Lead Preschool Teacher

The Baltimore Jewish Community Center (JCC), founded in 1854, is an organization of vitality and diversity committed to enhancing the general welfare of the total community. Inspired by Jewish values, the JCC focuses on creating meaningful experiences and opportunities to enrich, connect, and positively impact our community. We pride ourselves on our inclusive and welcoming workplace, celebrating the diversity of our employees and fostering a supportive environment where everyone is treated with appreciation and respect.

About the Role

The Stoler Early Learning Center, located at the JCC of Greater Baltimore’s Rosenbloom Owings Mills Campus, serves 200 children from ages 6 weeks through kindergarten. We believe each child is unique and partner with families to address their strengths, needs, and interests through a comprehensive, child-centered approach. Our educators are qualified professionals committed to promoting children’s development and supporting families. The program enhances each child’s growth into creative, resilient, and confident thinkers through exploration and play. We are working toward a constructivist-inspired philosophy, embracing innovation and experimentation to create a caring community of learners.

We seek energetic, enthusiastic, dedicated, and creative educators committed to furthering their education and joining students on their journey of social/emotional and educational growth. Lead Teachers monitor children’s development and learning, fostering inquiry, imagination, and self-esteem through hands-on, engaging educational experiences. The ideal candidate has a strong understanding of child development, a willingness to explore, and excitement for learning.

Qualifications

• 90-hour Certification
• CDA, Associate’s, or Bachelor’s degree in early childhood education, education, child development, or a related field (preferred)
• Working knowledge of the growth and development of young children and ability to apply this in the classroom
• Strong organizational, interpersonal, and communication skills (oral, reading, writing)
• Creative problem solver with a “can-do” attitude
• Experience in Early Childhood or Elementary Education, preferably in a constructivist, child-centered setting
• Ability to be flexible, multi-task, and prioritize workload
• Ability to act independently in the classroom and collaborate with teams, including classroom staff, age-level teams, Leadership Team, and specialists
• Ability to meet Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) requirements for employment in a preschool setting, including mandated coursework and ongoing continuing education as required by MSDE, MD EXCELS, and credentialing
• Comfort exploring both indoors and outdoors in a variety of weather conditions
• Basic Judaic knowledge, including holidays, culture, traditions, and values, and ability to integrate it into lessons (or willingness to learn)

Responsibilities

Pedagogy

• Provide a safe environment for all children through active supervision, including maintaining required ratios and keeping children in sight and sound at all times
• Engage in reflection and discussion about children’s growth and learning, responding to themes in their play and development
• Facilitate learning experiences by considering children’s personalities, interests, developmental abilities, cultural backgrounds, and family values
• Document children’s play and learning through daily reflections, journey binders, blogs, weekly newsletters, and other vehicles
• Provide opportunities for active participation, independent choices, experimentation, and problem-solving within a structured setting
• Adjust experiences to meet individual children’s needs and use joint attention and observation to guide facilitation
• Create opportunities for social interaction, physical activity, creative expression, and Jewish experiences both indoors and outdoors
• Encourage students to take responsibility for their own learning and ask high-level thinking questions to enhance reasoning skills
• Manage classroom dynamics, including flow of the day, group interactions, and conflict resolution using positive guidance and modeling
• Nurture physical, spiritual, emotional, social, cognitive, and literacy growth and development of each child
• Plan learning experiences using resources such as the Creative Curriculum, Healthy Beginnings, JCC ELC holiday curriculum (Chageinu), and MSDE-approved Kindergarten Common Core Curriculums
• Cover required state content areas/domains: social-emotional competencies, language and literacy, mathematics, sciences, social studies, physical well-being, Jewish studies, fine and gross motor development, and fine arts
• Maintain a clean, organized, and aesthetically engaging classroom environment
• Be physically and mentally present and focused on the children throughout your shift

Administrative & Classroom

• Create a warm, welcoming, and nurturing environment that fosters positive self-concept in children
• Greet families and children enthusiastically upon arrival and communicate briefly at pick-up; use notes or phone calls for lengthier or sensitive discussions
• Maintain children’s files, including work samples, anecdotal notes, and other documentation
• Complete accurate reports as directed (e.g., attendance, sign-in/out, name-to-face recognition, accidents/incidents, milk/sunscreen/medication administration, ID checks, meal tracking, and diaper records)
• Conduct beginning-of-year and mid-year assessments to document children’s present levels of performance and track growth
• Complete conference forms and conduct at least one conference per year with families, with additional conferences as needed
• Identify, provide, and facilitate additional assessments or interventions where necessary
• Establish and maintain a well-organized, clean, and safe environment for children
• Check materials, equipment, and supplies for adequacy and good repair; take preventative measures against hazards
• Care for and maintain equipment within the school
• Adhere to Maryland State Department of Education and Office of Childcare’s COMAR rules and regulations
• Supervise, train, and utilize assistant teachers and floaters effectively

Communication & Community

• Develop professional, courteous relationships with families and colleagues
• Create a positive, warm, individualized, and nurturing environment that encourages inquiry and independence
• Treat children, coworkers, and families with dignity, respect, and compassion
• Promote equitable, fair, and consistent treatment of all community members
• Provide tender, responsive, quality care addressing children’s needs
• Uphold the Derech Eretz (Code of Ethical Conduct) of the Stoler Early Learning Center
• Share observations with families on their child’s interests, strengths, successes, and challenges
• Maintain ongoing dialogue with families, including mid-year and end-of-year conferences
• Foster and develop the teaching and leadership abilities of colleagues
• Hold regular conversations with your team to reflect on and plan weekly experiences
• Set clear expectations for colleagues and follow through to ensure they are met
• Provide input and feedback to help create engaging and developmentally appropriate school-wide events

Professional Development

• Participate in lifelong learning by attending workshops, courses, and reading to increase knowledge in early childhood education
• Actively participate in professional development days and meetings
• Demonstrate strong communication skills, including clear speaking, effective written communication, active listening, and confident responses to questions
• Build strong, positive, professional relationships with coworkers and leadership, collaborating to create a Chavruta (learning community)
• Engage in self-evaluation and school evaluation processes, reflecting on professional growth
• Work agreed-upon days and hours, arriving prepared and punctual, managing time efficiently, and requesting time off in advance per policies
• Comply with deadlines and respond to necessary emails or Brightwheel messages
• Abide by school policies and procedures as outlined in the staff manual and uphold the Vision of the Stoler Early Learning Center and the Mission of the JCC