Position:            Associate Teacher Child Development

Department:  Child Development Department

SUMMARY

 Under the direction of lead teacher, site supervisor and program administration works in children center programs to supervise and care for young children.  Assists in preparation and planning of learning activities that support children’s development. Works cooperatively with other staff members to support a positive children’s center climate and program.  May work with more than one teacher or classroom.

ESSENTIAL TYPES OF DUTIES: Duties may include but are not limited to the following: 

• Creates, sets up and maintains a positive and appropriate indoor and outdoor learning environment for children.  Helps design and implement curriculum plans that meet the needs of children, families and staff.  Knows and uses basic principles of human development, social/ emotional, physical, cognitive and language development within cultural and family contexts. Creates positive environments and interacts with children in order to promote social and moral development. Understands and supports relationships and attachment. Collaborates with lead teachers to promote appropriate learning environment. Assists in planning indoor and outdoor activities.  Assists in creating, preparing and setting up activities and routines with small groups and individual children.
• Supervises and interacts with children in a positive and productive manner. Applies knowledge of child development and learning to observe individual children. Listens to children and engages in conversations that support cognitive and language development. Facilitates planned and written language experiences.   Engages children with intentional teaching for specific learning outcomes across the developmental domains and subject matter areas.
• Utilizes curriculums, plans and develops appropriate child development and learning activities 
• Supports primary language and cultures and development of English. Works with classroom team to use assessments for child learning. Can score desired results developmental profiles.
• May routinely be in charge of the classroom when the teacher is absent from the room for  periods of the day. Can assume lead role in emergencies. Is authorized to supervise assistant teachers, instructional aides and volunteers in classroom.
• Supervises children and provides positive child guidance and discipline models and interventions. Assists children to verbalize concerns, problem solve and engage in pro-social behaviors. Alerts teacher and director to behaviors or issues that require consideration under Title 22 or other regulatory rights statutes.
• Follows Children Center rules, regulations and guidelines to promote health and safety.  Understands and uses universal health precautions. Assists in maintaining accepted standards of cleanliness and sanitation of program facilities.  Follows the procedures for child abuse reporting and understands the responsibility to act as a mandated reporter. Follows written procedures for medical and disaster related emergencies.  Assists with regular practice drills.  Works as part of teaching team to ensure that classroom is enriched and well maintained.
• Upholds the philosophy of the program to parents and community.  Projects a positive attitude about the program.  Facilitates ongoing interactions with families in order to discuss daily activities, questions or concerns. Works with teaching staff related to challenging family or community issues or concerns.
• Participates in a wide range of activities to support family involvement.
• Maintains current and accurate records; may prepare reports.
• May participate in outreach and community education activities related to Healthy Start, Child Development Division or Monterey County First 5 services .
• Conducts an annual assessment of the success of the Healthy Start/ Child Development / Family Involvement Program at the site.
• Performs other duties as required.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES: Knowledge of child development, learning, and school readiness content and methods of early childhood education.   Knowledge of positive child guidance and behavior management methods.  Experience supervising and ensure safety for young children in programs. Must have strong communication skills to interact with students, teachers, parents, and other staff and community.  Requires demonstrated ability to understand in verbal and written instructions in order to provide instruction to children.  Requires ability to supervise assistant teacher or aide.  Requires to respond to emergency and follow center procedures. Must perform duties  with minimal supervision  General knowledge of computer, clerical and record keeping processes desirable but not required.  

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS: Must be able to perform physical activities such as but not limited to, lifting children or heavy items ( up to 50 lbs) bending, standing, climbing, and walking on uneven surfaces. Must be able to reach with hands and arms. Employment requires the ability to bend at the waist, kneel and or stoop, crawl or crouch up to  75% of the time at work in order to assist and support young children. Ability to see at normal distance.  Ability to hear normal conversations  and sounds. Infant Toddler staff must have ability to lift infants and toddlers  weighing up to thirty-five pounds.    Must be able to work safely in an environment containing biological conditions such as bodily fluids, waste, germs child hood diseases. 

Minimum QualifIcations (Education and/or Experience): This is the minimum experience and education/training standards which will be used to admit or reject applicants as approved on June 22, 2011.

12 units of ECE required including core ECE courses. Child Development Associate Teacher Permit and 105 hours of professional growth every 5 years to renew permit.

Infant toddler positions must have 6 units in infant toddler specific courses.