SRCE-2024-2025 - Casual Early Childhood Educator (All Pre-Primary Sites)

The Strait Regional (0052) invites applications from qualified candidates for the posted vacancy.

These positions are for the 2024-2025 school year across the SRCE boundary.

As part of the public education system in Nova Scotia, the Strait Regional Centre for Education (SRCE) was established on April 1, 2018, to deliver the public school program focusing on supporting student learning, achievement, well-being and overall success. The Strait Regional Centre for Education, with the support of approximately 1,050 employees, works diligently to achieve its mission “to empower our children and youth, within safe, equitable and inclusive environments to embrace a changing world as responsible, contributing and successful lifelong learners.” In 2023-2024, the SRCE operates 20 schools with approximately 5,954 students; and approximately 369 children are attending pre-primary programs at 14 school locations. Located in the northeastern part of Nova Scotia, the Strait Regional Centre for Education’s jurisdiction encompasses the counties of Antigonish, Guysborough, Inverness and Richmond, an area of approximately 11,000 square kilometres with a population of 53,742 (Census 2021).

The Early Childhood Educator falls within the CUPE Local 955 job classification. Salary for this position can be accessed by clicking this link CUPE Local 955 Collective Agreement.

Effective Dates: 01/07/2025

Early Childhood Educator - Pre-Primary Program

ROLE:

The Early Childhood Educator will support the Lead Early Childhood Educator within the Pre-Primary Program Team, to ensure a supportive and secure environment for young children attending the Pre-Primary Program. The Early Childhood Educator will receive daily direction from the Lead Early Childhood Educator and will support them to create and maintain an engaging learning environment, one in which children are encouraged to explore and create new knowledge through their experiences and social interactions with others. The Early Childhood Educator will be an active member of the team reporting to the Pre-Primary Program Lead and will work cooperatively with the Lead Early Childhood Educator.

Key Responsibilities:

• Creating an active and dynamic learning environment that supports and includes all children;
• Working with the Lead Early Childhood Educator to clarify roles and responsibilities, establish classroom routines and procedures that will set the stage for a positive learning environment;
• Delivering developmentally appropriate and engaging programming that is responsive to the interests and cultural needs of the children and community;
• Facilitating family, caregiver, and community involvement in the program;
• Welcoming and having open communication with families and caregivers regarding their children’s experiences and the program offered;
• Reflecting children’s lives in ongoing displays and celebrations throughout the year;
• Providing timely identification of and responses to children and families in need of additional supports and services and partnering with community-based providers to ensure that children’s individual developmental needs are addressed within the context of the Pre-Primary Program;
• Supporting the Lead Early Childhood Educator in writing transition plans for children requiring additional supports in preparation for entry into primary;
• Supporting children’s development with materials and resources that focus on emergent literacy and numeracy skills, in particular – play-based skills, social-emotional skills, and gross and fine motor development;
• Demonstrating an understanding of young children’s characteristics and needs, and of the multiple interacting influences on children’s development and learning, when they are in the presence of a welcoming, inclusive early learning program;
• Understanding appropriate behavior guidance strategies for young children and being able to implement them while considering SRCE and Education and Early Childhood Department policies and procedures;
• Collaborating with the Lead Early Childhood Educator to ensure the Pre-Primary students are welcomed and a part of the school community;
• Knowledge of the food and nutrition guidelines and responsible for providing nutritious snacks;
• Supporting the Lead Early Childhood Educator in the day-to-day management of the classroom including assisting in organizing all daily programming supports for students, organizing special events, and extra-curricular activities;
• Participating in a comprehensive, ongoing evaluation of the Pre-Primary Program via the Continuous Quality Improvement process;
• Other duties as assigned.

Essential Qualifications:

• High school diploma or equivalent;
• Good health to provide personal and physical care to students and children;
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills;
• Current certification in CPR and First Aid or willing to obtain prior to employment;
• Must comply with SRCE policies and procedures;
• Recent experience working with youth or children in a professional or volunteer capacity;
• A demonstrated ability to work cooperatively, in an active, child-centered environment.

Desirable Qualifications:

• Completion of a certified Early Childhood Education Program;
• Experience and demonstrated ability in managing children or youth with exceptional needs;
• Training or experience in working with diverse developmental needs;
• Non-Violent Crisis Intervention Certification;
• Training or experience in managing the behavior of students and children.

Your application must include at least three (3) work-related references; one must be your most recent supervisor. The Strait Regional Centre for Education appreciates your expression of interest for employment. Please note that only candidates selected for interviews will be contacted. All candidates shortlisted for interviews will have references checked prior to being interviewed. Candidates can check on the status of their applications in SuccessFactors under My Applications.

All employees of the Strait Regional Centre for Education must provide a current (within the last 3 months), and clear Criminal Record Check-Vulnerable Sector and Child Abuse Registry prior to employment with the Strait Regional Centre for Education.