Responsibilities
- Develop and implement comprehensive, developmentally appropriate lesson plans and classroom activities that support children’s cognitive, language, social-emotional, physical, and adaptive development.
- Plan instruction in accordance with curriculum standards, developmental milestones, individualized education plans (IEPs), individualized goals, and each child's unique abilities and needs.
- Create an inclusive classroom environment that promotes participation, independence, positive relationships, and respect for individual differences.
- Use developmentally appropriate practices and age-appropriate teaching strategies, materials, routines, and expectations.
- Provide hands-on learning experiences through play, exploration, movement, music, art, literacy, mathematics, science, sensory activities, and social-emotional learning.
- Establish and maintain consistent classroom routines, schedules, transitions, and expectations that support children's sense of security and independence.
- Implement positive behavior support and classroom management strategies appropriate for young children and children with special needs.
- Support children in developing communication, self-help, social, emotional, and problem-solving skills.
- Provide individualized support, accommodations, modifications, visual supports, prompting, and other strategies as appropriate to each child's needs.
- Utilize educational technology and other instructional tools to support early literacy, mathematics, communication, and developmental skills.
- Collaborate with speech-language therapists, occupational therapists, behavioral specialists, special education professionals, and other service providers to support children's developmental and educational goals.
- Participate in IEP-related meetings, conferences, and team discussions as appropriate and implement recommended strategies within the classroom.
- Conduct ongoing observations and assessments of children's development and progress through formative assessments, developmental observations, documentation, and other appropriate methods.
- Maintain accurate and timely classroom, developmental, and child-related documentation.
- Communicate regularly and professionally with parents and guardians regarding children's progress, accomplishments, daily experiences, developmental needs, and areas requiring additional support.
- Build positive, respectful relationships with families and encourage families to participate in supporting their child's development.
- Provide daily care and supervision of children, including assisting with toileting, diapering, handwashing, meals, snacks, dressing, and other personal-care needs as developmentally appropriate.
- Follow proper diaper-changing, toileting, hygiene, sanitation, and infection-control procedures at all times.
- Ensure children are supervised appropriately during all classroom activities, transitions, outdoor play, meals, rest periods, and other daily routines.
- Assist children with eating and drinking as needed while following individual dietary requirements and center policies.
- Maintain a clean, safe, organized, and stimulating classroom environment, including sanitizing toys, materials, tables, and frequently touched surfaces as required.
- Complete required health, safety, attendance, incident, accident, medication, and other center documentation accurately and promptly.
- Follow all center policies, licensing requirements, health and safety regulations, confidentiality requirements, and emergency procedures.
- Conduct regular safety checks of the classroom, playground, equipment, and learning materials and report concerns promptly.
- Support children's independence by teaching and encouraging age-appropriate self-help skills rather than completing tasks unnecessarily for them.
- Model appropriate language, communication, emotional regulation, problem-solving, and positive social interactions.
- Provide appropriate supervision and support during arrival, dismissal, meals, rest time, toileting/diapering, outdoor play, field trips, and other daily routines.
- Mentor, guide, and support assistant teachers and classroom support staff to ensure consistent implementation of classroom routines, instructional strategies, and behavior-support practices.
- Delegate classroom responsibilities appropriately while maintaining overall responsibility for classroom quality, safety, and organization.
- Work collaboratively with classroom staff to maintain consistent expectations and individualized supports for each child.
- Participate in staff meetings, professional development, training, and other opportunities to strengthen early childhood and special education practices.
- Maintain professional boundaries and protect the privacy and confidentiality of children and families.
- Perform other duties related to the care, education, safety, and development of children as assigned by the center director or supervisor.
Qualifications
- Experience working with young children in a daycare, preschool or early childhood education preferred.
- Knowledge of child development and developmentally appropriate practices.
- Experience supporting children with developmental delays, disabilities, behavioral needs, or other individualized needs preferred.
- Strong communication, organization, teamwork, and classroom-management skills.
- Ability to work collaboratively with families, teachers, therapists, and other professionals.
- Ability to perform essential childcare duties, including diapering, toileting assistance, lifting, bending, standing, and assisting children with daily care needs.
- Must meet all applicable state licensing, educational, background-check, CPR/First Aid, and training requirements for the position.
Associates Degree in Early Childhood preferred or college degree with early childhood credits.
Pay: $16.50 - $18.00 per hour
Work Location: In person
