Preschool Teacher

About the role

Catalyst teaching staff support the planning and implementation of Catalyst's programming for children ranging in age from infant, toddler, pre-school, kinder, and school age depending on the location. Teachers must be able to facilitate a variety of age appropriate activities, support children's social emotional development, and ensure children are supervised at all times in a healthy and safe environment.

Responsibilities

• Create and implement developmentally appropriate curriculum supported by learning foundations that are directly connected to children's interests and promote positive child development.
• Create, implement, and maintain intentional, enriched, and supportive learning environments and quality experiences that are age appropriate for all children.
• Provide excellent customer service by establishing authentic connections and reciprocal, culturally responsive relationships with children, youth, families, schools, communities, and center/classroom team.
• Keep children healthy and safe by ensuring proper supervision, positive interactions, healthy habits, and excellent compliance.
• Work collaboratively with fellow staff by connecting workplace values, education, and experience to provide the highest quality programs and creative workplaces.

Work Environment

• Demonstrate positive interactions with children and youth.
• Maintain kind, respectful, and safe emotional and physical environments for children.
• Be on time and present on a regularly scheduled basis.
• Be active in outdoor and indoor programs.
• Be physically and mentally capable of interacting with children up to 13 years of age, meeting all their needs and ensuring their safety.
• Be aware of and implement safety guidelines; report any health & safety issues or incidents to management, and remain calm if providing first aid (as needed) during emergency situations.

Physical & Environmental Conditions

• Visually inspect environment for hazards to children; identify hazards and implement preventative actions (e.g., set up cones to limit play area) to maintain a safe environment for children.
• Be comfortable with occasional loud noise in our outside the classroom during activities.
• Be comfortable with frequent bending, lifting, twisting, reaching, pushing, and pulling.
• Push, lift, carry, and hold various objects up to 15 lbs.—by individual or team effort—such as equipment carts, emergency backpacks, food coolers, classroom furnishings, and other similar program materials.
• Work inside the classroom or outside the room in all weather conditions which are safe for children.
• Traverse various terrains (grass, blacktop, dirt) and heights (ladders, playgrounds) depending on the school outdoor environment.
• Adapt to the physical level of children (e.g., sitting on the floor, kneeling, squatting) for activities and problem-solving interactions.
• Supervise field trips to destinations such as aquatic parks, beaches, and trampoline parks.

Qualifications

• Education and permit requirements may vary by center needs or require age group specific units depending on the program, such as Infant, Toddler, School-Age, Title 5 or Title 22 status.

Teacher Education/Permit Requirements

• 24 postsecondary semester or equivalent quarter units in Early Childhood Education, Child Development, or related field with passing grades of C- or better, plus 16 general education units.
• OR an AA degree or higher in ECE, CD, or related field from a nationally accredited college.
• OR a Teacher Permit or above issued by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing.

Experience & Skills

• 2 years of experience in a group care environment where care/teaching was provided for a consistent age group is preferred.
• 1 year of experience supervising adults or equivalent adult supervision units is preferred.
• Effective problem solving, conflict resolution, classroom management, and communication with children and families.
• Effective organization, time management, curriculum, and assessment documentation (lesson plans, portfolios, and anecdotal notes).
• Ability to work alongside colleagues and maintain a professional team environment.
• Current adult and infant/child CPR & First Aid certification is preferred.
• Bilingual/multilingual language preference based on individual center needs.

Benefits

• Medical, Dental, and Vision Benefits
• 401(k) Retirement plan and Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Personal Health Advocate
• Paid vacation, sick time, and holidays
• Commuter pre-tax benefit
• Discounted childcare
• Access to the Calm app
• Tickets at Work employee discounts
• Be constantly in a learning and growth process with training and professional growth advisory

Schedule

Monday – Friday, 9 am – 6 pm