Preschool Teacher

General Purpose

Primarily responsible for overseeing  and providing developmentally age-appropriate activities and instruction of curriculum  for a full-day Preschool and/or Infant/Toddler Classroom.  The Teacher will provide children and families with comprehensive quality services that meet Head Start Performance Standards , Florida Department of Early Learning and Department of Children and Families Standards and Regulations. 

Essential Functions

•                  Develop daily lesson plans and implement curriculum to encourage social, emotional, physical, and cognitive skill development through developmental learning activities and environmental set up.

•                  Guide and facilitate activities of the children; including daily activities, field trips, selecting and arranging equipment and materials in the classroom.

•                  Assist Co Teacher and staff to use and develop their skills and abilities in planning and carrying out classroom activities.

•                  Maintain a safe and healthy indoor and outdoor learning environment while conducting daily health checks and environmental checklists.

•                  Observe and actively supervise children at all times by maintaining ratio in the classroom and on the playground.

•                  Provide emotional support through establishing a positive climate, being aware of and responsive to children, and encouraging child expression and autonomy.

•                  Use strategies for behavior management, such as clear behavior expectations, being proactive and redirecting misbehavior.

•                  Foster classroom productivity and maximize learning time, while engaging children with a variety of modalities and materials.

•                  Provide instructional support through concept development, fostering children’s analysis and reasoning, engaging in feedback loops, and modeling and supporting high-quality language.

•                  Maintain a comprehensive and ongoing portfolio assessment for each child; including weekly observations in each area and quarterly developmental assessments.

•                  Conduct the required home visits and parent/teacher conferences for the purpose of assessment and to support and share information on child’s individual development and progress.

•                  Assist in implementing children’s Individual Education Plan (IEP) or Individual Family Service Plan (IFSP).

•                  Maintain that all educational files are complete, accurate, and confidentially maintained.

•                  Participates in Service Delivery meetings, assigned meetings, events and training as required.

•                  Assist children in development of social and self-help skills, health and nutritional practices.

•                  Ensures all educational screenings are complete within the agency’s specific timeframes.

•                  Records student daily attendance.  Assist with contacting parents or legally responsiblie party after one hour of unplanned student absences. Assist with following up with parents or legally responsible party after 3 days of irregular absences.

Other Job Functions

•                  Participate and assist with recruiting of children, families, and volunteers.

•                  Be a contributory team member and respond to change in a positive/productive manner.

•                  Participates in NFCD’s before- and after-care and summer programs, if applicable.

•                  Reports actual or suspected child abuse to the Department of Children and Families (DCF) in accordance with DCF’s mandated reporter reporting requirements.

•                  Attends monthly team meetings and training sessions, as directed.

•                  Reports all onsite injuries of children and staff to the appropriate staff.

•                  Promotes NFCD in the community.

•                  Assist in generating, collecting, and documenting in-kind for the program.

•                  Completes and records all monthly fire and emergency preparedness drills.

•                  Assists in other departments, including family-style dining and bus monitoring.

Management Level & Responsibilities

·                 This position has no supervisory or management responsibilities.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

Required

•                  Strong understanding of the Head Start Performance Standards and the component plans; and thorough knowledge and application of Developmentally Appropriate Practices.

•                  Ability to communicate effectively, verbally and in writing.

•                  Knowledgeable in Early Chidhood Education, Head Start Performance Standards, Head Start Early Learning Outcomes Framework, State Early Learning Standards, State Child Care Licensing Standards.

•                  Ability to interact effectively with people from diverse backgrounds.

•                  Ability to meet deadlines.

Preferred

•                  Computer literacy including but not limited to: database management, spreadsheet, word processing, internet, and email.

•                  Able to work independently.

•                  Ability to acquire knowledge and apply principles, strategies and skills necessary to implement Creative Curriculum, Conscious Discipline, and early childhood environments.

•                  Ability to establish and maintain cooperative and effective working relationships with staff and other professionals.

•                  Ability to collaborate with parents in the education of their children.

•                  Ability to work with infants/toddlers, and preschool children.

Qualifications – Education & Experience

Licenses or Certifications

·        Teaching Strategies Gold Reliability Certification

·        Before commencement in classroom

o   Personnel Orientation Course (5-hours) that includes Universal Precautions, Fire Extinguisher, and Medication Administration

o   Must complete Florida’s Department of Early Learning (DEL) – Early Learning Standards and three 5-hour Emergent Literacy Courses.

·        Within 30 days of employment

o   Safe Sleep Course

·        Within 90 days of hire that must have started (1 year to complete)

o   DCF 40-Hours Required Course (Part I and Part II)

o   DCF 5-Hour Literacy Course

o   Health & Nutrition in the School Readiness Program

o   Safety Practices in the School Readiness Program

Level of Physical Effort

·        Ability to conduct active supervision on children ages 0-5 years within weight range of up to 50 pounds including guiding, pursuing, withstanding sudden movement. Ability to bend, stoop, and lift or move frequently. Regular kneeling, bending, and sitting on the floor to attend child’s needs.

·        Light to moderate physical effort that includes frequent standing or walking or maintaining arms and hands in the same position for repetitive tasks. Frequently works with light objects and light hand tools.

Physical Working Environment

·        Typically exposed to classroom noises and interruptions.

·        Minimal exposure to hazards are typically found in general office environment where there is rarely to no exposure to injury or accident.

Background

·        Must be able to pass a Level 2 background check.

·        Must be able to pass a drug screen.

·        Must be able to provide references for the previous 5 years work experience.

Additional

Contingency:

·        Employment with NFCD is contingent upon an annual appropriation by the Legislature, federal funding, and successful implementation of job requirements, as measured by performance-based evaluations. In the event the federal, state, and/or local funds upon which employment is dependent are withdrawn or redirected, employment may be terminated and NFCD shall have no further liability to the employee beyond that already incurred prior to the termination date. NFCD is an at-will company.

North Florida Child Development’s job descriptions are designed to describe the general nature and level of work necessary to perform well in the job; they are not intended to provide an exhaustive list of responsibilities, skills, and qualifications.  North Florida Child Development’s job descriptions may be updated periodically, and additional activities, duties or responsibilities may be assigned by management as deemed appropriate.