Infant Toddler Teacher

Job Description

Job Description

POSITION: Infant-Toddler Teacher  

JOB CODE: EST3  

OCCUPATIONAL GROUPING: Education 

REPORTS TO: Education Coordinator

CLASSIFICATION: Non-Exempt

POSITION TYPE: Full Time/Full Year (12-Months)

SALARY GRADE: 38

HOURLY PAY RANGE: $32.36 to $32.62  

LOCATION: Downey and Pico Rivera, CA

PROGRAM SUMMARY

Plaza de la Raza Child Development Services, Inc. (Plaza) is a comprehensive early childhood education program with a focus on school readiness for children zero to five years of age.  Developmentally appropriate services are provided for children from low-income families, zero to five years of age. Plaza de la Raza currently serves over 674 children and their families.

DEFINITION

Under general direction, this position facilitates safe and healthy learning environments and activities for young children under three (3) years of age.  Plans and implements developmentally appropriate group and individualized activities and experiences to promote social-emotional, physical, and cognitive growth and development.  Provides activities and experiences to develop school readiness skills aligned with children’s age and stage of development. For parents to increase their Organizes activities, monitors individual student progress, conducts student observations, completes daily education and attendance records, conducts parent teacher conferences, and provides guidance to parents to increase their knowledge, understanding of, skills and experience in their child’s growth and development.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED AND EXERCISED

General direction and supervision is provided by the Education Coordinator.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Classroom Health and Safety:

• Implement a plan to ensure the safety of the children within the group utilizing indoor and outdoor spaces.

• Inspects facilities, following Plaza de la Raza’s Health and Safety policies and Procedures hazardous conditions and unsafe materials.  Removes hazardous and unsafe materials.

• Reports needed repairs and/or timely maintenance to the appropriate personnel.

• Implements classroom activities that build developmentally appropriate healthy habits for babies/toddlers.

• Provides diaper changes and meets toileting needs of children.

• Provides constant and consistent supervision and management of children in the classroom to ensure a safe, clean, healthy, and secure environment.

• Demonstrates knowledge of safety issues in infant/toddler care (such as SIDS)

• Conducts monthly emergency drills.

• Maintains a clean and orderly classroom, kept free of garbage and debris.

• Recognizes and reports accidents, illnesses, and suspected child abuse to appropriate personnel according to Child Care Licensing and Plaza de la Raza guidelines.

• Ensures compliance with Head Start Performance Standards, federal and state regulations, and Community Care Licensing.

Effective Teaching Practices:

• Ensures effective curriculum implementation.

• Supports children’s social/emotional development through responsive and nurturing teacher-child interactions.

• Plans and implements developmentally appropriate curriculum activities that support assessment of individual children in the classroom.

• Use assessment data to support individualization of curriculum activities for each child.

• Promotes children’s progress across the standards described in the Head Start Early Learning Outcomes Framework:  Ages Birth to Five, and applicable state early learning and development standards, including children with disabilities and dual language learners.

• Plans and implements daily developmentally appropriate curriculum activities based on children’s interests to support School Readiness in all learning domains.

• Develops and implements, in partnership with parent’s, the child’s Individual Development Plan (IDP) establishing developmentally appropriate learning goals and activities for home and school that will support achievement of identified goals and aligns with Plaza de la Raza, Performance Standards, and grantee Education GIM.

• Creates and modifies the daily classroom lesson plans in accordance with established curriculum

Integrates the parents into the educational program by providing a program that focuses on the parent as the child’s primary teacher.

• Orders classroom supplies and materials as needed for effective service delivery.

• Conducts parent/teacher conferences and home visits twice a year in accordance with Head Start Performance Standards.

• Records pertinent information about children in the group to document growth and development.

• Ensures completion of required paperwork on the children in the classroom such as attendance reports, observations of individual children in the classroom, enrollment records and reports.

• Maintains record keeping and reporting systems to ensure accurate information, with timely completion and follow-up as indicated in Plaza de la Raza’s policies and procedures, Head Start Performance Standards and state and local regulations.

• Prepares and maintains mandated records including Child Assessment Records (CAR), Child Observation Records (COR), parent conferences, home visits, emergency cards and contact sheets.

• Builds relationships with, and participates in, community collaborations and events to enhance Head Start services and recruitment.

• Participates in a variety of staff and educational development activities.

• Performs other duties as assigned.

