher/students.

• Provide proper supervision for the safety, welfare, and care of the students while they are in school and on field trips/outside activities. Assist children with arrival and departure from school, moving to other parts of the school, and outside activities.

• Teach basic skills such as color, shape, number and letter recognition, personal hygiene, and social skills.

• Establish and enforce rules for behavior and procedures for maintaining order according to La Salle Academy's discipline procedures.

• Assess the developmental needs of students and alter learning activities to meet these specific needs; recognize students with learning strengths and challenges.

• Act as a positive role model to the children while fostering a love of learning, sparking imagination, curiosity, and creativity as well as encouraging them to think and act independently to develop problem-solving skills. Help the child develop a positive self-image and respect for others' rights and feelings.

• Develop the child's basic social skills through cooperative play and a celebration of diversity. Enrich the child's use of expressive and receptive language. Strengthen gross and fine motor skills. Support emerging cognitive and self-help skills although the children may need some assistance with their clothing/bathroom needs from time to time.

• Maintain records of each student's progress; confer with parents when needed or requested; conduct regular conferences and meetings with all parents. Promote a cooperative home-school relationship for both child and parent.

• Work closely with the Principal & Pastors to promote continuous Catholic education. Communicate all issues or concerns that arise between faculty, staff, parents, or students to the Principal & Pastors.

• Attend school preparation days, in-service and staff development opportunities, and diocesan Early Childhood educational workshops; attend and participate in school faculty meetings, open houses, and other school-related activities upon the request of the principal.

• Keep informed of current instructional practices through professional reading and educational opportunities; remain current with both religious and academic standards.

• Must direct all discipline issues to the Principal/Pastors. Call parents in the event of a sick child.

• Create and send home newsletters. Encourage parents to become partners with teachers in educating the child. Maintain communication folders for children, ensuring the teacher and families receive any and all necessary paperwork and their personal work.

• Move/set up furniture as needed for activities and experiences. Set up centers, displays, bulletin boards, etc. Establish clean-up activities and transitions for the class. Maintain orderly arrangement of materials.

• Any other duties as assigned by the Pastor or Principal.

Additional Condition of Employment:

Due to the nature and mission of the Catholic Church, all employees are bound to exhibit respect for the teachings and discipline of the Church regarding matters of faith and morals, including maintaining a lifestyle that is in conformity with the teachings of the Catholic Church.

Educational Qualifications:

• Associates Degree required from an accredited college or university in Child Development or Early Childhood Education; Bachelor's Degree preferred.

• PA teaching certification: Grades PK-4, (N-3, K-4, or K-6 Certification).

• Classroom or daycare experience; direct work with school aged children.

Other Requirements:

• Demonstrated ability to plan, organize, conduct, manage and supervise a preschool program.

• Must communicate effectively with both students and parents in a positive and enthusiastic manner. Must be empathetic to children's emotions and parent's needs.

• Possess an understanding of child development and the skills necessary to relate to the students being taught.

• Ability to handle classroom situations with fairness and patience.

• Able to maintain a high level of energy. Ability to respond calmly to overwhelming and difficult situations.

• Maintain facilities and equipment in a clean, safe and secure manner.

• Ability to maintain a high level of confidentiality. A high degree of credibility, integrity, and self-confidence is essential.

PRIOR TO INTERVIEW: Clear records of Pennsylvania State Police Criminal Record Check (PATCH), Pennsylvania Child Abuse History, and Federal Bureau of Investigation Criminal Background Fingerprint Check as required under Commonwealth of Pennsylvania's Act 153 of 2014 (No less than 1 year old) as well as attendance at the online Protecting God's Children class and Mandated Reporter Training.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and requirements.

Physical Demands: While performing the duties of this job, employees are regularly required to sit, stand, walk, and stoop. Must be able to talk and hear, both in person and by telephone. Use of hands to perform standard classroom duties and use office equipment is required. Reaching and lifting up to 10 pounds is also required. Vocal communication is required for expressing or exchanging ideas by the means of spoken word; hearing is required to perceive information at normal spoken word levels; visual acuity is required for preparing and analyzing written or computer data, determining the accuracy and thoroughness of work, and observing general surroundings and activities.

Working Conditions: Normal classroom setting. Full-time position. Normal school hours are 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. May be required to assist with special duties and work outside the normal school day to attend school-related events.

Please use this link to access the Diocese of Allentown's Teacher Application:

AllentownDiocese/Employment

Interested applicants must submit a cover letter, resume, clearances, and teacher application via iSolved Hire or to the following:

Principal Mickulik

Email: mickulik@lsabear.com

EOE M/F/D/V