Reports To: Building Principal and/or other assigned school administrator
Job Summary: Educate and care for children younger than age 5 who have not yet entered kindergarten. Teach language, motor, and social skills to young children. Responsible for establishing and maintain a classroom environment that utilizes space, material, routines, and guidance techniques to effectively facilitate physical, emotional, intellectual and social development of children.
Duties and Responsibilities:
• Teach children basic skills such as identifying colors, shapes, numbers, and letters
• Work with children in groups or one on one, depending on the needs of children and on the subject matter
• Plan and carry out a curriculum that focuses on different areas of child development
• Organize activities so children can learn about the world, explore interests, and develop skills
• Develop schedules and routines to ensure children have enough physical activity and rest
• Watch for signs of emotional or developmental problems in each child and bring them to the attention of the child’s parents
• Keep records of the children’s progress, routines, and interests, and inform parents about their child’s development
• Provide care and protection for assigned children
• Maintain a physical environment conducive to children’s growth and development and arrange to promote optimal program functioning.
• Consider and provide for the needs of the individual in relationship to their cultural and socioeconomic background, emotional or physical handicaps and individual style and pace of learning.
• Respect the dignity and basic rights of each child
• Help children learn to adapt to and cope with real-life situations; to develop appropriate habits in such activities as eating, dressing, napping and personal hygiene
• Work with and refer to the Principal children with unmet special needs, as well as families with problems that affect the child in the classroom
• Make daily observations of the health of children, reporting conditions which require attention
• Hold bi-annual, more often if necessary, parent-teacher conferences and seek to involve parents in the child development program by participating in parent meetings and demonstrating an interest in the child that extends beyond the classroom.
• Work with parents to solve behavior problems; arrange parent conferences as necessary and field parent’s complaints
• Participate in staff meetings, training sessions, conferences, workshops and other career development and professional activities
• Assure that equipment and materials are accessible, appropriate and in good condition
• Maintain a pleasant, comfortable atmosphere for staff and children
Benefits Salary and benefits adhere to the Cairo Association of Teachers contract with the Board of Education.
Requirements • Must hold an Illinois Professional Educator License with an Early Childhood Certification Endorsement
• At least one year of teaching experience working with appropriately age children
• Ability to work effectively with diverse staff, parents, and community members