Preschool Teacher - All Five

POSITION SUMMARY: 

Contribute to a teaching team, effectively guiding children and modeling best practices for building relationships with children and teaching team in a mixed-age classroom. Express caring and respect for the growth processes of children while providing direct care and education in a full-day program. 

PRINCIPLE ACCOUNTABILITIES: 

• Practice and model appropriate interaction and respect for each child, including setting limits with the goal of helping children internalize self-regulation and build social skills. 
• Create and manage a healthy, organized, exciting, and safe environment, indoors and out. 
• Monitor the health of children. 
• Become part of team of 3-4 teachers in mixed age classroom of 20 children between 2 years 9 months old and their entry into kindergarten. 
• Support a larger preschool program, including two additional classes of the same makeup as above, especially as collaboration occurs in the outside environment. 
• Connect families to the daily lives of their children through verbal or technology-aided communication, through sharing time in the classroom during volunteer participation hours, through home visits, and Family Cafés. 
• Collaborate with all teachers and all staff, using strong communication skills. 
• Support weekly team meetings and ideas for professional development days. 
• Encourage a strength-based image of self, other teachers, and the children. 
• Model a collaborative and reflective stance towards planning and providing an engaging early education program based on an emergent curriculum model. 
• Notice, empower, and develop children’s strengths, especially those with special needs. 
• Integrate all volunteers and family members into the classroom program as appropriate. 
• Show and model respect and appreciation for all children’s families. 

SKILLS: 

• Alert, gentle, and flexible in behavior and approach. 
• Able to multi-task: work with children, manage tasks, and respond to adults. 
• Sensitive and responsive to children’s and adults’ needs. 
• Emotionally stable in the workplace. 
• Able to effectively, flexibly, subtly manage, and guide a diverse and inclusive group of children. 
• Familiar with developmentally appropriate assessment methods, including Desired Results Developmental Profile, Classroom Assessment Scoring System, Early Childhood Environment Rating Scale, and NAEYC accreditation process. 
• Comfortable using a tablet or iPad and computer for communications and assessments. 
• Comfortable with or eager to learn about the Emergent Curriculum approach to curriculum development. 

PERSONAL RELATIONS/LEADERSHIP SKILLS: 

• Set a positive, warm, and welcoming tone in the classroom. 
• Show effective management of groups of 6-8 preschool children. 
• Show respect for all children, staff, and families, regardless of race, cultural background, neurological or physical capabilities. 
• Communicate with parents in supportive, informative, and compassionate ways. 
• Communicate effectively with colleagues, frequently using verbal, written, and visual modalities, depending on the situation. 

MISCELLANEOUS: 

• Dependable and prompt – modeling timeliness in all aspects of work. 
• Read and incorporate the teaching style and behaviors outlined in the All Five Employee Handbook. 
• Able to work some evenings and Saturdays. 
• Understand Requirement to Report Child Abuse. 

EQUIPMENT TO BE USED: 

• Some kitchen equipment. 
• Variety of indoor and outdoor materials for children. 
• Computer or tablet as needed for documentation and communication. 

TYPICAL PHYSICAL DEMANDS: 

• Bend, kneel, and otherwise interact with small children; be able to spend time on bent knees to continue eye contact with them. 
• Sit on the floor with children. 
• Lift and hold children up to 40 pounds. 
• Lift equipment up to 20 pounds and put away toys. 
• In good health and able to stand and/or squat while supervising children, inside and outside, even in challenging weather conditions. 
• Move your body up and down from the floor to standing, from small chairs to standing, quickly and frequently. 
• Successfully pass a physical exam, including a negative TB test or questionnaire, and provide proof of immunization for pertussis and measles. 
• Willing and able to use hands in sand, playdough, and clay. 

TYPICAL MENTAL DEMANDS: 

• Apply academic knowledge of child growth and development to work with young children. 
• Proactively problem-solve as a team member with other teachers in the classroom. 
• Respond to children’s challenging behavior, sometimes repeated, with calm, flexibility, and a positive attitude. 
• Maintain composure and positive attitude in high-stress situations. 
• Understand that early education is full of “gray areas” and little “black and white.” 
• Practice taking the initiative to understand children’s needs and how the environment can serve their needs and interests. 

WORKING CONDITIONS: 

• Both indoors and – a lot - outdoors in children’s play areas, including during cold or rainy weather and hot and sunny weather. 
• Regular exposure to children’s illnesses. 

EDUCATION: 

• Evidence of pursuit of Master Teacher or Site Supervisor permit from the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing. 
• Show pursuit of ongoing professional growth opportunities. 
• Certified in CPR and First Aid for young children. 
• Current or pursuit of current Mandated Reporter Training (required every two years). 
• Familiar with children’s illnesses and minor injuries. 

EXPERIENCE: 

• 5 years of experience in a child-initiated classroom of 20 children, minimum. 
• Evidence of experience managing or co-teaching with other teachers in a classroom. 
• Evidence of work with families and children who have experienced life challenges. 

OTHER: 

• Successfully pass a physical exam, including a TB test or questionnaire. 
• Complete/pass fingerprint screening. 
• Participate in and seek out ongoing training opportunities. 

COMPENSATION range for this role is between $68,000 - $72,000 depending on experience, education and other factors. In addition to the salary range above, a basic healthcare plan, 12 PTO days, and other benefits are included. More information is available. Just ask!