Teacher

About the Role

This position is responsible for providing children a safe and developmentally appropriate environment that promotes the child’s cognitive, social/emotional, health, and physical development through effective delivery of instruction and activities in accordance with performance standards, Federal, State, and Local regulations, and AVANCE policies.

Responsibilities

• Promotes and models the organization’s Core Values.
• Maintains an open, friendly, and cooperative relationship with each child’s family, encourages their engagement in the program, and promotes parent-child bonding and nurturing parent-child relationships.
• Follows program confidentiality policies concerning information about children, families, and other staff members.
• Provides effective and nurturing teacher-child interactions, plans and implements learning experiences that ensure effective curriculum implementation and use of assessment, and promotes children’s progress across performance standards and applicable state early learning and development standards, including for children with disabilities and dual language learners, as appropriate.
• Uses positive methods of child guidance and will not engage in corporal punishment, emotional or physical abuse, or humiliation. Staff will not employ methods of discipline that involve isolation, the use of food as punishment or reward, or the denial of basic needs.
• Provides children with experiences and opportunities that allow them to develop curiosity, initiative, problem-solving skills, and creativity, as well as a sense of self and a feeling of belonging to the group.
• Conducts developmental screenings of children’s motor, language, social, cognitive, perceptual, and emotional skills.
• Ensures that no child will be left alone or unsupervised while under our care.
• Encourages parents to always have their child(ren) in class and, when the child is absent, staff should inquire as to the reason(s) for the absenteeism.
• Reports to supervisor any patterns of absences or any special circumstances surrounding absenteeism.
• Initiates appropriate family support procedures for all children with two or more consecutive unexcused absences. Reports any chronic absenteeism to supervisor if it persists so that the child’s enrollment can be evaluated, and a decision made as to whether to keep the child in the program or vacate the child’s slot.
• Participates in pre-service training, program setup at the start of the year, program closure at the end of the year, home visits, health examinations, screenings, and immunization activities. Maintains records and keeps service component plans and activities current and relevant.
• Actively encourages parents to participate in two home visits annually for each child enrolled in a center-based program option. Home visits must be initiated and carried out by the child’s teacher to enhance the parental role in the growth and development of the child.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Associate degree in Early Childhood Education or related field with the required 18 hours of Early Childhood Development (Bachelor’s degree preferred).
• Six months of experience in a licensed childcare facility, public/private school, or early childhood facility, or completion of an early childhood degree program with required practicum(s).

Skills

• Excellent writing, editing, and proofreading skills.
• Proficiency in MS Office software applications.
• Spanish fluency helpful but not required.
• Demonstrated ability to achieve high performance goals and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to perform and prioritize multiple tasks seamlessly and with excellent attention to detail.
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to build relationships with stakeholders, including staff, board members, external partners, and donors.
• Highly resourceful team player with the ability to work effectively independently and manage numerous simultaneous projects.
• Forward-looking thinker who actively seeks opportunities and proposes solutions.
• Strong analytical, presentation, verbal and written communication, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
• Ability to generate, analyze, evaluate, and summarize reports.
• Ability to travel to various training sessions.
• CPR and First Aid Training.
• Evening and/or weekend activities may be necessary based on program need.
• Must have dependable transportation daily, a valid driver’s license, a clean driving record, current auto liability insurance, and be bondable by AVANCE, San Antonio, Inc.

Travel

0-5% annually on average, mostly local.

Working Conditions

• General office and sedentary work. Regularly required to sit; use hands to handle or feel; reach with hands and arms; and talk or hear.
• Specific vision abilities required include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.
• Use of personal computing equipment.
• Maintain emotional control under stress; work with interruptions and deadlines.
• Walking, standing, stooping, bending, pulling, and pushing; occasional lifting/carrying, pulling/pushing 10-30 pounds.
• Work evenings and weekends as needed.
• Occasional exposure to biological hazards (communicable diseases, bacteria, insects, mold, fungi, etc.).
• Occasional exposure to weather-related conditions when working in outside environments, neighborhoods, and events.