Associate Teacher - North Omaha

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Job description

Educare of Omaha, Inc. is a collaborative partnership between the Early Head Start/Head Start, Omaha Public Schools and the Buffett Early Childhood Fund. Comprised of the two Educare Omaha Schools (Kellom and Indian Hill) and the three Omaha Early Learning Centers (Skinner, Gateway and Kennedy), the mission of Educare of Omaha, Inc. is to promote school readiness by enhancing the social and cognitive development of children ages 0 to 5 through the provision of evidence-based education, health, nutritional, social, family engagement and other services to enrolled children and their families.
The Associate Teacher is responsible for assisting the Lead Teacher in the planning, implementation and coordination of a comprehensive education program. The Associate Teacher assists in ensuring the education program is developmentally appropriate and meets children's individual needs as well as program standards of Omaha Early Learning Centers and the Nebraska Department of Education.
MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES AND KEY TASKS:
Child Development

• Observe, assess and document each child's skills, behavior, growth and development.
• Provide opportunities for children to develop positive self-images and experience success.

• Assist in developing an individualized educational plan for each child.
• Bring to attention those children with special needs. Coordinate referrals for children with special needs or mental health needs with the Lead Teacher.
• Contribute to and participate in child and family reviews, and/or Individualized Education Plans/Individualized Family Service Plans.
• Assist the child and family as child transitions from the infant and toddler program to the preschool program and from the preschool program to kindergarten.
• Foster positive relationships with all children in the classroom

Classroom Management

• Develop and maintain an attractive and stimulating learning environment and encourage child's independence and self-selection of activities
• Ensure that all children are under appropriate supervision and guidance at all times.
• Maintain a clean, safe and healthy classroom environment.
• Utilize Positive Behavior Supports strategies

Curriculum

• Assist the Lead Teacher in planning and implementing developmentally appropriate classroom activities that will enhance language and literacy development, (2) cognition and general knowledge, (3) approaches toward learning, (4) physical well-being and motor development, and (5) social and emotional development of each child
• Participate in interpreting and analyzing assessment results and utilize data to plan individual and classroom experiences as well as intentionally share information with families.
• Develop lesson plans with goals, objectives, activities and outcomes for children and implement them intentionally under the supervision of the Lead Teacher.
• Intentionally integrate other areas, i.e., health/physical activity, nutrition, mental health, disabilities, transition, safety and parent involvement, into the education plan, which are reviewed by the Lead Teacher.
• Create documentation panels on a regular basis to make the learning that the children are experiencing visible to parents and visitors.

Parent Involvement

• Assist the Lead Teacher in scheduling and meeting with parents regularly about their child's progress, including at least two Parent/Staff Conferences per year.

• Assist the Lead Teacher in scheduling a minimum of two home visits per year with each child's family to clarify child and family needs.
• Encourage parent participation in program activities and in implementing education activities for their children at home and in the community.
• Communicate with parents (informal conversations, newsletters, personal notes) regarding his/her child's involvement in classroom activities and progress towards learning goals.

Supervision / Administration

• Participate in ongoing professional development (including peer learning activities)

• Collaboratively implement and participate in a coaching process with the Lead Teacher to promote high quality instruction
• Support the implementation of new strategies gained through training
• Provide leadership for the classroom team (e.g., plan for and lead team planning sessions, monitor teammates' observation notes and appropriate goal identification, advocate for and support Best Practices in the classroom)
• Serve as a mentor/model the Associate Teacher.
• Delegate responsibilities to the Associate Teacher.

• Maintain confidentiality regarding each child and family.
• Maintain daily attendance and USDA food counts.
• Ensure the timely completion of necessary paperwork, including developmental assessments, lesson plans, newsletters, incident reports, etc.

Other

• Perform other duties as assigned within the scope of the job description.
• Participate in Reflective Supervision with Lead Teacher.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Associate or Bachelor's Degree in Education (Early Childhood preferred).

• Willingness to enroll in a BA program to obtain a Nebraska Teaching Certificate with an endorsement in Early Childhood Education, Early Childhood Special Education, Preschool Disabilities, or Early Childhood Education Unified per NDE Rule 11 with coursework directly related to infants and toddlers
• Two years early childhood experience in a group setting preferred.
• CDA must be obtained if not possessed within the 1st 12 months of employment.
• Must be able to pass a background check that meets compliance standards

ESSENTIAL SKILLS / ABILITIES REQUIRED:

• Knowledge of curriculum, principles and best practices of early childhood education
• Ability and willingness to remain abreast of developments in the child development/early childhood education field to enhance professional growth and development.
• Willingness to participate in the program's commitment to continuously review, analyze and apply findings from local and national evaluations to current program design.
• Knowledge of state child care licensing requirements

• Ability to work within an interdisciplinary team as a cooperative and supportive team member.
• Ability to establish supportive relationships and form an alliance with staff and families from diverse backgrounds on behalf of children
• Ability to effectively communicate, verbally and in writing, in a manner that demonstrates and fosters cooperation, respect, concern and openness to change
• Ability to take, or think about the perspective of others and demonstrate self-awareness of one's own culture, beliefs, and values
• Ability to physically interact with children including the ability to walk or run quickly, kneel or sit on floor, bend and lift, walk over rough or uneven ground, while in or outside of facility.

• Ability to lift, carry and move center/classroom equipment and supplies and/or bulky objects or children weighing up to 50 lbs.
• Organization skills with the ability to manage time and multiple priorities
• Ability to collaboratively problem-solve
• Maintain boundaries and performs all duties in an ethical and professional manner.
• Complies with all confidentiality regulations as required

• Ability to obtain First Aid and CPR certification.
• Ability to operate a computer and office equipment, including, but not limited to, a telephone, fax machine, and copier.

CLASSIFICATION: NON-EXEMPT
REPORTS TO: Lead Teacher
The Associate Teacher is a non-supervisory position