Assistant Early Childhood Education Teacher

Position Title: Assistant Early Childhood Education Teacher

Reports to: Head of School

Classification: Regular, Part time (Non-exempt)

Organization Overview:

REACH Riverside serves as the coordinating organization leading revitalization strategies that promote upward economic mobility for residents of the Riverside neighborhood. Employing the Purpose-Built Communities’ model, the revitalization focuses on three pillars: 1) redevelopment including high-quality, mixed-income housing, 2) a cradle to college and career readiness pipeline, and 3) community health, wellness, and safety initiatives. REACH, in collaboration with service partners Kingswood Community Center and The Warehouse work together to transform Riverside into a robust, healthy, and vibrant community. The Warehouse, REACH Riverside and Kingswood Community Center are collectively known as the "WRK Group". To learn more, visit www.wrkgroup.org. 

Founded in 1946, Kingswood Community Center, Inc. (KCC) sits in the heart of the Riverside Community located in Northeast Wilmington. KCC's mission is to enable people in Northeast Wilmington and surrounding communities to achieve their potential for economic, social, and personal well-being. KCC offers programs for the youngest and oldest alike, as it includes an early learning center for 12 months to 5 years of age, before and aftercare, after school programming for school age and teens, and a senior center for the elders in the community. In addition to programming, KCC provides resources, opportunities, and events to all ages.

Position Summary

The Assistant Early Childhood Education Teacher is responsible for assisting with the planning and implementation of age-appropriate high-quality learning experiences that ensure effective curriculum implementation and the use of assessment. The ECE Assistant Teacher provides a safe, developmentally-appropriate learning environment where children have the opportunity to develop cognitive, social, emotional, self-care and physical skills. This position utilizes superior classroom management skills while providing effective and nurturing teacher-child interactions and promoting individual child development. The Assistant Teacher also builds partnerships with families to assist them in identifying goals, strengths, needed services, and support systems.

Essential Functions

Program Development

• Assist with the implementation of high-quality early childhood curricula and activities, following national best practices and standards in early childhood education.
• Assist with creating learning opportunities for children which support growth in the areas of cognition, early literacy and language, social development, play skills, fine and gross motor development, fine arts, adaptive/self-care skills, health and nutrition.
• Implement a developmentally appropriate and ongoing assessment of student progress. Assessments are conducted bi-weekly via Teaching Strategies Gold.
• Follow a consistent schedule, which includes small and large group experiences, choice time, music and movement, large and small motor activities, skill development, meals and effective transitions between activities.
• Encourage experimentation, exploration, problem solving, cooperation, socialization, and choice making.
  
  
  

Instruction and Facilitation

• Maintain a clean, safe, and developmentally-appropriate classroom environment, including the organization of space, storage of supplies and materials, and sanitation of equipment.
• Work with the Teacher and support services staff in the classroom to develop a collaborative approach that benefits all children and meets the needs specified on the Individualized Learning Program (IEP) and/or Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP).
• Use appropriate guidance strategies to help children learn socially acceptable behavior, self-regulation skills, and how to express emotions in a constructive manner. Serve as a role model to participants in your attitude and behavior.
  
  
  

Community Engagement

• Communicate with parents and families on a regular basis via home visits, parent conferences, written materials and informal personal and telephone contacts. Actively seek to involve parents and families in the educational process and development of their children.
• In partnership with the Teacher, work with parents and families to set goals for each child. Monitor children’s progress towards goals and communicate with parents, families, and staff.
• Collaborate with support services staff and program partners to ensure that the needs of each child are met.
  
  
  

Resource Management

• Maintain a clean, safe, and developmentally appropriate environment, including the organization of space, storage of supplies and materials, and sanitation of equipment.
• Collaborate with support services staff and program partners to ensure that the needs of each child are met.
  
