Infant Toddler Teacher

Infant Toddler Teacher 

Background:     The Early Childhood Teacher must meet the requirements set forth by the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS), Department of Human Services (DHS), Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) and have a valid Gateways to Opportunity registry membership account on file with the State of Illinois. Early childhood experiences, first aid training and additional related coursework and skills are preferred. An Early Childhood teacher must have the ability to relate to and interact professionally with parents and children, adapt to various early childhood classroom settings and be able to work cooperatively with a co-teacher or assistant in planning and implementing the program curriculum.

Immediate Supervisor: Early Childhood Director

DCFS General Requirements for all Early Childhood Staff:

1. Staff are expected to interact with and address each child’s physical, intellectual, personal, emotional, social and developmental needs and demonstrate the ability, skill and competence to enrich each child’s learning experience and physical and emotional growth

Factors contributing to the attainment of this standard include:

1. Emotional maturity when working with children
2. Cooperation with the purposes and services of the program
3. Respect for children and adults
4. Flexibility, understanding and patience
5. Physical ability to interact with children throughout the day and the mental health which will not interfere with child care responsibilities
6. Good personal hygiene
7. Frequent interaction with children
8. Listening skills, availability and responsiveness to children
9. Sensitivity to children’s socioeconomic, cultural, ethnic and religious backgrounds, and individual needs and capabilities
10. Use of positive discipline and guidance techniques
11. Ability to provide an environment in which children can feel comfortable, relaxed, happy and involved in learning play, recreation and other activities.

1. Early childhood staff must demonstrate skill and competence necessary to assume direct responsibility including:
2. Skills to help children meet their developmental and emotional needs
3. Skills in planning, directing, and conducting programs that meet the children’s basic needs
4. Staff are required to participate in activities leading to professional growth in child development and education, and in training related to specific needs of the children served
5. Participation in 20 clock hours of in-service training per year

Early Childhood Teachers:

1. In addition to meeting the general requirements, the early childhood teacher who is responsible for a group of children which may include infants, toddlers or preschool age children shall have achieved:
2. Sixty semester hours (or 90 quarter hours) of credits from an accredited college or university with six semester or nine quarter hours in courses related directly to child care and/or child development, from birth to age six; or
3. One year (1560 clock hours) of child development experience in a nursery school, kindergarten, or licensed day care center and 30 semester hours (or 45 quarter hours) of credits from an accredited college or university with six semester or nine quarter hours in courses related directly to child care and /or child development, from birth to age six: or
4. Completion of credentialing programs approved by the Department in accordance with Appendix G of the DCFS licensing standards.

Early Childhood Teacher:

 In addition to meeting the general requirements, a school-age teacher responsible for a group of school-age children shall have achieved:

1. Thirty semester hours (or 45 quarter hours) of credit from an accredited college or university with six semester hours (or nine quarter hours) related to school-age child care, child development, elementary education, physical education, recreation, camping or other related fields; or

1. 1560 clock hours of experience in a recreational program or license day care center serving school-age children or a license exempt school-age child care program operated by a public or private school, and six semester hours (or nine quarter hours) of credit from an accredited college or university related to school-age child care, child development, elementary education, physical education, recreation, camping or other related fields: or 

1. A high school diploma or equivalency certificate plus 3120 clock hours of experience in a recreational program, kindergarten, or licensed day care center serving school-age children or a license exempt school-age child care program operated by a public or private school.

1. Completion of a training program accredited by the American Montessori Society or Association Montessori International may be substituted for the courses directly related to child care and/or child development required by this Section. Persons holding a Montessori pre-primary credential may supervise children through age six. Persons holding a Montessori primary or elementary credential may supervise children six years of age or older.

Teaching Responsibilities:

1. Work cooperatively with the Early Childhood Director and other staff members to achieve the goals and objectives of the program as set by the River Forest Community Center.
2. Plan, prepare and implement appropriate daily curriculum activities designed to address the physical, social, emotional and academic needs and growth of each child.
3. Provide a variety of materials and resources while identifying and implementing different instructional methods to meet the varying needs of children in learning activities or imaginative play. 
4. Create age appropriate lesson plans and prepare materials for class projects and activities.  Consistent with accepted early childhood practices, lesson plans will be distributed to parents on a monthly basis and must provide a variety of different age appropriate activities for participants each week.
5. Lead and monitor classroom activities. Must also be able to anticipate potential problem situations and redirect activities to provide a safe and happy environment for all children in the program.
6. Actively interact with children and participate in classroom activities as part of providing a daily positive classroom experience for program participants.
7. Be aware of each child at all times and assume responsibility for each participant until released to a parent or designated caregiver.
8. Keep accurate daily attendance records at all times, including transition points throughout the day.
9. Work in conjunction with the Early Childhood Director in making referrals and developing program plans for children with special needs.
10. Attend staff meetings, in-service trainings, and/or parental meetings as required.