Parent/family/Community Engagement:

• Encourages participation in parent groups at the center and provides opportunities for parents to use their skills and talents in the group.

• In bilingual settings communicates both verbally and in writing with both parents and the children in their language when possible.

JOB REQUIREMENTS

Knowledge of:

Must have working knowledge of developmentally appropriate activities and milestones that foster the social-emotional, physical, and cognitive development of children including improving the readiness of children for developing their literacy, phonemic, print awareness, understanding and use of language and increasingly complex and varied vocabulary, appreciation of books, understanding of early math and science, problem-solving skills, and approaches to learning.  Must possess knowledge of early childhood and development program’s working with and communication with low-income families, effective child 

guidance practices and principals.

Ability to:  

Establish and maintain a healthy learning environment, support the social-emotional, physical, and cognitive growth and development of children, and engage the family to promote parental involvement in their child’s activities in the Head Start program and support the development of relationships between children and their families recognizing that the parent is the primary educator.  Demonstrate respect for individuals and groups with varied cultural, racial, ethnic, religious, and linguistic identities and backgrounds. 

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education:  

Baccalaureate degree in Early Childhood Education, Child Development, or related degree from an institution of higher learning accredited by a regional accreditation association recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation. Must possess a California Child Development Teacher Permit or higher; and must have completed minimally 6 semester units (4.5 quarter) with a “C” or better in early childhood with a focus infant and toddler development, 3 of the 6 units may be completed in the first 12 months of employment is required.

Experience:  

Three or more years’ experience (preferred) in a classroom or group setting with young children.

HEALTH REQUIREMENTS

• Successful completion of an initial health examination, performed by or under the supervision of a physician, to determine, at a minimum, if the prospective employee can perform requirements of the job description physical requirements.

• Proof of the absence of Tuberculosis, from a physician, to show that the prospective employee is cleared to work with children and families.

• Documentation of current immunizations against Influenza, Measles (MMR), Pertussis (TDAP).

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS 

• Fingerprint clearances from the Department of Justice (DOJ), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and the Child Abuse Index prior to starting employment.

• Completed and signed statement of any pending and/or prior criminal arrests/charges/convictions related to child sexual abuse, child abuse and neglect, and/or violent felonies.

• Verification that determines eligibility for employment in the United States of America.

• A valid California driver’s license and the availability of private transportation or the ability to obtain transportation to perform position duties is required.

• As a mandated reporter of child abuse, must immediately report any suspected child abuse and/or neglect to Child Protective Services. 

• Bi-lingual in a language reflective of the population served is preferred.

• Must have current certification in CPR and First Aid.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands and work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met, or are encountered, by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand; walk; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl; and talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to sit and climb or balance. The employee may frequently lift and/or move a minimum of 25 pounds up to 45 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.

BENEFIT PLANS

Plaza offers eligible employees the opportunity to select plans and programs that meet individual and family needs through our comprehensive benefit plans listed below:  

Health Care :  Medical (Kaiser), Dental (Sun Life), Vision (Sun Life) and Long-Term Disability Insurance 

Voluntary Coverages: Life Insurance, Accident Injury Plan, and Hospital Indemnity Insurance 

Financial :  401(k) Plan and Employer Sponsored Life Insurance

Paid Time Off: Vacation, Holiday, Sick Time, Bereavement Leave and Jury Duty

Work/Life Solutions: Employee Assistance Program (EAP) & Employee Assistance Service for Education (EASE)

APPLICATION PROCESS

1. Complete an online employment application on ; and submit the required documentation: 1) Resume; 2) Transcripts confirming degree and major; 3) Transcripts confirming a minimum of 3 units in infant-toddler development. (Note: The remaining 3 infant-toddler units to be completed within the 1st year of employment); and 4) Certification of valid CPR and First Aid training for children and infants. (Note: Only complete application packets will be considered for the screening and selection process.)

2. Submit official transcripts prior to date of hire. 

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

Plaza de la Raza Child Development Services Inc. is an equal opportunity employer to all.  Plaza de la Raza Child Development Services is committed to creating a community in which a diverse population can learn, live, and work in an atmosphere of tolerance, civility, and respect for the rights and sensibilities of each individual regardless of age, ancestry, color, disability (mental and physical), exercising the right to family care and medical leave, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, military or veteran status, national origin, political affiliation, race, religious creed, sex (includes pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding and related medical conditions), and sexual orientation.