Teacher - Younger Toddlers

About the Role

A Teacher at The Goddard School is responsible for establishing and maintaining a safe, healthy, and nurturing learning environment. A Lead Teacher works together with an Assistant Teacher or Co-Teacher and in conjunction with the entire faculty.

Qualifications

General Qualifications

• Ability to hear the conversational voice, with or without a hearing aid
• Ability to see and read newsprint, with or without corrective lenses
• Ability to speak and be understood under normal circumstances
• Ability to lift and carry children and other items weighing up to 50 pounds
• Ability to use arms, hands, legs, and feet, with or without corrective devices; this includes the ability to evacuate the building during emergencies
• Ability to handle crisis situations, especially where children are involved
• Ability to respond immediately to emergency situations

Educational Qualifications

All candidates must meet one or more of the following criteria, in addition to any requirements mandated by their state and/or local licensing authorities:

• A Bachelor’s degree or higher in Early Childhood Education, Elementary Education, or Child Development.
• A Bachelor’s degree or higher in a related field, including 18 semester hours of completed coursework related to young children birth to age 8.
• An Associate’s degree or higher in Early Childhood Education, Elementary Education, Child Development, or a related field.
• An Associate’s degree or higher in a related field, including 18 semester hours of completed coursework related to young children birth to age 8.
• A current CDA or Early Childhood Teaching Credential.
• Proof of current and active enrollment in a CDA Credentialing Program.
• Proof of current and active enrollment in an accredited Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree program in Early Childhood Education or a related field.

Prior Early Childhood experience is preferred.

Related Degrees

Related degrees include, but may not be limited to:

• Elementary Education
• Home Economics
• Child Development
• Child Life
• Psychology or Sociology with a minor in Education
• Special Education
• Child Psychology

Relevant Coursework

Relevant coursework includes:

• Child Development
• Human Growth and Development
• Educational Psychology
• Child Psychology
• Methods: Age Birth to 8 years
• Children’s Literature
• Developmental Assessment of Young Children
• Measurement and Evaluation
• Nutrition
• Health and Safety
• Child Care Administration
• Student Teaching: Kindergarten; 1st Grade; 2nd Grade

All foreign degrees MUST be converted to U.S. credits. All foreign courses and/or credit hours must be converted to U.S. standards.

Responsibilities

• Establish and maintain a safe, healthy, and nurturing learning environment.
• Design an appropriate room arrangement to support the goals and developmental level of the children in the classroom.
• Develop an appropriate classroom management system to support the goals and developmental level of the children in the classroom.
• Ensure that classroom equipment is in good repair.
• Understand and implement The Goddard School® emergency procedure(s).
• Promote healthy eating practices at lunch and snack times.
• Ensure that children are always within state ratio requirements.
• Perform nominal cleaning responsibilities (e.g., spills) immediately.
• Perform major cleaning during times when children are not present.
• Post a classroom schedule that meets the needs of the children and includes a routine and learning opportunities.
• Post and adhere to all GSI Health and Safety policies and procedures.
• Advance children’s physical and intellectual competence.
• Adapt program to meet the individual needs of each child.
• Create a multi-cultural learning environment.
• Provide a variety of developmentally appropriate materials.
• Interact with the children to support play, exploration, and learning.
• Encourage children to talk with each other and with the faculty.
• Present age- and developmentally-appropriate expectations for all children.
• Create a print-rich environment for children to learn about books, literature, and writing.
• Encourage creativity through art, music, dramatic play, and blocks.
• Provide a reasonable balance between teacher-directed and child-directed activities.
• Provide opportunities for both active and quiet play.
• Integrate GSI resources (including Enrichment Programs) into lesson plans.
• Support each child’s social and emotional development and provide positive guidance.
• Understand and adhere to the Goddard Systems Behavior Policy.
• Plan and implement activities to develop children’s self-esteem and social skills.
• Plan and implement activities to enable children’s feeling of security.
• Encourage empathetic and respectful feelings for others, as well as the environment, through positive modeling.
• Respect cultural and ethnic diversity.
• Establish positive and effective family relations.
• Communicate, in a professional manner, with families and faculty.
• Encourage families to become an integral part of their children’s learning experiences.
• Provide opportunities (e.g., conferences) in which families are made to feel a part of their children’s learning experiences.
• Prepare a Daily Activity Report for each child.
• Maintain a portfolio for each child.
• Maintain the classroom Parent Board.
• Ensure an effective program, responsive to children’s needs.
• Assess supplies and materials needed to implement activities.
• Build teamwork.
• Develop lesson plan books and posted lesson plans.
• Manage classrooms according to Goddard Systems QA Standards.
• Perform child observations and document in their portfolios.
• Use assessment tools (e.g., Progress Reports, Children’s Progress).
• Maintain professional commitment.
• Promote Goddard Systems philosophy and educational objectives.
• Support a code of ethical conduct.
• Pursue professional development/continuing education.
• Attend faculty meetings, in-service days, conferences, and professional growth opportunities.