JOIN OUR TEAM – Welcome to The SoulShine Way!
SoulShine Schools is hiring heart-forward educators to join our newest community! We are currently seeking to hire at all three of our locations which are located Decatur, Kirkwood and East Atlanta Village. Our Leadership Team is excited to meet you and share SoulShine’s whole child approach, nature-based curriculum, and permaculture philosophy!
Learn about SoulShine and our unique, nature-based, permaculture-inspired curriculum at www.makeyoursoulshine.com.
Together we are revolutionizing education to reclaim a healthy future.
We are currently seeking a strong Certified Lead Infant Teacher at our Watkinsville location to work with children aged 6 weeks 12 months.
We offer infants through preschool care, private pre-K and school age programs, as well as after-school, summer camp and specialty camps. We provide a low teacher to student ratio with a unique, nature-based, permaculture-inspired curriculum.
Educator to Student Ratios:
- Infants - 1:6
- Toddlers - 1:8
- Pre-School - 1:15
SoulShine proudly offers wages that are higher than the national and local averages, 50% employer health insurance pay-in, paid leave time, paid holidays, and salaried options after 24 months. SoulShine promotes from within so that all staff have opportunities for advancement and growth, and even the possibility to open their own school.
PRIMARY JOB PURPOSE:
Seeing children develop new skills and gain an appreciation of knowledge and learning can be very rewarding. SoulShine Teachers are responsible for providing a safe and developmentally appropriate preschool program for young children that complies with all relevant legislation, BFTS, and SoulShine policies and procedures; as well as our unique point of view and curriculum that sets SoulShine apart. Young children learn from playing, problem solving, questioning, and experimenting. SoulShine teachers use play and other instructional techniques such as positive redirection to teach children about the world. Our teachers nurture children, provide meals, crafts and instruction, and ensure students and the environment are kept clean and safe. Our teachers also work with children in groups or individually; depending on the needs of children and the subject matter. Typically reports to the Head of Schools or the Site Director.
ESSENTIAL CHARACTERISTICS:
Present, compassionate, mindful, patient, responsible, kind, supportive, attentive, gentle, nurturing, collaborative, dependable, independent, positive, and committed to the wellness and growth of children.
EDUCATION, LICENSING, & QUALIFICATIONS:
- Bachelor’s degree preferred but not required, Early Childhood Education is a plus.
- CDA or TCC Certification as required from Bright from the Start.
- Maintain a current CPR and First Aid Certification.
- Minimum of 2-3 years of professional experience, preferably in early childhood education.
- Must have a passion for children, education and a reverence for the global community.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
TEACHER & TEAM SUPPORT:
- Prepare and maintain the “Class Binder” for use by the Assistant Teachers, Substitutes or any Community Member that may need to step in and take lead of a class as assigned.
- Lead and implement daily curriculum:
- A finalized monthly calendar of activities will be prepared and provided.
- Gather necessary activity supplies for each day.
- Ensure the planned activities are executed on their assigned day, and establish active learning experiences.
- Train & lead Assistant Teachers:
- Instruct Assistant Teachers regarding the plan for the day and what role they will play.
- Ensure that all Assistant Teachers are following BFTS rules.
- Exemplify and model your knowledge to the Assistant Teachers to give him/her the best opportunity for advancement. Be a leader.
- Ensure the Assistant Teacher understands and is prepared for the day’s curriculum.
CLASSROOM:
- The state of the classroom is a direct result and reflection of the teacher’s leadership and actions. Provide positive encouragement and keep children engaged and active.
- Maintain order in the classroom by means of positive redirection.
- There are to be no personal items, inclusive of cell phones in the classroom environment.
- Ensure the tops of all shelves and cabinets are not used for storage and are clear of random items.
- All fabric items in the classroom shall be washed once a week.
- All hard surfaces and toys are to be disinfected daily, more frequently if soiled.
- Ensure the classroom is left in a clean and organized fashion at the end of the day.
BRIGHTWHEEL:
- Maintain accurate and complete BrightWheel feeds for each student in your care.
- Work in conjunction with all SoulShine Team Members to post meaningful pictures of engaged children doing meaningful activities; ensuring the daily requirement of two pictures per day per student are posted. Embrace the window into the child’s day from the parent’s perspective. Be mindful of the “full picture”.
- Responsible for preparing Incident/Illness Reports, when appropriate, and reporting all incidents/illnesses to the manager on duty.
- Maintain & deliver student assessments.
