Certified PreK Teacher - CREC Preschool at Progress Drive - JOB ID# 14402

CAPITOL REGION EDUCATION COUNCIL; Wethersfield (CT); On-site; USD 42,000 - 64,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Life insurance

Disability benefits

403(b) retirement

Tuition reimbursement

Professional development

Paid time off

Employee assistance

Job summary

CREC Preschool at Progress Drive seeks a dedicated Preschool teacher. The classroom emphasizes play as the foundation for learning, with hands-on activities, dramatic play, blocks, sensory exploration, art, music, storytelling, and outdoor experiences aligned to CT ELDS.

Teachers observe children, extend thinking, and scaffold growth while collaborating with families and school staff. CREC offers robust benefits and opportunities for ongoing professional learning.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in education discipline applicable to teaching.
• Must hold or be eligible for CT Endorsement 112 or 113.

Responsibilities

• Develop and administer curriculum aligned with CT ELDS and CT DOTS.
• Create safe, inclusive classroom for individualized and small-group instruction.
• Plan lessons using play-based learning and developmentally appropriate activities.
• Assess student learning using CT DOTS and adapt instruction as needed.
• Comply with school policies and perform other duties as assigned.

Skills

Classroom management

Culturally responsive teaching

Communication with families

Differentiated instruction

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Education

Endorsement 112/CT DOE

Endorsement 113/Integrated Ed N-3

Tools

Google Suite

Microsoft Office

Job description

Since 1966, the Capitol Region Education Council (CREC) has been dedicated to providing innovative, high-quality, and cost-effective educational programs and services to meet the diverse needs of children and adults in Greater Hartford. Serving 33 member districts and reaching additional communities statewide, CREC supports approximately 12,000 students annually through more than 120 educational programs. Our offerings include professional learning and coaching for educators, specialized programming for students with diverse needs, and PreK-12 education across 16 interdistrict magnet schools. Additionally, CREC provides school construction, operations, and cooperative business services, while also delivering programs that help adults build real, job-ready skills.

Position Summary

CREC seeks a talented Preschool teacher for a teaching position at CREC Preschool at Progress Drive. Please apply to this position if you are a committed educator who is looking to work in a diverse school setting with a social justice mindset. At CREC Preschool at Progress Drive, we believe that play is the foundation of young children's learning. Play is incorporated into all areas of our curriculum. Classrooms are designed to support hands-on, active engagement through dramatic play, block building, sensory exploration, art, music, storytelling, outdoor experiences, and small group activities. Children might explore science concepts at the sensory table, build math and spatial reasoning skills with blocks, or develop emerging literacy through pretend play and shared reading experiences. Teachers plan these learning opportunities intentionally and align them with developmental milestones and the Connecticut Early Learning and Development Standards (CT ELDS).

Teachers observe children's play to understand their interests and developmental needs, and use this information to extend thinking, introduce language and concepts, and scaffold problem-solving. This ensures that play remains joyful and child-centered while also intentionally supporting growth across all developmental domains.

To find out more about CREC Magnet Schools and locations visit: crecschools.org.

Preschool teachers work under the general supervision of their school principal performing the essential performance responsibilities listed below.

Duties/Responsibilities

ESSENTIAL DUTIES and RESPONSIBILITIES

• Develop and administer curriculum consistent with school district goals and objectives.
• Promote a classroom environment that is safe and conducive to individualized and small-group instruction, and student learning.
• Develop lesson plans and utilize play-based instructional materials for preschool, aligned with the State of CT Early Learning and Development Standards (CT ELDS), translate lesson plans into developmentally appropriate learning experiences that engage and challenge students, and best utilize the available time for instruction.
• Conduct ongoing assessment of student learning and progress using the State of CT Documentation for Teaching Systems (CT DOTS) in both naturally occurring situations and planned experiences and modify instructional methods to fit individual student's needs; conduct individual, large and small group instruction as needed.
• Comply with all company policies and procedures.
• Other duties as assigned.

Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Supervisory Responsibility

This position has no supervisory responsibilities.

