Preschool Teacher

Center teaching staff support the planning and implementation of Catalyst’s program for children ranging in age from toddlers, pre-school, kinder, and school age, depending on the site. Catalyst Teachers must be able to facilitate a variety of age appropriate activities, support children’s’ social emotional development, and ensure all children are supervised at all times in a healthy and safe environment.

Essential Functions:

• Create and implement developmentally appropriate curriculum directly connected to the interests and development of children and youth, supported by learning frameworks and foundations that promote positive child/youth development
• Keep children/youth healthy and safe by connecting proper supervision, positive interactions, healthy habits, and compliance
• Create, implement and maintain intentional, enriched and supportive learning environments connected to curriculum and quality experiences that are appropriate for all children
• Provide excellent customer service by establishing and maintaining authentic connections and reciprocal, culturally responsive relationships with children, youth, families, schools, communities and center/classroom team
• Work collaboratively with each other connecting work place values, education and experience to provide the highest quality programs and creative workplaces

Work Environment:

All teaching staff are expected to demonstrate behaviors that are essential for successful programs and environment including the following:

• Positive interactions with children and youth
• Maintain kind, respectful, and safe emotional and physical environments for children
• Be on time and present on regularly scheduled basis
• Be active in outdoor and indoor programs
• Be physically and mentally capable of interacting with children up to 13 years of age, meeting all their needs and ensuring their safety
• Be aware of and implement safety guidelines; report any health & safety issues or incidents to management, and remain calm if providing first aid (as needed) during emergency situations

Physical & Environmental Conditions:


Teaching staff are responsible for various program elements on a daily basis and will routinely be exposed to indoor and outdoor elements. Teaching staff may be required to:

• Visually inspect the environment for hazards to children; identify hazards and implement preventative actions (i.e., set up cones to limit the play area) to maintain a safe environment for children
• Be comfortable with occasional loud noise in or outside the classroom during active/loud activities
• Be comfortable with frequent bending, lifting, twisting, reaching, pushing and pulling
• Push, lift, carry, and hold various objects up to 15 lbs. - by individual or team effort - such as equipment carts, emergency back packs, food coolers, classroom furnishings, and other similar program materials
• Work inside the classroom or outside the room in all weather conditions which are safe for children.
• Traverse various terrains (grass, blacktop, dirt) and heights (ladders, playgrounds) depending on the school outdoor environment
• Adapt to the physical level of children (example, sitting on the floor, kneeling, squatting) for activities and problem-solving/interactions
• Supervise field trips to destinations such as aquatics parks, beaches, and trampoline parks

Qualifications & Experience:

Teachers are the individuals with the highest educational qualifications assigned to a group of children/classroom/center/program. They may also direct/supervise other members of the teaching team.


Education

Education and permit requirements may vary by center needs and/or require age group specific units depending on the program, such as Infant, Toddler, School-Age, Title 5 or Title 22 status

• 24 units in child development, early childhood development or related field, plus 16 general education units
• AA degree in ECE, CD, or related field from a national accredited college
• BA degree in ECE, CD, or related field from a national accredited college/university
• Teacher or above Child Development Permit issued by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing

Experience & Skills

• 2 years of experience in a group care environment where care/teaching was provided for a consistent age group preferred
• 1 year experience supervising adults or equivalent Adult Supervision units preferred
• Effective problem solving, conflict resolution, classroom management, and communication with children and families
• Effective organization, time management, curriculum and assessment documentation (lesson plans, portfolios, anecdotal notes)
• Ability to work alongside colleagues and maintain a professional team environment
• Current adult and infant/child CPR/First Aid certification preferred
• Bilingual/Multilingual language preference based on individual center needs

Shift Type: Full Time

Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8am - 5pm

What We Offer:

• Medical, Dental, and Vision Benefits
• 401(k) Retirement plan and Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Personal Health Advocate
• Paid vacation, sick time, and holidays
• Education Reimbursement Program
• Commuter pre-tax benefit
• Discounted childcare
• Access to the Calm app
• Tickets at Work employee discounts
• Be constantly in a learning and growth process with training and professional growth advisory

We are proud to be an EEO/AA employer M/F/D/V. We maintain a drug-free workplace.

Equal Opportunity Employer


This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws.
For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.