Child Care Teacher, Preschool

Primary Purpose

A Teacher provides a safe and nurturing environment for children that encourages their social, emotional, physical and intellectual development. Design and implement developmentally appropriate curriculum according to guidelines established by Bright Horizons and the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). Incorporate Bright Horizon's mission, culture, goals, values (HEART Principles), philosophies, policies, and development of an inclusive environment. Review important decisions with his/her supervisor, and maintain positive relationships with parents/guardians, children and coworkers. Ensure safety and supervision of children at all times by meeting the physical demands of the position.

Essential Functions/Responsibilities

Interaction Between Staff and Children

• Interact frequently, affectionately, and respectfully by smiling, and holding children. Speak in a friendly, calm, soft, courteous manner within close proximity of the child.

• Respect and observe children's interests. Intervene when needed to maintain safety. Enhance children's play with language, materials and developmentally appropriate experiences.

• Communicate directly kindly, and respectfully with each child at the child's level.

• Engage and communicate constructively with individual children during experiences and routines. Take every opportunity to positively extend children's thinking and actions.

• Be available and responsive to children's needs, questions, and requests.

• Encourage and model social behavior, respectful communication, and expectations which are developmentally appropriate.

• Acknowledge feelings with sensitivity and demonstrate appropriate expression of emotions.

• Practice positive discipline techniques in guiding children's behavior according to Bright Horizons' Guidelines for Positive Discipline.

• Be attentive, flexible and supportive of children and their families during transitions to and from classrooms.

Curriculum

• Implement a developmentally appropriate curriculum which reflects observations and assessments of individual children and goals jointly developed with parents/guardians.

• Design and maintain an environment which responds to children's individual developmental levels, physical and emotional needs and current interests by consulting appropriate Bright Horizons' resources (i.e., Environmental Checklist, MAPP).

• Provide a variety of developmentally appropriate materials and experiences which foster social skills and encourage children to think, problem solve, question, and experiment.

• Foster positive self-concept by supporting individuality, independence, and the ability to make choices.

• Encourage creative expression.

• Demonstrate respect for diversity by providing anti-bias, non-sexist language, images, and experiences which reflect both location and global communities.

• Plan a daily schedule which provides a balance of experiences: quiet/active, indoor/outdoor, fine/gross motor, etc.

• Plan and implement child-oriented, self-initiated experiences while limiting large group, staff-initiated experiences.

• Provide more than one option for small group experiences and maintain flexibility in changing planned experiences, according to children's interests.

• Create documentation of children's experiences through anecdotal notes, documentation panels and portfolios.

Parent/Guardian Communication

• Acknowledge parents/guardians and all classroom visitors. Demonstrate a friendly, courteous and professional demeanor.

• Respond to parent/guardian comments and concerns with sensitivity, interest, and respect. Maintain confidentiality.

• Establish and maintain a primary caregiving relationship with individual children and their families which includes initial meeting with families during orientation period.

• Invite input from parents/guardians regarding their child's development and care.

• Communicate verbally and in writing with parents/guardians daily regarding the development and specific experiences of the children in their primary care using My Bright Day.

• Plan and facilitate in regular parent/guardian conferences to discuss orientation, transitions, and developmental goals for their child based on appropriate assessment tools, (i.e., Developmental Profiles).

• Assist in planning and attend location/classroom events and meetings.

• Share resources with parents/guardians through discussions, articles, parent/guardian boards, newsletters, and community contacts.

Physical Environment, Health, Safety, and Nutrition

• Maintain and follow all safety and health rules of the location.

• Supervise children at all times. Demonstrate awareness of entire group whether working with a small group or individuals.

• Know the number and names of children in your group and maintain ratios at all times.

• Maintain accurate attendance records throughout the day.

• Complete appropriate paperwork (i.e., accidents, medication, and allergies).

• Encourage children to utilize appropriate health, safety and nutritional practices.

• Keep the environment and equipment safe, clean, and attractive. Encourage respect for classroom materials. Notify designated individual in advance when supplies are needed.

• Arrange space in clearly defined, well organized activity areas.

• Organize a variety of materials on low, open shelves for children to use independently.

Professionalism

• Maintain confidentiality about issues concerning other staff members, children and families or Bright Horizons management and operations. Must not involve parents/guardians in location concerns.

• Demonstrate knowledge of ages and stages of development. Understand the general areas of physical, social, cognitive and emotional development for this age group.

• Support organizational mission, philosophies, values, goals, and policies to parents/guardians, coworkers, and community.

• Ensure continuity of care for children by reporting to work on time and maintaining consistent attendance, arranging and communicating leave requests in advance.

• Respect and adhere to staffing schedules which may be adjusted as program needs change and may include working in another classroom.

• Demonstrate flexibility and openness to new ideas in child care practices.

• Attend staff meetings, training sessions, and other location events.

• Respond to center/school and organizational needs by attending regional training, contributing to a newsletter, serving on a task force, or substituting at another location.

• Continue professional growth by attending courses, asking for feedback, and reading professional literature.

