Child Development Teacher

AVANCE San Antonio; Cortez (CO); On-site; USD 32,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

AVANCE San Antonio seeks a dedicated infant/toddler educator to provide developmentally appropriate care under Head Start guidelines. The role focuses on language and literacy development, safety, health, and nurturing relationships with children and families.

Responsibilities include conducting screenings and assessments, maintaining teacher-to-child ratios, collaborating with families, and participating in AVANCE program activities and trainings to support child progress and learning outcomes.

Qualifications

• CDA required for Infant and Toddler credentials.
• Preferred: degree in Early Childhood Education or related field with 18 ECE hours.

Responsibilities

• Follow Head Start Performance Standards and licensing requirements.
• Conduct screenings/assessments using AVANCE tools and coordinate home visits.
• Maintain 1:4 teacher-to-child ratio; care for infants/toddlers.
• Document absences and raise concerns to supervisor.
• Engage families; promote home visits and participation in activities.

Skills

CPR and First Aid

Computer literacy

Interpersonal skills

Spanish (helpful)

Organizational skills

Verbal and written communication

Driver’s license

Education

Infant and Toddler CDA

Associate/Bachelor in Early Childhood Education

Tools

ASQ Assessments

Cognitive Toy Box Assessments

AVANCE PCEP Framework

Job description

Job Overview

Responsible for providing a safe, nurturing, and developmentally appropriate environment that promotes each child’s cognitive, social, emotional, health, and physical development. Develop individualized educational goals for each child and assess each child’s outcomes to monitor evolving progress, and use various teaching strategies with an emphasis on language and literacy skills to meet the needs of each individual child. Maintain a high-quality environment with attention to safety and health prevention measures for infants, toddlers, and twos at all times.

Job Responsibilities

• Be familiar with and adhere to the Head Start Program Performance Standards, State of Texas Child Care Licensing requirements, and NAEYC regulations.
• Conduct daily screenings and assessments using Cognitive Toy Box Assessments, ASQs, and the AVANCE PCEP Framework tools, and conduct home visits as needed.
• Maintain a 1 Teacher to 4 Child ratio at all times with no more than 8 infants and/or toddlers in a classroom.
• Ensure all policies and procedures are followed when changing diapers for infants and toddlers.
• Report to supervisor any patterns of absences or any special circumstances surrounding absenteeism.
• Initiate and document appropriate family support procedures for all children with four or more consecutive unexcused absences, including home visits or other direct contact with the child’s parent(s).
• Participate in PCEP Recruitment efforts at events, in the community and the school district, train pre‑service staff, attend annual AVANCE Inc. PCEP training, and conduct mandatory home visits for assessment follow‑ups and record maintenance.
• Encourage parents to participate in the program and to complete at least six mandatory home visits during the program year for each child enrolled.
• File and track program‑required information in the family folder and maintain an open, friendly, professional relationship with all staff and families while respecting culture, diversity, and ethnicity.
• Plan and implement developmentally appropriate activities that promote children’s learning in literacy, language, cognitive, social/emotional, and physical/health development on a weekly basis and follow the classroom daily schedule.
• Implement best practices approaches and learning materials.
• Establish positive, caring, and nurturing relationships with children.
• Flexibly group children using a variety of strategies to promote development, support collaboration, and build a caring community of enthusiastic learners.
• Use a balance of large group, small group, teacher‑directed, and child‑initiated activities that promote exploration, inquiry, creativity, and independence.
• Conduct daily child observations and quarterly developmental assessments to collect information on individual children’s learning and progress.
• Plan individualized approaches to promote each child’s learning and development.
• Communicate regularly with parents regarding children’s progress, both informally and formally.
• Encourage parents to be involved in the curriculum through weekly family activities, classroom volunteering, and monthly parent meetings.
• Conduct family‑style meals that promote good nutrition and food safety practices.
• Attend IFSP meetings and incorporate IFSPs into lesson plans.
• Report suspected neglect, abuse, or medical conditions/illnesses to the immediate supervisor.
• Report to work on time and work a flexible schedule when necessary to meet children’s needs.
• Encourage and maintain hygiene in children.
• Ensure the classroom is organized and all equipment and materials are clean.
• Attend workshops and trainings scheduled by the supervisor.
• Give directions to classroom volunteers.
• Supervise children at all times.
• May transport equipment, supplies, and materials in own vehicle.
• Attend and participate in staff meetings as scheduled and report accordingly.
• Able to travel for business‑related activities.
• Perform any other tasks as assigned.

Requirements

Education

Required:

• Infant and Toddler CDA (Child Development Associate Credential)

Preferred:

• Associate in Early Childhood Education or Bachelor’s in Early Childhood Education or related field with 18 hours in Early Childhood Education.

Work Experience

Preferred:

• Six (6) months’ experience working in an infant and toddler setting.

Additional Skills

• CPR and First Aid Training.
• Must be computer literate and have proficient knowledge of assigned databases, software, and systems.
• Must have interpersonal and team‑building skills.
• Spanish fluency is helpful, but not required.
• Strong organizational skills that reflect the ability to perform and prioritize multiple tasks with excellent attention to detail.
• Strong verbal and written communication, problem‑solving, and decision‑making skills.
• Must have dependable transportation daily, a valid driver’s license, a clean driving record, current auto liability insurance, and must be bondable by AVANCE, San Antonio, Inc.

Disclaimer(s) This is not necessarily an all‑inclusive list of job‑related responsibilities, duties, skills, efforts, requirements or working conditions. While this is intended to be an accurate reflection of the current job, management reserves the right to revise the job or to require that other or different tasks be performed as assigned. Nothing in this job description is intended to obligate the obligation of employment. Employment remains on an “at‑will” basis. Travel 0‑5% annually on average, mostly local.

Equipment Computer, computer software programs and peripherals, resource materials and equipment, copier, fax, and other applicable equipment.

Working Conditions

Mental and Physical Demands Maintain emotional control under stress and work with interruptions and deadlines; walking, standing, stooping, bending, pulling, pushing, using hands, finger, and feeling; reaching with hands and arms; occasional lifting/carrying, pulling/pushing 10‑30 pounds. Specific vision abilities required include close, distance, color, peripheral, depth perception and the ability to adjust focus.

Environmental Factors Occasional exposure to biological hazards (communicable diseases, bacteria, insects, mold, fungi, etc.) and weather‑related conditions when working outdoors.

ADA/ADAAA Statement AVANCE is committed to equal opportunity in employment for persons with disabilities and complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), as amended, and any other applicable state and federal laws. The company does not discriminate against qualified individuals with disabilities regarding hiring, advancement, compensation, or training. Reasonable accommodations are provided for qualified individuals with disabilities unless they would impose an undue hardship. Retaliation for requesting accommodations is prohibited.

EEO/AAP Statement AVANCE values diversity and is committed to providing equal employment opportunity to all individuals regardless of race, color, creed, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, age, sexual orientation, genetic information, national origin, disability, veteran status, or other protected characteristic. The company seeks to employ and advance women, minorities, individuals with disabilities, and protected veterans, and to treat qualified individuals without discrimination on the basis of physical or mental disability or veteran status.