Toddler Associate Teacher

About the role

Catalyst teaching staff support the planning and implementation of Catalyst's programming for children ranging in age from infant, toddler, preschool, kinder, and school age depending on the location. Teachers must facilitate 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 connect 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 behaviors essential for successful programs, including positive interactions with children and youth
• Maintain kind, respectful, and safe emotional/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 their needs, and ensuring their safety
• Implement safety guidelines, report health and safety issues or incidents to management, and remain calm while providing first aid during emergencies

Physical & Environmental Conditions

• Visually inspect the environment for hazards and implement preventative actions to maintain a safe environment for children
• Be comfortable with occasional loud noise inside or 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. individually or as a team (e.g., equipment carts, emergency backpacks, food coolers, classroom furnishings)
• Work inside or outside in all weather conditions safe for children
• Traverse various terrains (grass, blacktop, dirt) and heights (ladders, playgrounds) depending on the school’s 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

Requirements

Associate Teachers are members of the teaching team who share responsibility for the care and education of an assigned group of children/classroom. There may be more than one Associate Teacher per group of children.

Qualifications

Education

• 12-24 postsecondary semester or equivalent quarter units in Early Childhood Education (ECE), Child Development (CD), or a related field with passing grades of C- or better, OR
• Associate Teacher Permit or above issued by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing

Education and permit requirements may vary by center needs or age group (e.g., Infant, Toddler, School-Age, Title 5, or Title 22 status).

Experience & Skills

• 6-12 months of experience in a group care environment where care/teaching was provided for a consistent age group is preferred
• Effective problem-solving, conflict resolution, classroom management, and communication with children and families
• Effective organization, time management, curriculum, and assessment documentation (e.g., lesson plans, portfolios, 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 skills may be preferred 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
• Ongoing training and professional growth advisory

Schedule

Full Time: Monday - Friday, 7-hour shift