• Receive constructive criticism with an attitude that indicates a willingness to improve. Give feedback in a respectful manner.

Teamwork

• Establish and maintain a relationship of cooperation and respect with coworkers.

• Assume a fair share of work. Look for ways to be helpful. Demonstrate initiative.

• Assume additional classroom and location responsibilities as needed: kitchen, pets, children's files, etc.

• Offer and share ideas and materials with coworkers.

• Participate actively in teaching team through communication, collaboration, and curriculum planning.

• Communicate directly, work to resolve conflicts quickly, and avoid gossip.

• Exercise care in expressing views regarding the personal attributes or professional conduct of coworkers. Statements are based on first-hand knowledge and relevant to the interests of children and programs.

• Other duties as assigned per licensing or State guidelines.

Physical Demands

• Comply with all applicable federal, state, local, Bright Horizons', and client site requirements concerning immunizations, employment physical/screening, and health and safety training.

• Work in person in an early education/preschool childcare center to provide supervision, care, curriculum delivery and services per Bright Horizons' policies, procedures and guidance, in compliance with any applicable laws and regulations, and in a manner that will ensure safety of children in Bright Horizons care and the employee. This will include the following physical demands:

• Frequently lift, carry, or hold children with a range of weight from 10 to 40 pounds.

• Occasionally lift, carry, or hold weight more than 40 pounds.

• Supervise and interact daily with children both indoors and outdoors (for extended periods in varied weather conditions).

• Repeatedly lift, reach (overhead, at and below shoulder level), squat, crouch, climb, sit, bend, stretch, twist, grasp/move small objects, push and pull, and engage in all other physical movements needed to fully participate in supervision and curriculum and care delivery activities, which take place while standing, sitting (including on floor or low chairs), and walking.

• Stand for extended periods of time.

• Move within and access all areas of the assigned center's physical work environment - i.e. classrooms, inside common spaces, and outside care delivery spaces, which may include both even and uneven surfaces - at speed sufficient to maintain appropriate supervision and care delivery.

• Remain physically active for extended periods of time, and throughout assigned work shift, to perform essential job functions.

• Maintain mental and physical alertness and an appropriate level of energy throughout assigned work shift to perform essential job functions.

• Ability, with or without corrective/assistive devices, to clearly recognize and distinguish objects, people, and/or printed words at distances ranging from close (within 20 inches) to far (greater than 20 feet) at a level sufficient to: maintain visual supervision of children in accordance with Bright Horizons policies and procedures, and applicable law/regulation; review written policies, procedures and communications in writing or on electronic device; respond immediately to any emergency alarms or similar devices; and deliver curriculum and care services in accordance with company policies, procedures and guidance.

• Ability, with or without corrective/assistive devices, to hear, understand and distinguish speech and other sounds at a level sufficient to: maintain audio supervision of children in accordance with Bright Horizons policies and procedures and applicable law/regulation; hear spoken communication by managers, co-workers, children in care, and families whose children are in care; respond immediately to any emergency alarms or similar devices; and deliver curriculum and care services in accordance with company policies, procedures and guidance.

• Ability to express or exchange ideas by spoken word to impart oral information to managers, co-workers, children in care, and families whose children are in care.

• Ability to respond immediately and appropriately to multiple or unexpected situations or emergencies, which may include necessity to take rapid physical actions to assist children and/or evacuate.

• Bright Horizons complies with all laws that require reasonable accommodations for qualifying disabilities and/or pregnancy-related limitations. Any employee who believes that they may need a reasonable accommodation to perform essential job functions (including any physical demands) should indicate that potential need to their manager, review and follow the company's Accommodations and Disability Inclusion Policy and contact Human Resources if they have any questions.

Decision Making

Limited ability to deviate from standard practices, completes work as assigned

Influence

Limited requirement to influence others

Impact

Team

Decision Making Authority - Placeholder Content

• Must have prior approval from supervisor to:

  • take time off from scheduled work hours/days or alter schedule

  • release a child to someone other than a known parent/guardian

  • discuss behavior or developmental concerns with a parent/guardian

  • purchase supplies or spend petty cash

  • contact a parent/guardian regarding a child's temperature or illness

  • administer medication (in compliance with state requirements)

  • seek outside support services for individual children

  • schedule a field trip

  • transition a child into another classroom

  
  
  

• May take action, but must inform Director when you:

  • care for a child with a significant injury

  • acknowledge and listen to a parent/guardian concern

  • file an abuse and neglect complaint

  • record an unusual incident

  
  
  
  
  

Job Requirements - Education/Experience

High School diploma/ GED required. Must meet state requirements for Teacher and additional center/school requirements may apply - Required

Related college-level course work or CDA course work. CDA or working towards an Associate's or Bachelor's degree is preferred.

Must meet state experience requirements for Teacher - Required

12 months of professional teaching experience preferred.

Additional Job Requirements

• With Regional Manager approval, extensive teaching experience may substitute for education requirements, provided professional development plan is in place.

• Demonstrated knowledge of developmentally appropriate curriculum practice.

Pay ranges from $22.75 - $27.80 per hour - based on experience and education