Early Childhood Teacher

Job Description

Job Description

About This Role

Cypress Hills Local Development Corporation has an opening for a full time Group Teacher in the United Community Centers Division for the  Early Learning Center Program .  

The group teacher is responsible for leading the learning environment based on the Creative Curriculum approach that helps the children develop physically, emotionally, socially, cognitively and creatively. They are responsible for complying with procedural norms, standards of attendance, and daycare regulations . Supervised by the Director of Early Learning Center, the group teacher helps make the center a warm, welcoming environment. 

• Ensure a learning environment based on the Creative Curriculum approach that helps the children develop physically, emotionally, socially, cognitively and creatively.
• Lead the implementation of activities that will promote social, emotional, cognitive, physical and creative development of children. 
• Adhere to all Head Start Performance standards in addition to the Agency mandates of United Community Day Care center.
• Prepare teacher assistants to assume responsibility for the operation of the classroom, in their absence, thus holding the teacher aide and substitute accountable to their duties and responsibilities.
• Share job related knowledge with team members so as to promote and support their professional growth.
• Participate in regularly scheduled staff & team meetings, classroom development workshops on and off site as well as training conducted by UCDCC, ACS and other funders.
• performs center- related services/activities such as parent/teacher conferences, transition meetings, end of year celebrations, etc.
• Share information regarding children and the program with parents via daily contact and informal/formal interfacings, newsletters, etc.
• Encourage parents in their role as their children’s primary teachers by acting as resource person (i.e.:  disseminating information, actively listening to parents, offering suggestions, etc.).
• Establish and maintain positive relationships with parents/families via open communications, visits, training and other developmental activities
• Elicit input from teacher assistant to complete written observations, progress reports, outcomes reporting, CROWD and other documents relevant to the tracking of children’s progress.
• Utilize information obtained via observations, conferences, tracking, etc. to design developmentally appropriate and individualized lesson plans.
• Adhere to Agency (UCDCC) policies and procedures; seeks guidance/clarification from Educational Director re: interpretation, applicability and implementation.
• Strictly adhere to, and enforce, the Agency policy regarding Confidentiality and HIPAA requirements.
• Other related duties as assigned, consistent with the above.

• The group teacher shall meet the requirements set by the Agency for NYC Department of Education.
• BA /Masters in Early Childhood Education or in *related field. (Study Plan available).
• Initial, or Permanent B-2 or N-6 NYS teaching certification (or equivalent, Study Plan available).
• Daily access to reliable transportation to Brooklyn, NY. 
• Physical Requirements - Frequent sitting, standing, walking, talking, hearing, seeing, stooping, kneeling, crouching, & crawling.Occasional running. Must be able to occasionally lift and/or move up to 30 pounds.
• Must clear DOE/DOHMH fingerprinting and background authorizations.

A person who does not have a degree in early childhood education may qualify to be a group teacher if they have a Baccalaureate or higher degree in one of the following: 

• Child Psychology, so long as the person has 12 credits specific to early childhood
• Child Development, so long as the person has 12 credits specific to early childhood
• Elementary Education
• N-6 Elementary Education
• Special Education, Students with Disabilities (B-2) or Students with Disabilities (1-6)
• General Education, so long as the person has 12 credits specific to early childhood

For teachers who are fully certified, NYS Certifications in the areas below are acceptable:

• Nursery – 6th Grade
• Early Childhood (Birth – 2nd Grade)
• Childhood Education (Grades 1-6)
• Special Education-N-12th Grade
• Students with Disabilities Birth – 2nd Grade
• Students with Disabilities 1st-6th Grade
• Pre-K – 2nd Grade
• 2-5 years of experience working with children ages 2 - 5 in a classroom setting.

• Bilingual Spanish, Benghali a plus
• Ability to demonstrate proactive leadership, initiative, positive problem solving, decision-making, and work in a team context
• Open-minded, flexible, and willing to experiment (creative)

• Health, Dental, and Vision Benefits 
• 401k, Group Life Insurance and Defined Benefit Pension Plan
• Membership to DC 37/Local 205 union 

With community residents leading the way, the mission of Cypress Hills Local Development Corporation (CHLDC) is to build a strong, sustainable Cypress Hills/East New York, where youth and adults achieve educational and economic success, secure healthy and affordable housing, and develop leadership skills to transform their lives and community.