Details
Posted: 15-Jul-22
Location: Santa Monica, California
Type: Full Time
Preferred Education: Some College
Salary: $16.50-$21/hour (DOE)
Categories:
Early Childhood
Salary Details:
Salary and Benefits
Salary Range: $16.50-$20/hr DOE
Benefits:
4 Weeks Paid Vacation/School Closure
9 Paid National/State Holidays
72 Hours of Paid Sick Leave (PSL) at the start of the school year. Mid-year hires accrue PSL at the rate of 1 hour for every 30 worked. At the end of each school year, any unused PSL will be rolled over to the next school year as Paid Time Off (PTO) to be capped at 108 hours.
Medical, Dental, Vision Benefits Covered at 100%
Life Insurance with a fully paid premium and a $25,000 benefit.
403(b) retirement plan with a 50% match up to 3
Additional Information:
3 openings available.
Description, Responsibilities, and Duties
The Assistant Teacher is responsible for teaching and learning with the children and assisting the Co-Lead Teachers, and Support Teachers in their work. The Assistant teacher is expected to collaborate with their teaching team and colleagues. This position requires a candidate to be attentive, flexible, reflective, and warm in disposition; the candidate knows how to work with children in a developmentally appropriate manner and fulfill Growing Place's mission, philosophy, and pedagogy.
Teaching and Learning (90%)
- Work with children throughout the day
- Build trusting, respectful, and professional relationships with children and families
- Keep children safe and healthy
- Collaborate with children, teaching team, and the Educational Coordinating Team to design and research curriculum
- Use the school's social constructivist and Reggio Approaches and problem-solving techniques when working with children
- Assist in the preparation of the indoor and outdoor learning environments (ex: setting up provocations, preparing materials and supplies, cleaning up, properly storing materials in collaboration with the children, preserving the children's work under the direction of the teaching staff)
- Establish daily solid routines and rhythms for children
- Prepare, serve, and clean up snacks and role model appropriate table manners and facilitate social conversations
- Help children to learn to self-regulate during rest time and in resolving social conflicts with peers
- Support with pet care if needed
- Procure food and other supplies for the classroom as requested
- Assist children in toileting, hand washing, and with minor injuries
- Complete accident/incident/illness reports when appropriate
- Report any head injury, major fall, and/or incident to a co-lead teacher promptly
- Report parent concerns to appropriate co-lead teachers, administrators, and/or families promptly
- Participate in school events when requested (ex: Parent Events, Spring Fundraiser, Parent-Teacher Dialogues, New Family Picnic)
- Communicate directly with team members and others on the staff to resolve issues in a prompt and professional manner
- Lead and facilitate the school experiences for children who stay for the extended day
- Ensure daily responsibilities for opening and closing the school are carried out in an appropriate and timely manner
Research and Dissemination (10%)
- Assist the teaching team by using the systems and strategies required to document, organize, and make accessible the experiences of children and adults, including digital photographs, audio recordings, scanned work, and video
- Assist teachers in collecting data regarding children's work and behaviors
- Observe and document children in play and share observations with the appropriate teaching team
- Actively participate in monthly faculty and staff meetings
- Participate in ongoing professional development and continuous performance management
The supervisor will assign additional responsibilities outlined in the work plans.
Minimum Qualifications/Requirements
Skills
- 1 year of experience working with children ages 3 months-6 years old in a licensed childcare program, a NAEYC accredited childcare center preferred
- Associates Degree or higher
- At least 12 Early Childhood Units, with a preference of Infant/Toddler units
- Must meet the requirements of the California Department of Social Services (licensing), including an updated TB status, CPR certification, fingerprint clearance.
- Demonstrated understanding of child development
Competencies
- Values parents as important partners in the work of the school
- Pays attention to the many ways that children make meaning of the world
- Collaborates with children and adults in positive ways
- Has a keen interest and curiosity about the nature of learning and teaching
- Finds joy in working with children and adults
- Approaches teaching as a life-long learner
- Embraces reflection as a tool for growth and learning
- Demonstrates commitment to diversity, inclusion, and equity
- Seeks out resources to continually improve one’s practice
- Values learning from mistakes
- Demonstrates flexible thinking
- Establishes professional boundaries with children, parents, and colleagues
- Demonstrates professionalism in dress, attitude, communication, and punctuality
- Shows and values integrity for oneself and others
- Provides value add to the organization beyond the job position
Working Conditions
- Standing and sitting in indoor and outdoor environments designed for children ages 2.5 to 5
- Ability to move rapidly from a sitting to standing position, and to be able to get down and up off the ground as needed
- Ability to push, pull, or lift up to 50lbs
- Working in all weather conditions
- Requires developmentally normal hearing abilities and visual acuity
- Requires strong communication skills with children, families, faculty, and staff