Coordinator, Eccles Lab School Mentor Teacher

About the role

Under the general direction of the Eccles Lab School Director and within a clear framework of accountability, serve as mentor early childhood teacher, providing quality care and education for children at the Eccles Lab School. Exercise considerable accountability for classroom outcomes and use independent judgment to resolve routine instructional, developmental, and classroom-management matters; escalate unusual or non-routine matters to the Director.

Responsibilities

• Establish and maintain a safe and healthy learning environment for the children, adhering to Utah’s State Licensing, child care quality system (ECERS/ITERS observation rating scale), and NAEYC Accreditation standards.
• Prepare and implement weekly, developmentally appropriate lesson plans that support children’s social, emotional, cognitive, and physical development.
• Complete required classroom documentation, including calendars, child portfolios, developmental screenings, NAEYC Accreditation classroom portfolios, and documentation boards.
• Lead the teaching team in observing children’s interests and inquiry, and in planning curriculum using Emergent and High Scope Curriculum approaches so that classroom explorations provide children with in-depth, ongoing inquiry and learning.
• Plan and implement explorations and investigations in a hands-on, play-based manner.
• Observe, record, and assess children’s development to establish individual goals and incorporate daily activities that support those goals.
• Enter developmental documentation into COR Advantage and organize supporting evidence in child portfolios.
• Use assessment information to plan curriculum and set goals collaboratively with families.
• Mentor and coordinate part-time staff to meet state licensing, child care quality system, and NAEYC Accreditation requirements.
• Support a positive workplace environment.
• Participate in demonstrations and/or presentations during the year.
• Plan and conduct field trips for children in the classroom.
• Organize and maintain the NAEYC accreditation classroom portfolio with required evidence, applying working knowledge of the seven standards and associated sub-standards.
• Guide the classroom teaching team in collecting and organizing supporting evidence.
• Serve as Director designee for the Eccles Lab School during the Director’s periodic absence.
• Monitor and adjust staffing to maintain required staffing ratios in each classroom, and respond to prospective-parent questions.
• Follow state licensing and College policies and regulations in the Director’s absence.
• Be prepared to meet with a Child Care Licensing analyst during an unannounced visit in the Director’s absence.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Development or a related field (ECD, FHS, FHD, FCS), or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• One (1) to four (4) years of direct, paid, full-time work experience as a teacher of young children, with documented evidence of successful work experience.
• Not have been convicted of any crimes against children.
• Provide evidence of at least 18 credits in early childhood education or a related field.
• Provide a current TB test.
• Pass a health evaluation.
• Hold a child care food handler’s permit.
• Hold a first aid certificate.
• Complete a minimum of 20 hours of documented in-service training per year.

Qualifications

• Knowledge of child development, including all ages and stages of development.
• Knowledge of developmentally appropriate practices.
• Knowledge of adult learning theory and mentoring strategies.
• Knowledge of health and safety regulations applicable to childcare facilities.
• Knowledge of NAEYC Accreditation standards and State licensing regulations.
• Knowledge of departmental operations and how the classroom’s work connects to Lab School and Family and Human Studies Department goals.

Skills & Abilities

• Work with young children in both small and large group settings.
• Apply intermediate-level critical and analytical thinking to implement innovative, responsive teaching and caregiving strategies.
• Provide intermediate-level mentoring and technical guidance to college students on teaching methods and responsive practices in early childhood education.
• Communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, with a variety of stakeholders, including families, students, and staff.
• Adapt to and use classroom and college technology, including software applications and management systems, in innovative ways.
• Maintain commitment to professionalism, integrity, and high ethical standards, and operate in compliance with College policies and licensing requirements.
• Take initiative, work independently on routine matters, and follow through on direction and guidance from the Director.
• Resolve day-to-day problems and conflicts professionally, escalating unusual or non-routine matters as appropriate.
• Exhibit the social maturity, physical endurance, and emotional stability required to take charge of a group of preschool children, including sight-and-sound supervision within classrooms, playgrounds, and outdoor campus areas.
• Be active with children (e.g., music and movement activities); get to a child’s level by stooping, squatting, or bending as required.
• Lift boxes, move furniture, and lift children and materials up to 40 lbs. as required.
• Tolerate regular exposure to communicable illnesses and bodily fluids.