Preschool Teacher
GENERAL RESPONSIBILITY:
Teachers are responsible for providing a safe, nurturing, and developmentally appropriate learning environment for preschool-aged children as part of a teaching team. Teachers are responsible for planning and implementing curriculum activities, supporting children’s individual development, and coordinating daily classroom operations.
PERFORMANCE RESPONSIBILITIES
- Create and maintain a warm, nurturing, safe, healthy, and developmentally appropriate learning environment for infants and toddlers.
- Plan, develop, and implement individualized lesson plans aligned with program curriculum and child development standards.
- Provide developmentally appropriate learning experiences and positive interactions that support children’s social, emotional, physical, language, and cognitive development.
- Demonstrate knowledge of and effectively utilize the program’s approved child assessment system by conducting ongoing observations, maintaining accurate anecdotal notes, and entering documentation in a timely and accurate manner to support reliable child outcome data and individualized instruction.
- Monitor children’s health, behavior, developmental progress, and overall well-being and report concerns or observations in accordance with program procedures.
- Assist children with daily routines including feeding, diapering, toileting, handwashing, rest periods, and the development of age-appropriate self-help skills in accordance with health and safety procedures.
- Maintain ongoing communication with parents and guardians regarding children’s daily activities, routines, and overall well-being.
- Coordinate classroom operations and provide guidance, direction, and support to Teacher Assistants and other classroom support staff to ensure effective classroom management, continuity of instruction, and compliance with program expectations.
- Provide guidance and on-the-job support to substitute staff or personnel assigned to temporarily fill classroom roles, ensuring they are oriented to classroom routines, safety procedures, lesson plans, and program expectations in order to maintain continuity of instruction and a safe, consistent learning environment for children.
- Maintain a clean, safe, healthy, and organized classroom and playground environment while ensuring compliance with Head Start Program Performance Standards, SC DSS regulations, and agency policies and procedures.
- Coordinate and collaborate with Family Services and other program staff to support children and families.
- Conduct a minimum of two home visits and two parent conferences annually.
- Maintain confidentiality and uphold professional standards in all interactions with children, families, and staff.
PERFORMANCE RESPONSIBILITIES CONTINUED
- Participate in required meetings, workshops, conferences, pre-service, in-service, and other assigned trainings, including occasional overnight training.
- Perform additional duties and responsibilities as assigned by the supervisor.
QUALIFICATIONS
- Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood Education; or
Bachelor’s Degree in a related field with coursework equivalent to a major in Early Childhood Education and experience teaching preschool-aged children. - Associate Degree in Early Childhood Education.
- Strong verbal and written communication skills.
- Must be at least 18 years of age.
- Must possess a valid driver’s license and have access to reliable transportation.
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS
- Ability to sit on the floor and actively interact with children.
- Ability to visually supervise and hear children throughout the classroom and playground areas from a distance of at least 70 feet.
- Ability to lift and carry at least 25 pounds.
- Ability to participate in indoor and outdoor activities with children.
FRINGE BENEFITS
All employees are eligible for benefits after completing the ninety-day probationary period.
- Annual Leave
- Sick Leave
- Health Insurance, including medical and dental coverage
- Pension/Retirement Plan
- Employee Assistance Program