SUPPLIES:
- Keep classroom and assigned restroom stocked with all necessary supplies (when you cannot promptly obtain supplies for yourself, notify the MOD to obtain supplies for you).
- Monitor Assistant Teacher and students for responsible use of materials and equipment.
TRAINING/CERTIFICATIONS:
- Maintain a Satisfactory Decal background check on file.
- Maintain current CPR & First Aid Certification on file.
- Meet the minimum educational requirements set forth by BFTS.
- Participate in a minimum of 10 clock hours of training annually (includes 10 hours of state-mandated training).
- Attend all required staff meetings, training sessions, and events.
GOVERNANCE OF THE CLASSROOM:
- Provide basic needs for all children in your care (i.e. food, water, diapering/ restroom, attention, and care).
- Harsh, hazardous or inappropriate handling of children is immediate grounds for termination.
FAMILY INTERACTIONS:
- Greet parents and children upon arrival.
- Provide appropriate feedback to parents at pick up each day, either in person or by means of the daily log.
- Be mindful of the tone, and always practice respectful communications. Execute the “compliment sandwich” method; begin and end with positive information.
- Meet and greet any individual entering the classroom.
- Be aware of SoulShine events and effectively communicate with parents about scheduling changes, upcoming events, community involvement, behavioral issues and concerns.
- Attend parent meetings as needed.
- Remain visible and accessible to Team Members and parents.
- Maintain procedures for pick-up and drop off with staff.
SCHOOL OPERATIONS:
- Represent the interests of SoulShine in the community.
HEALTH & SAFETY:
- Make sure students' faces and hands are thoroughly cleaned and follow proper hygiene.
- Stay aware of safety issues and look for items of concern that may have not been noticed.
- Stay aware of all allergies and maintain proper action plans. Follow a child’s allergy action plan per allergy postings.
- Secure all medicines and cabinets.
- Report when First Aid Kit needs refill of supplies.
- Must meet all requirements stipulated by the state for this position.
- Supply basic first-aid to children and team members as necessary.
- Adheres to safety standards, including universal precautions in handling blood and bodily fluids.
GENERAL REQUIREMENTS:
ALIGNMENT WITH SOULSHINE VALUES:
- Whole child development
- Compassion & Loving Kindness
- Global Resource Sustainability
- Diversity & Acceptance
- Service & Teamwork
- Community & Collaboration
- Innovation & Initiative
- Active Listening & Positive Communications
Core Competencies
- Ability to be patient and compassionate under pressure and in times of chaos.
- Embrace the perspective of the child, and be respectful in tone and body language; meeting them on their level.
- Excellent time management, analytical, interpersonal, oral and written communication skills.
- Ability to lead projects and resolve issues independently.
- Exceptional critical thinking and problem solving skills.
- Extremely detail oriented with strong organizational skills.
- Expert writing, vocabulary, grammar and spelling is required; read, write and speak English proficiently.
- Highly motivated, self-directed and fast learner with ability to change gears quickly and prioritize accordingly.
- Complete assignments within time constraints and deadlines.
- Ability to thrive in a dynamic team environment.
- Professionalism, dependability, integrity and trustworthiness combined with a cooperative attitude.
COMMUNITY & LEADERSHIP:
- Participates in required trainings (includes state-mandated training plus business management training).
- Represents the interests of SoulShine in public forums on occasion.
- Actively develops and maintains positive Team Member relationships and parent partnerships.
- Maintain appropriate levels of discretion.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
- Frequently climb stairs to ascend/descend to various floors within the buildings.
- Frequently required to sit, often on the floor, for extended periods of time; often upwards of 50% of the time.
- Frequently required to walk, balance, stoop, kneel or bend; often upwards 50% of the time.
- Occasionally lift and/or move up to 40 pounds and at times lift and/or move up to 75 pounds.
- Specific vision abilities required include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.
- Possess strong hearing acuity.
WORK ENVIRONMENT
While the work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job, they are in no way all inclusive. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
- While performing the duties of this job, the employee regularly works in the classroom.
- While performing the duties of this job, the employee regularly works in the garden outdoors.
- The employee often works at a desk or on various other office equipment.
- The noise level in the work environment is typically minimal.
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: $15.00 - $19.00 per hour
Benefits:
- Dental insurance
- Health insurance
- Paid time off
- Professional development assistance
- Vision insurance
Ability to Commute:
- Atlanta, GA 30316 (Required)
Ability to Relocate:
- Atlanta, GA 30316: Relocate before starting work (Required)
Work Location: In person
