Teacher - Preschool

Walnut Avenue Family & Women's Center; Santa Cruz (CA); On-site; USD 52,000 - 58,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Medical Insurance

Life Insurance

Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

Retirement plan option

Flexible Spending Plan (FSA)

Job summary

Walnut Avenue Family & Women’s Center is seeking an onsite Teacher to deliver early education for children. The role requires Title 5 compatibility or eligibility for a Child Development Permit, and involves planning curriculum, ensuring safety, engaging children, and supporting families.

Office operates on a 36-hour workweek, non-exempt, with bilingual pay differential available for English/Spanish fluency. Benefits include health/dental/vision, EAP, and retirement options.

Qualifications

• Title 5 qualification or eligibility for Child Development Permit with required units.
• Bilingual English/Spanish is helpful but not required.
• All staff must have CPR and First Aid certificates and health screening including immunizations.
• Must follow Title 5 guidelines and licensing requirements.
• English proficiency is required for daily communication.

Responsibilities

• Plan and implement developmentally appropriate curriculum with team.
• Monitor safety and interactions following licensing rules.
• Engage with children using appropriate language and tools.
• Care for basic needs such as eating, sleeping, dressing, and hygiene.
• Support emotional development and social skills; foster autonomy.
• Lead daily circle times to stimulate cognitive growth.
• Create a stimulating, anti-bias classroom environment.
• Maintain licensing documentation and program records.
• Communicate with families daily about their child’s day.
• Collaborate with supervisor and staff; participate in trainings.

Skills

English proficiency

Bilingual helpful

Curriculum planning

Clear communication

Child engagement

Education

Child Development Permit

AA in ECE or related field

Health and safety training

CPR and First Aid certification

Job description

Job Description:

Teacher

Supervised by

Location - onsite

36 hours a week (non-exempt position)

$27.22 - $31.67 per hour DOE and teaching permit (plus an extra $1.00 per hour Bilingual/Biliterate Pay differential if you are bilingual and biliterate English/Spanish)

Benefits Package includes Dental, Vision, Medical, Life Insurance, Employee Assistance Program (EAP), and option of enrolling in a retirement plan, Flexible Spending Plan (FSA). This benefits package is valued at $8,000 per year.

Summary of primary job functions

Teachers are part of the Early Education program team. The Teacher’s primary role is to provide early care and education to children.

Duties and Responsibilities

Children

• Plan and implement developmentally appropriate curriculum with team members in the areas of language development/ early literacy skills, math skills, social emotional, science, creative expression and fostering independence
• Monitor children indoors/outdoors for safety and appropriate interactions between children following all licensing regulations
• Engage with children in your care using appropriate language and tools that adheres to EEC philosophy
• Care for the children’s basic needs such as eating, sleeping/resting, diapering/toileting, dressing and basic hygiene
• Provide for children’s emotional needs such as physical nurturing, problem solving, fostering autonomy, respecting children’s feelings, providing positive communication, facilitating peer interaction and aiding in the development of appropriate social skills. Models positive communication skills
• Plan and carry out daily circle times (Morning and Afternoon), that stimulate cognitive growth, develop literacy skills, increase creativity and are developmentally and age appropriate.
• Set up a stimulating classroom environment indoors and out including activities that support the development of the whole child
• Foster an anti-bias classroom environment
• Maintain confidentiality about the children/families in our program
• Seek support from supervisor and/or Behavioral Health Specialist to assist you with children in your classroom

Staff

• Model, mentor and foster clear communication with coworkers and supervisor to assist in developing cooperative team
• Attend and participate in staff meetings as well as any necessary training for the position

Families

• Greet families and children and assists children in their adjustment to the center daily
• Develop a positive rapport with the parent/guardian(s)
• Communicate with the parent/guardian daily about their child’s day
• Exchange important information about with the parent/guardian about their child
• Respond to the parent’s/guardian’s needs and ideas
• Inform families of and promotes up-coming agency and program events
• Develop a positive rapport with families by greeting them, communicating daily about their child’s day and responding to their needs and ideas through collaboration
• Inform families of and promote upcoming agency and program events

Administration

• Maintains necessary documentation, reports and charts to meet licensing requirements, CDE contract requirements and to meet program standards
• Performs other responsibilities as required
• Other duties as assigned by the supervisor

Walnut Avenue Family & Women’s Center complies with ADA including providing reasonable accommodations.

