Early Learning Teacher - Infant/Toddler

General Summary

Under the direction of the director, the Lead Teacher is responsible for providing a warm, nurturing, stimulating, safe, and loving environment, where each child has the opportunity to develop cognitive, verbal, social, emotional, and physical skills appropriately.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Plans and implements a culturally sensitive educational program that is developmentally appropriate for each child’s age and language.
• Plans and implements daily lesson plans based on the approved curriculum to promote cognitive, verbal, social, emotional and physical development of children.
• Covers daily health checks on each child.
• Plans weekly activities that promote a healthy lifestyle.
• Follows policies and procedures regarding medical and dental emergencies, short-term exclusion of children, and the administration, handling and storing of medication.
• Maintains sanitation and hygienic classroom.
• Ensures safe practices are followed to prevent injuries to children or others.
• May eat with children, encouraging proper eating habits and conversation.
• Aids in kitchen duties, as assigned.
• Serves food in a way that encourages the development and socialization of the children.
• Maintains transition procedures for children moving from classroom to classroom, along with other appropriate staff.
• Plans and implements family involvement activities.
• Participates in on-site and off-site professional development trainings and workshops; completes a minimum of 35 annual in-service training hours.
• Maintains confidentiality at all times.

Children’s Health and Developmental Services

• Conducts daily health checks on each child.
• Plays a role in planning weekly activities that promote a healthy lifestyle.
• Fulfills responsibilities related to medical and dental emergencies, short-term exclusion of children, and the administration, handling and storing of medication.
• Maintains sanitation and hygienic classroom.
• Ensures safe practices are followed to prevent injuries to children or others.

Nutrition

• May eat with children, encouraging proper eating habits and conversation.
• Aids in kitchen duties, as assigned.
• Serves food in a way that encourages the development and socialization of the children.
• Aids in assisting infants with feeding.

Family Partnerships

• Attends parent meetings as assigned.
• Informs parents concerning their children’s progress formally and informally, including parent notes, portfolios, and parent conferences.
• Plans and implements family involvement activities.
• Maintains transition procedures for children moving from classroom to classroom, along with other appropriate staff.

Training and Communication

• Participates in on-site and off-site professional development trainings and workshops; completes a minimum of 35 annual in-service training hours.
• Maintains confidentiality at all times.

Knowledge, Skills, And Abilities Required

• Practicing Catholic in good standing with the Church preferred.
• Flexible, works well with others, and has excellent communication skills with parents or co-teachers.
• A minimum of a high school diploma or GED.
• DCF 45-hour training; National CDA, required for VPK.
• If currently holding a valid DCF Staff Credential, s/he may start the DCF 45-hour training within 30 days of hire and complete it within 6 months.
• Prior experience in a child care setting preferred.
• Knowledge of child growth and development as well as developmentally appropriate practices for children ages birth to 5 years.
• Knowledge of applicable safety and abuse reporting procedures.
• Must successfully pass the required criminal background check prior to employment and every five years; must complete Protecting God’s Children (PGC) workshop prior to employment.
• For the Background Screening Clearinghouse Education and Awareness website, visit https://info.flclearinghouse.com.
• Must complete TB screening and physical within ten (10) days of hire and every two (2) years thereafter.
• Must register and complete Infant & Child First Aid and CPR certification within 6 months of hire and renew prior to expiration.
• Must be able to complete 35 hours of in-service training each fiscal year.

Reasoning and 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.
• The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.
• The position may require some evening and weekend hours.