Pre-K Teacher

Basic Function

Responsible for the supervision, care and education of a classroom of up to 16 children, ages 3-5, planning and implementing developmentally appropriate lesson plans with the support of two Teaching Assistants. This classroom is located in Dunkirk, NY at a Head Start child care center serving Dunkirk UPK students.

Responsibilities

• Utilize nurturing and responsive practices and interactions that foster trust and emotional security; are communication and language rich; include developmentally appropriate learning experiences in language, literacy, social and emotional development, math, science, social studies, creative arts, and physical development
• Provide a program of self-initiated, group-initiated and teacher-initiated activities which are intellectually stimulating and foster self-reliance and social responsibility
• Implement well-organized learning environments with developmentally appropriate schedules, lesson plans, and indoor and outdoor learning experiences that provide adequate opportunities for choice, play, exploration, and experimentation
• Establish and implement a daily schedule of program activities that offers reasonable regularity in routines
• Support the development of the home language for dual language learners
• Promote learning through approaches to rest, meals, routines, and physical activity
• Serve meals to children ensuring dietary restrictions and safety for allergies are followed; model eating new and diverse food options
• Provide children with instruction in techniques and procedures that will enable them to protect themselves from abuse and maltreatment
• Complete or obtain a current developmental screening within 45 calendar days of when the child first attends the program
• Conduct standardized and structured assessments for each child that provide ongoing information to evaluate the child's developmental level and progress
• Integrate child assessment data in individual and group planning
• Regularly communicate with parents to ensure they are well-informed about their child's routines, activities, and behavior
• Serve as an advocate for all children including those with special needs
• Implement IEP's and behavior plans with fidelity
• Hold parent conferences, as needed, but no less than two times per program year, for each child
• Conduct at least two home visits per program year for each family
• Develop opportunities for parents and family members to volunteer in the class
• Ensure the health and safety of children by ensuring competent supervision of all children in care
• Prepare necessary materials for activities in the classroom
• Guide the work of Teacher Assistants, other staff and volunteers in support of classroom activities and supervision
• Perform daily health checks on each individual child, following up when needed
• Utilize CAPTAIN/Teacher Strategies Gold for tracking and maintaining all children records along with documentation of individual family contacts
• Assist families in creating age-appropriate school readiness goals and provide information to achieve identified goals
• Provide a safe and healthy learning environment
• Notify supervisor following service area procedure regarding customer complaints
• Recommend purchase of materials/equipment
• Participate in service enrollment and recruitment strategies
• Support the planning and implementation of family events
• Promote agency mission
• Maintain confidentiality and complies with the code of ethics
• Maintain consistent professional customer service
• Job performance incorporates integrated service delivery model while promoting self-sufficiency
• Other duties as designated by supervisor

Organizational Responsibilities

• Adheres to all policies and procedures
• Gathers appropriate documentation and tracks outcomes
• Participates in organizational committee structures as appropriate
• Participates in organizational and divisional management systems

Qualifications

• NYS Certified Teachers start at $28.21/hr - $46,546 for the school year. $1,400 additional for Master's degree
• Bachelor's Degree in Early Childhood start at $26.33/hr - $43,444 for the school year while working towards NYS certification
• Associate's Degree in Early Childhood start at $24.43/hr - $40,309 for the school year

Skills

• Computer skills
• Ability to work on a team
• Good verbal and written communication skills
• Physical ability to lift up to and including 25-50 pounds of physical effort

Requirements

• Meets OCFS training requirements and maintains training logs
• Flexibility in work schedule
• Must be able to provide consistent even-tempered customer service at all times
• Valid Driver's license
• Works compassionately with a diverse population
• Required Certification Type: Special Education {9010}, Pre K-6 {3011}, Early Child (Pk3) Annotation {3012}, Nursery, Kindergarten Grades 1-6 - 3010, Students with Disabilities (All Grades) {0254}, Early Childhood Education Birth - Grade 2 {3013}, Literacy Birth - Grade 6 {7061}, Students with Disabilities Birth - Grade 2 {9013}

Pay

• NYS Certified Teachers start at $28.21/hr - $46,546 for the school year. $1,400 additional for Master's degree
• Bachelor's Degree in Early Childhood start at $26.33/hr - $43,444 for the school year while working towards NYS certification
• Associate's Degree in Early Childhood start at $24.43/hr - $40,309 for the school year