Preschool Co-Teacher

Preschool Co-Teacher

Elvira Head Start - Tucson, AZ

Overview

Salary Range $15.45 - $17.77 Hourly Level Entry Position Type 35 hours/week - July through May Job Shift Day (M-F) Approx 7:30am - 4:30pm Education Level High School Diploma or GED Travel Percentage Negligible Category Education

Job Summary and Qualifications

Location: Elvira Head Start 205 West Aragon Road Tucson, AZ

Level: Entry

Position Type: 35 hours/week - July thru May

Salary Range: $15.45 - $17.66 Hourly

Travel %: In Town

Job Shift: Day (M-F), work is in-person and has limited eligibility for remote work, may require working some evenings and weekends.

Job Categories: Education

Classification: Hourly

Supervisor: Teacher or Lead Teacher

Supervises: None

Job Summary:

Child-Parent Centers (CPC) is seeking professionals who share our values and principles for building trusting relationships with children, families, and colleagues. Successful candidates welcome individual differences and perspectives, respect cultural and linguistic backgrounds, and are sensitive to current circumstances. Candidates display a commitment to teamwork, open communication, and are eager to work in a fast-paced, high quality preschool environment. This is a great opportunity for organized and dependable early childhood professionals with strong work ethic and a desire to grow. CPC provides opportunities and financial support for co-teachers to grow professionally including attainment of a Child Development Associate (CDA) credential, an associate degree, and potentially a bachelor's degree in early childhood education or child development. If you have previous experience working in an early childhood center and are interested in joining our growing team, we encourage you to apply.

Reporting to the Lead Teacher or Teacher, the Co-Teacher partners with the classroom team in providing comprehensive high-quality early education and child development services for 17 - 20 preschool-aged children enrolled in the assigned classroom. Daily routines promote children's cognitive, social, health, and emotional growth for later success in school. The Co-Teacher receives regular on-going support from the Lead Teacher and the Education Specialist (coach) to implement the agency's Languages of Learning curriculum that includes creating a safe and enriching environment, embedding responsive and effective teacher-child interactions, and fostering partnerships with families by respecting values, strengths, and cultures and welcoming parent's contributions and participation. The Co-Teacher position is funded for 7-8 hours per day Monday through Friday, working directly with children for 4-6.75 hours per day for four days of the week. When children are not attending class, the co-teacher participates in activities such as planning lessons, documenting children's work and outcomes, entering and analyzing child and family data, setting goals, and attending professional development opportunities.

Benefits:

• Paid Leave – 24 paid holidays, 5 days paid vacation after one year and up to 10 -13 days each year thereafter, and 5 days paid Personal leave first year, 8-9 days each year thereafter, up to 5 days Sick paid leave each year.
• Insurance benefits - Dental, Flexible Spending Accounts, Health Reimbursement Arrangements, Health Savings Accounts, PPO medical (3 plans), Vision, and Supplemental Life coverage for self, spouse, and child ($25,000 basic life and Accidental Death and Disability provided by employer). Supplemental coverages (Critical Illness, Hospital Indemnity, and Accident Insurance), and pet insurance.
• Retirement Plan - Agency contribution after years of services and hours eligibility criteria are met. Employee 401k deferral once eligibility is met.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Must be 18 years of age.
• High School Diploma OR GED
• Possess a valid Arizona driver's license and excellent driving record.
• Submit a current AZ Department of Public Safety Level One Fingerprint Clearance Card prior to start date.
• Demonstrated proficiency using Office 365 (Outlook, Teams, OneDrive, Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
• Able to pass a company paid physical exam prior to starting work.
• Able to pass a DES Centralized Background Check prior to starting work.
• Must be able to read, write, and speak English.

Required Competencies:

• Accountability and Dependability
• Safety Focus
• Listening
• Creative and Innovative Thinking
• Building Relationships
• Teamwork
• Self-Management
• Adaptability and Flexibility
• Development and Continual Learning
• Technology

Other Requirements (post hire)

• Must be willing to obtain a child development associate credential (CDA) within two years of hire.
• Must be able to report to and from various sites as needed.
• Must be able to travel outside their assigned area in a company-owned vehicle when necessary or assigned. Travel could begin before daylight hours and continue after sundown in some situations.
• Provide proof of immunizations: MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella), Tdap (adult Tetanus, Diphtheria, Pertussis), and a clear Tuberculosis Self-Assessment.
• Ability to maintain a valid level fingerprint clearance card and annual DES Centralized Background Check.
• Must be able to prove the right to work in the USA by providing appropriate documents to complete the Federal I-9 form.
• Must possess or have the ability to possess and keep current certification in First Aid Training/CPR training including Infants and Children.
• Must possess or have the ability to possess and keep current a Food Handler's Certificate issued by the Arizona health department.

Desired Qualifications:

• Possess a Child Development Associate credential (CDA)
• Possess an associate degree from a recognized educational institution in the field of Early Childhood Education or closely related field as determined by the agency.
• Possess a bachelor's degree from a recognized educational institution in the field of Early Childhood Education or closely related field as determined by the agency.
• Six (6) months documented experience working in a paid or volunteer position with pre-school age children.
• Three (3) years' work or volunteer experience with groups or individuals from a variety of ethnic and socio-economic backgrounds or with Head Start.
• Able to read, write, speak and understand Spanish.

Work Environment:

• Indoor classroom – temperature controlled.
• Outdoor playground – exposure to hot and cold
• Possible exposure to communicable illness, blood-borne pathogens.
• Exposure to cleaning and sanitizing chemicals

Physical Requirements:

Frequently

• Ability to see or hear and respond quickly to unsafe or emergency situations
• Stooping, bending, reaching, pushing, pulling, climbing
• Moving quickly around objects (run, jump, jog)
• Up and down from carpet/floor and/or 12"-14" chairs
• Lift children (3–5-year-old children) (30 – 40 lbs.)

Occasionally

• Picking up and dropping off supplies
• Push and pull furniture {20 to 50lb}
• Lifting +/- 50 lb

Duties and Responsibilities

Job Specific Duties and Responsibilities:

Direct Services:

• Implement the Languages of Learning curriculum for a minimum of 4-10 hours per day for four-five days per week.
• Set learning goals and plans learning experiences by integrating knowledge of each child's temperament, interests, gender, culture, language, learning approaches, understanding, misconceptions, and abilities and by working collaboratively with families and a range of specialists (e.g., medical, dental, speech, nutrition, mental health)
• Promote children's active exploration, creativity, and development in all