Day Care Center Teacher II

International Downtown Association; Virginia (MN); On-site; USD 42,000 - 62,000; Full time

Job summary

Fairfax County Government's Head Start program at the Gum Springs Children’s Center in Alexandria, VA seeks a Teacher II to oversee daily operations of a preschool classroom (ages 3–5). Under the Early Childhood Education Administrator, you will implement developmentally appropriate curricula, provide routine care, and create a play-based learning environment aligned with Head Start standards.

As classroom manager, you supervise Teacher I and aides, document developmental progress, conduct

Qualifications

• Graduation from an accredited four-year college in a child-related field such as early childhood or elementary education, nursing, recreation, or a related field.
• CPR/First Aid (Required within 60 days) and AED (Required within 60 days)
• Background checks including criminal, Child Protective Services Registry, and driving record; TB screening on hire.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate activity plans, staff assignments and schedules.
• Supervise Teacher I, aides, substitutes and volunteers.
• Plan and implement a daily program of developmental experiences for preschool children and remedial/enrichment for school-age children.
• Maintain progress records on children’s development and conduct parent conferences.
• Perform center administrative duties including payroll, record keeping, and snack purchasing; prepare center newsletter.

Skills

Child development

Health and safety

First aid

Administrative skills

Parent/staff communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree in early childhood education

Job description

Job Announcement

Located at the Head Start Gum Springs Children’s Center in Alexandria, VA, this position is under the supervision of the Early Childhood Education Administrator and is responsible for the daily operations of the HS classroom, providing routine care for children 3 to 5 years of age, ensuring that developmentally appropriate practices and curriculum are implemented and creating a play-based learning environment to meet children’s individual needs. The Teacher II serves as classroom manager and supervisor for Teacher I and classroom aides. Adheres to all policy and procedures regulated by Virginia State Licensing and the Head Start Federal Standards to prevent health hazards and ensure the safety of children. Completes and reports on developmental screenings/assessments through family conferences, home visits, and staff meetings. Assists in the preparation of documentation for local agency, state licensing, and federal Head Start Performance Standards, and collaborates with county staff, citizens, and members of the childcare community.

Note: This is a grant funded position.

Illustrative Duties

• Assists the Day Care Center Supervisor by coordinating activity plans, staff assignments and schedules;

• Oversees program plans of subordinates;

• Supervises the work of Day Care Center Teacher I’s, Aides, substitutes and volunteers;

• Plans and implements a daily program of developmental experiences for preschool children, and a remedial and enrichment program for school-age children;

• Provides care and protection for the children, helping them learn to adapt to and cope with real-life situations and to develop appropriate habits in such activities as eating and dressing;

• From daily observation, notes the physical condition of each child, reports conditions needing attention, and administers first aid treatment when needed;

• Maintains progress records on the emotional, physical, social and intellectual development of the children;

• Holds regular individual parent-teacher conferences and participates in parent group meetings and activities;

• Through individual conferences, supervises assistant teachers and aides in daily contact with children;

• Maintains attractive, healthful surroundings and assures that equipment and materials are kept accessible to the children and in good condition;

• Attends and participates in conferences and workshops related to group day care and other pertinent fields;

• Performs center administrative duties, to include liaison with school officials, personnel, payroll, record keeping, cash handling and snack purchasing;

• Responsible for center newsletter;

• Performs related duties as assigned.

Required Knowledge Skills and Abilities

• Considerable knowledge of individual behavior and the growth and development of children, and the impact of group relationships;

• Knowledge of health, safety and first aid methods;

• Knowledge of the factors which cause problems in children;

• Ability to establish warm and supportive relationships with children, on a group and individual basis, gaining confidence and trust and imparting a sense of security;

• Ability to assume administrative responsibility for the assigned center’s overall health and safety program;

• Ability to provide a wide variety of stimulating experiences for children to meet individual intellectual and emotional needs;

• Ability to recognize problems of both a physical and psychological nature as exhibited by children;

• Ability to organize and plan the activities of subordinate day care personnel;

• Ability to develop and maintain a working relationship with parents and staff.

Employment Standards

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Any combination of education, experience, and training equivalent to the following:

(Click on the aforementioned link to learn how Fairfax County interprets equivalencies for “Any combination, experience, and training equivalent to”)

Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university in a child-related field such as, but not limited to early childhood or elementary education, nursing, recreation, or a related field.

CERTIFICATES AND LICENSES REQUIRED

• Driver’s License

• CPR/First Aid (Required within 60 days)

• AED (Required within 60 days)

NECESSARY SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

The appointee to this position will be required to complete a criminal background check, a Child Protective Services Registry check, and a driving record check to the satisfaction of the employer. A Tuberculosis (TB) screening upon hire.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree in early childhood education.

• Child Development Associate (CDA) in Preschool.

• Knowledge of Head Start Standards and Creative Curriculum/TS Gold Assessment Tools.

• Three or more years of experience in a classroom setting.

• Experience working with school-age children.

• Experience working in an early childhood classroom setting within the past two years.

• Supervisory experience and/or experience reviewing the work of staff.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

Position is active in nature. Must be able to monitor and observe the activities of program participants. Regularly moves about or positions self to supervise and interact with participants at their level. Occasionally lifts, transports, positions, push/pulls or moves up to 50 pounds. Must be sufficiently mobile and possess a range of motion to perform repetitive standing, walking, balancing, stooping, bending, crouching, crawling, sitting on the floor, reaching, squatting, kneeling, and twisting. Ability to react quickly to the physical actions of program participant. Requires the ability to apply CPR and First Aid skills as needed and respond to emergency situations. Administrative and supervisory activities will require ability to operate keyboard-driven equipment. Ability to communicate verbally and in writing. Sufficiently mobile to attend meetings at various locations and make presentations to county staff and community. All duties performed with or without reasonable accommodations.

SELECTION PROCEDURE

Panel interview and may include exercise.

Fairfax County is home to a highly diverse population, with a significant number of residents speaking languages other than English at home (including Spanish, Asian/Pacific Islander, Indo-European, and many others.) We encourage candidates who are bilingual in English and another language to apply for this opportunity.

Fairfax County Government prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, age, marital status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetics, political affiliation, or military status in the recruitment, selection, and hiring of its workforce.

Reasonable accommodations are available to persons with disabilities during application and/or interview processes per the Americans with Disabilities Act. TTY 703-222-7314. [e-mail] EEO/AA/TTY.