Communication:

1. Maintain ongoing dialogue with parents and caregivers.
2. Distribute written communication as necessary or requested by the Community Center organization.
3. Contribute items as required for monthly newsletter, including outlines of activities and/or learning concepts to be presented in class.
4. Prepare and conduct parent/teacher conferences or consultations as required.  Conferences are typically held in the fall and at the end of school year.

General Program Responsibilities

1. Ensure the classroom or other areas are equipped with appropriate program materials. Provide a list of supplies to the Early Childhood Director prior to the items being needed to allow ample time for ordering and receiving the supplies so they are available when needed.
2. Keep the classroom in a neat and orderly condition.  Make sure equipment is clean and returned to its proper place after each use.
3. Inform the Early Childhood Director of student behavioral difficulties or other concerns.  Discuss strategies for improvement with the Early Childhood Director and/or Assistant Early Childhood Director and monitor progress as directed.
4. Evaluate the quality of the program on an ongoing basis, making recommendations for improvement to the Early Childhood Director and/or Assistant Early Childhood Director.
5. Purchase approved program supplies as requested.
6. Record and document accident/incident reports in accordance with guidelines established by the RFCC and outlined in the teacher handbook.
7. Read, understand and be aware of RFCC program information policies, procedures and guidelines, including, but not limited to, promotional material, enrollment application forms, waivers, etc.
8. The personal use of any items or media which have been acquired as a result of or which are related to an employee’s employment with the River Forest Community Center is strictly prohibited.  Examples include, but are not limited to, program information, pictures, videos, movies, postings to personal internet or social media sites, and text, picture or video messages.
9. Additional responsibilities can be assigned at the discretion of the Early Childhood Director and/or Executive Director.

Work Traits:

1. Is required to accept assigned responsibilities and work in an organized and productive manner.
2. Is required to be creative, flexible and interact cooperatively with others.
3. Is required to communicate effectively with other staff members, program participants and parents.
4. Is required to display dependability, patience, and concern for others.
5. Is required to be aware of and sensitive to the needs and concerns of children and their parents and respond appropriately. 

Special Requirements:

1. Proof of Education
2. Three letters of personal reference for personnel file
3. Proof of a negative tuberculosis (T.B.) test (skin or chest x-ray)
4. Proof of an examination by a licensed physician every two years of employment with satisfactory results
5. A signed statement that acknowledges the employee’s status as a mandated reporter of suspected child abuse and neglect
6. Authorization and fingerprint for background checks as required by 89 IL. Adm. Code 385
7. Completion of at least twenty (20) clock hours of professional development annually through participation in trainings, workshops, in-service days or staff conferences and maintain an accurate log of professional development requirements in the Gateways registry system.
8. Must comply with all requirements set forth by the Department of Children and Family Services, Department of Human Services (DHS), Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP), Gateways to Opportunity or any other designated agency which has jurisdiction over the operations of the RFCC early childhood program.  Must also have a valid Food Handler Certificate and a valid CPR/First Aid certification.

Language Skills

The Early Childhood Teacher must have an ability to read, analyze and interpret materials in the relevant field.  In addition, the Early Childhood Teacher must demonstrate oral and written skills since communication is vital to the success of the early childhood learning and education programs.  There is a need for an ability to effectively respond to inquiries, questions, or complaints from program participants and effectively present information to participants or potential participants.

Physical Demands

The physical demands are representative of those that must be performed by the Early Childhood Teacher on a regular basis to successfully perform the essential functions of the job.  The Early Childhood Teacher is frequently required to stand and walk or climb stairs or sit for extended periods while conducting program activities.  The Early Childhood Teacher may be required to participate in the set-up or take-down of activities that require the Early Childhood Teacher to lift and/or move objects up to 50 lbs.  At times, the Early Childhood Teacher may be required to physically pick up child participants who may weigh 40-50 lbs.  Visual abilities are required by the job because of the amount of reading and data analysis as well as general program functions. Vision includes close vision, distance vision and color vision.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable certain individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

General Employment Information: 

As an employee of the Community Center, I acknowledge that I am employed at the will of the Community Center and am subject to termination at any time, for any reason, with or without cause, and with or without notice. I also agree that all information relevant to the Community Center’s programs and/or activities including, but not limited to, program rosters, participant data, schedules, fees, costs, expenses, etc. whether contained on computer disks or other media or just as information acquired during the course of my employment with the Community Center is the property of the Community Center and is protected by the Illinois Trade Secrets Act.  I agree not to use this information for any purpose after separation of employment. I also understand that I must receive approval from my immediate supervisor and/or the Executive Director prior to distributing any correspondence, written or otherwise, to program participants. 

Other:

Although the RFCC will try to maintain a consistent work schedule for an Early Childhood Teacher, the work schedule may fluctuate based on program enrollment, staff absences, training sessions and/or other factors.

I have received and read the RFCC Staff handbook and agree to abide by the guidelines set forth in it.

I acknowledge the job description for the Early Childhood Teacher consists of four (4) pages and understand and accept the responsibilities of the position.