Competencies

Intrapersonal Competencies

• Demonstrate a dedication to all learners especially those historically marginalized.
• Demonstrate commitment to lifelong professional learning and growth.

Interpersonal Competencies

• Design, strengthen, and participate in positive learning environments (i.e., school and classroom culture) that support individual and collaborative learning.
• Build strong relationships with students, peers, families, and learning community members that contribute to individual and collective success.
• Contribute to the lifelong success of all learners, particularly those who have been historically marginalized due to background, demographics, neurodiversity, ability, or culture.

Cognitive Competencies

• Utilize in-depth understanding of content and learning progressions to engage learners and lead individual learners toward mastery.
• Demonstrate awareness of and employ culturally responsive teaching (CRT) to center students' diversity as a strength and asset in their learning journey.
• Employ techniques for developing students' skills of metacognition, self-regulation, and perseverance.

Instructional Competencies

• Personalize learning experiences through assessments, support, progressions, relationships, and technology.
• Develop student agency, ownership, self-advocacy, and effective communication skills with regard to learning.
• Uses technology in the service of learning and completing professional responsibilities (e.g., various learning platforms, gradebook, Google Suite, and Microsoft Office).

Teaching/Subject Assignment Specific

• Knowledge of the CT ELDS and the CT DOTS for planning curriculum and formatively assessing learning.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree (BA) from four-year college or university in education discipline applicable to teaching assignment.
• Must hold or be eligible for Endorsement 112 -Integrated Early Childhood/Special Ed., BirthKindergarten or CT Endorsement 113- Integrated Early Childhood/Elementary Education N-3 and Special Education N-K

Travel Requirements

Motor Vehicle Operator's License or ability to provide transportation to meetings, training, and professional learning opportunities as required.

Physical Demands & Work Environment

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Working in a classroom demands prolonged standing/movement, frequent bending and crouching, lifting and carrying materials, fine motor skills for manipulating small objects, clear speaking voice, good vision and hearing, the ability to focus on multiple tasks simultaneously, and sometimes the need to move quickly to respond to student needs. Successful teachers require the ability to work in a high-energy environment with varying noise levels (from quiet to loud) based on student activity. Teachers are expected to work both indoors and outdoors (as needed) and may be expected to participate in off-site field experiences.

WHAT'S IN IT FOR YOU?

• Group Health Insurance Plans
• Basic & Supplemental Life Insurance
• Long Term Disability & Short-Term Disability options
• 403(b) Retirement Savings Plan with Employer Matching Contribution if applicable
• Flexible Spending Account Pre-Tax Savings for Health Care, Dependent Care, and Limited Purpose Post Deductible (if contributing to an HSA)
• Comprehensive benefit time package
• Employee Assistance Program
• Bereavement time & Religious Holidays
• Credit Union Access
• Tuition Reimbursement Program
  
• Employee Network Groups
• Access to professional learning opportunities with two fully paid courses through CREC University each year, empowering you to expand your skills and advance your career!
• Benefit from our exclusive partnership with Springfield College, offering a 15% discount on tuition for next-level degree programs to support your academic and career aspirations!

Based on terms and conditions during your employment, specific to your job classification and collective bargaining agreement.

Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Statement

CREC strives to understand and confront the symptoms and causes of racism and prejudiceranging from biases to aggressions to discriminatory policies, practices, and traditionsthat harm people from systemically marginalized groups or that benefit privileged groups. CREC staff and students acknowledge and respect people of all identifiers, such as race, socioeconomic status, gender identity and expression, education, age, ability, ethnicity, culture, sexual orientation, language, nationality, and veteran status.

Disclaimer Statement

The above is intended to describe the general content of and requirements for the performance of this job. It is not to be construed as an exhaustive statement of duties, responsibilities or physical requirements. Nothing in this job description restricts management's right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

To access the job description and salary range document, please click https://www.crec.org/careers/jobs.php

To access addition new employee information, including a general benefits overview, please click: https://www.crec.org/careers/new-employees.php