Preschool Teacher

Center teaching staff support the planning and implementation of Catalyst’s program for children ranging in age from toddlers, pre-school, kinder, and school age, depending on the site. Catalyst Teachers must be able to facilitate a variety of age appropriate activities, support children’s’ social emotional development, and ensure all children are supervised at all times in a healthy and safe environment.

Essential Functions:

• Create and implement developmentally appropriate curriculum directly connected to the interests and development of children and youth, supported by learning frameworks and foundations that promote positive child/youth development
• Keep children/youth healthy and safe by connecting proper supervision, positive interactions, healthy habits, and compliance
• Create, implement and maintain intentional, enriched and supportive learning environments connected to curriculum and quality experiences that are appropriate for all children
• Provide excellent customer service by establishing and maintaining authentic connections and reciprocal, culturally responsive relationships with children, youth, families, schools, communities and center/classroom team 
• Work collaboratively with each other 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 and physical environments for children
• Be on time and present on 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 routinely be exposed to indoor and outdoor elements. Teaching staff may be required to:

• Visually inspect the environment for hazards to children; identify hazards and implement preventative actions (i.e., set up cones to limit the play area) to maintain a safe environment for children 
• Be comfortable with occasional loud noise in or outside the classroom during active/loud 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 (example, sitting on the floor, kneeling, squatting) for activities and problem-solving/interactions
• Supervise field trips to destinations such as aquatics parks, beaches, and trampoline parks
  
  

Qualifications & Experience:

Teachers are the individuals with the highest educational qualifications assigned to a group of children/classroom/center/program. They may also direct/supervise other members of the teaching team.   

Education

Education and permit requirements may vary by center needs and/or require age group specific units depending on the program, such as Infant, Toddler, School-Age, Title 5 or Title 22 status.

• 24 units in child development, early childhood development or related field, plus 16 general education units
• AA degree in ECE, CD, or related field from a national accredited college  
• BA degree in ECE, CD, or related field from a national accredited college/university
• Teacher or above Child Development Permit 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 preferred
• 1 year experience supervising adults or equivalent Adult Supervision units 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, anecdotal notes)
• Ability to work alongside colleagues and maintain a professional team environment
• Current adult and infant/child CPR/First Aid certification preferred
• Bilingual/Multilingual language preference based on individual center needs 
   

Shift Type: Full Time

Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8am - 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
• Education Reimbursement Program
• 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.