Job Specific Knowledge, Skill & Abilities

• Regular use of hands, wrists and finger movements; ability to perform repetitive motion (keyboard), writing (note-taking). Ability to operate a computer keyboard and other office equipment
• Ability to sit, stand, kneel, squat for long periods of time (Teaching staff); twisting, bending, pushing, pulling, climb/descend stairs, holding and lifting up to 40 lbs.
• Ability to interact with children at their height level/on the classroom floor and may include crawling on hands and knees.
• Ability to hear normal speech, hear and talk to exchange information in person and telephone
• Ability to think and work effectively under pressure; Ability to effectively serve participants; decision making, maintain a concentrated level of attention to information communicate in person and by telephone throughout a typical workday; ability to understand and retain instructions from supervisor in person, by email or by telephone; attention to detail.
• We are a title 5 funded Early Education program and must follow Title 5 guidelines.
• Title 5: A teacher must hold or be eligible for and apply with -in 30 days of hire, a valid teacher’s Child Development Permit which requires 24 units of ECE including the core courses; child growth and development, child, family and community; and program/curriculum plus 16 General Ed units and 175 days of 3+ hours per day of experience in the past 4 years. Or an AA in ECE or a related field with three units supervised field experience in an ECE setting.

Must also meet the following qualification:

• Title 22: A teacher shall have completed with passing grades a least six postsecondary semester units of specified early childhood education classes and be currently enrolled in Early Education Classes, or have a valid Child Development Assistant permit issued by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing. A teacher hired with six units must complete at least two additional units each semester until fully qualified. A fully qualified teacher shall have 12 postsecondary semester units in early childhood education from an accredited college and six months of work experience in a licensed Child Care Center or similar program. The units shall include courses covering child growth and development; child, family and community; and program/curriculum. A teacher shall complete 15 hours of health and safety training, if necessary, pursuant to Health and Safety code, Section 1596.866.
• If working in the Infant program additional requirements: Teacher working in the infant/toddler program must have 4 additional units in Infant /Toddler development.
• Bilingual English/Spanish (helpful but not required)
• All Staff must have a valid/current Infant and Child CPR and First Aid card. Must have a health screening including full immunization and a negative TB, DPT and MMR test

Agency Specific Knowledge, Skill & Abilities

• English proficiency required (ability to speak, read, and write)
• All offers of employment at Walnut Avenue are contingent upon clear results of a thorough background check/fingerprinting.
• If this position requires driving on behalf of the agency, a DMV background check will also be required.
• Competent computer and smartphone abilities including intermediate Microsoft Office skills the internet, and other software applications
• Ability to professionally represent the agency through appropriate demeanor and attire
• Capable of working collaboratively and independently
• Maintain a high level of self-awareness and healthy boundaries with participants
• Desire to self-reflect and evaluate personal beliefs, biases, values, attitudes and actions
• Maintain and practice a comprehensive self-care routine
• Maintain flexibility regarding job roles and duties
• Ability to apply the strength-based model to support volunteers and co-workers
• Ability to manage volunteers including creating a welcoming environment, setting clear expectations, having healthy boundaries and addressing performance issues
• Capacity to assess, prioritize and manage multiple tasks simultaneously in a fast paced and ever-changing environment with minimal supervision
• Ability to efficiently evaluate and problem solve complex issues
• Commitment to maintain a mutually respectful & supportive work environment that values and empowers team members to collectively accomplish program goals

It is the policy of Walnut Avenue Family & Women’s Center to provide equal employment, volunteer opportunities and services (EEO) to all persons regardless of race, color, religion, religious creed (including religious dress and grooming practices),national origin, ancestry, citizenship, physical or mental disability, medical condition (including cancer and genetic characteristics), genetic information, marital status, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, or related medical conditions), gender, gender identity, gender expression, age (40 years and over), sexual orientation, veteran and/or military status, protected medical leaves (requesting or approved for leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act or the California Family Rights Act), domestic violence victim status, political affiliation, and any other status protected by federal, state or local law.