Catalyst teaching staff support the planning and implementation of Catalyst's programming for children ranging in age from infant, toddler, pre-school, kinder, and school age depending on the location. Teachers must be able to facilitate a variety of age appropriate activities, support children's social emotional development, and ensure children are supervised at all times in a healthy and safe environment.
Essential Functions:
- Create and implement developmentally appropriate curriculum supported by learning foundations that are directly connected to their interests and promote positive child development
- Create, implement, and maintain intentional, enriched, and supportive learning environments and quality experiences that are age appropriate for all children
- Provide excellent customer service by establishing authentic connections and reciprocal, culturally responsive relationships with children, youth, families, schools, communities, and center/classroom team
- Keep children healthy and safe by ensuring proper supervision, positive interactions, healthy habits, and excellent compliance
- Work collaboratively with fellow staff by connecting work place values, education, and experience to provide the highest quality programs and creative workplaces
Work Environment:
All teaching staff are expected to demonstrate behaviors that are essential for successful programs and environment including the following:
- Positive interactions with children and youth
- Maintain kind, respectful, and safe emotional/physical environments for children
- Be on time and present on a regularly scheduled basis
- Be active in outdoor and indoor programs
- Be physically and mentally capable of interacting with children up to 13 years of age, meeting all their needs and ensuring their safety
- Be aware of and implement safety guidelines; report any health & safety issues or incidents to management, and remain calm if providing first aid (as needed) during emergency situations
Physical & Environmental Conditions:
Teaching staff are responsible for various program elements on a daily basis and will be exposed to indoor and outdoor elements. Teaching staff may be required to:
- Visually insect environment for hazards to children; identify hazards and implement preventative actions (i.e. set up cones to limit play area) to maintain a safe environment for children
- Be comfortable with occasional loud noise in our outside the classroom during activities
- Be comfortable with frequent bending, lifting, twisting, reaching, pushing, and pulling
- Push, lift, carry, and hold various objects up to 15 lbs. - by individual or team effort - such as equipment carts, emergency back packs, food coolers, classroom furnishings, and other similar program materials
- Work inside the classroom or outside the room in all weather conditions which are safe for children
- Traverse various terrains (grass, blacktop, dirt) and heights (ladders, playgrounds) depending on the school outdoor environment
- Adapt to the physical level of children (i.e. sitting on the floor, kneeling, squatting) for activities and problem-solving interactions
- Supervise field trips to destinations such as aquatic parks, beaches, and trampoline parks
Qualifications & Experience:
Education
Education and permit requirements may vary by center needs/require age group specific units depending on the program, such as Infant, Toddler, School-Age, Title 5 or Title 22 status.
Teacher education/permit requirements:
- 24 postsecondary semester or equivalent quarter units in Early Childhood Education, Child Development, or related field with passing grades of C- or better, plus 16 general education units OR
- AA degree or higher in ECE, CD, or related field from a nationally accredited college OR
- Teacher Permit or above issued by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing
Experience & Skills
- 2 years of experience in a group care environment where care/teaching was provided for a consistent age group is preferred
- 1 year of experience supervising adults or equivalent adult supervision units if preferred
- Effective problem solving, conflict resolution, classroom management, and communication with children and families
- Effective organization, time management, curriculum, and assessment documentation (lesson plans, portfolios, and anecdotal notes)
- Ability to work alongside colleagues and maintain a professional team environment
- Current adult and infant/child CPR & First Aid certification is preferred
- Bilingual/multilingual language preference based on individual center needs
Shift Type: Full Time
Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:30am - 5pm
What We Offer:
- Medical, Dental, and Vision Benefits
- 401(k) Retirement plan and Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
- Personal Health Advocate
- Paid vacation, sick time, and holidays
- Commuter pre-tax benefit
- Discounted childcare
- Access to the Calm app
- Tickets at Work employee discounts
- Be constantly in a learning and growth process with training and professional growth advisory
We are proud to be an EEO/AA employer M/F/D/V. We maintain a drug-free workplace.