  
  

Data Management and Reporting

• Maintain compliance with agency policies and standards, legislative regulations (e.g. licensing, Delaware STARS, accidents, incidents, and disciplinary actions) and compliance with contractual requirements.
• Analyze information and maintain complete, organized, and accurate documentation (including attendance and meal count sheets). Prepare and submit timely reports and other documentation.
• Maintain an active understanding of agency programs in order to increase opportunities for support and collaboration.
• Practice continuous learning through individual study, classroom training, accredited early childhood development courses, seminars, and conferences. Work with the Director of Early Learning to develop and implement a Professional Development Plan.
• Attend regular staff meetings and supervisory meetings as scheduled.
  
  
  

Other Duties

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Competencies

Candidate must have the ability to:

• Communicate and present effectively.
• Manage multiple activities with strong attention to detail and effective time management skills.
• Work with multiple age levels of children.
• Be a team player, adapt to change, and demonstrate flexibility.
• Demonstrate excellent judgment, interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills to achieve goals and objectives.
• Thrive in a fast-paced environment.
• Be culturally sensitive.
• Be pro-active regarding job responsibilities.
• Maintain confidentiality.
  
  
  

Supervisory Responsibility

This position does not have supervisory responsibility.

Position Type and Expected Hours of Work 

This is a part time position, and general hours of work and days are Monday through Friday, 9:00 am to 5:30 pm with additional hours available during the daytime when school is in session.

Education And Experience 

• High school diploma or equivalent required; Associate’s degree preferred
• Must be at least 18 years of age
• At least one year of working with youth ages 5-12 and families
  
  
  

Certification Requirements

• First Aid/CPR preferred; must be certified within first 30 days of hire.
• Certification through Delaware First as an Intern or Assistant Teacher preferred; must be certified within first 60 days of hire.
  
  
  

Conditions of Hire

• A satisfactory criminal background and reference check, state fingerprinting, child abuse/neglect registry check, and sex offender registry check required at time of appointment and throughout employment in this position.
• Must be eligible to work in the U.S. without sponsorship.
  
  
  

Certification Requirements

First Aid/CPR preferred; must be certified within first 60 days of hire.

Conditions of Hire

• A satisfactory criminal background and reference check, a valid driver’s license, and an acceptable driving record are required at time of appointment and throughout employment in this position.
• Must be eligible to work in the U.S. without sponsorship.
  
  
  

Physical Tasks and Working Conditions

The physical demands described in the job description are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Work is performed in an office, classroom, and in the community (such as schools, businesses, parks/playgrounds). Office and classroom work require sitting for periods of time and the use of a computer, keyboard, and screen, as well as teaching tools (whiteboard, projector, etc.). The incumbent sits, stands, walks, kneels, crouches, twists, climbs stairs and inclines, reaches, bends, grasps, pushes, pulls, and drags. Office/classroom work is often performed with moderate noise levels and requires the ability to focus. The incumbent must be able to move about to facilitate workshops, access files, operate equipment and office machinery, and lift and/or move up to 20 pounds.

Work performed in the community requires the incumbent to be subject to different environmental conditions, including outdoor conditions, extreme heat and/or cold, and loud noise levels. Outdoor work may require periods of walking, standing, stooping, crouching, kneeling, reaching, pushing, pulling, and lifting, as well as peripheral vision, distance vision, depth perception, and the ability to focus.

If driving a vehicle on organization business, the incumbent must be able to meet the physical requirements of the driving class and have mobility, vision, hearing, and dexterity levels appropriate to the duties to be performed.

Evaluation of Performance

Performance in this position will be evaluated in accordance with the Personnel Practices Manual.

Equipment Use

Telephone, copier/scanner, computer/laptop (Microsoft Office Applications), fax machine, tablet, and projector.

Mental Demands

Solve problems, make decisions, exercise sound judgment, supervise, interpret data, organize, write, plan, prioritize, communicate clearly, de-escalate situations, model respectful non-abusive behavior, critical thinking, critical reasoning, attention to detail, ability to recall, coordinate schedules, work as a member of a team, and speak in public.

Evaluation of Performance

Performance in this position will be evaluated in accordance with the Personnel Practices Manual

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer

The Warehouse is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, marital status, age, veteran status, or any other status protected under local, state, or federal laws.