Preschool Teacher

Job description

Art Beast Child Development Center is hiring LEAD PRESCHOOL TEACHERS! We are looking for teachers who are passionate about outdoor learning, who LOVE our play-based philosophy and our nature-based, socio-emotional driven curriculum.

We are a collective of schools that include:

Muck and Wonder Farm School: muckandwonderfarmschool.com Arden Area, In operation as a licensed facility since October 2018, M&W is mostly outdoor farm school, operates 1:8 ratio

Art Beast Studio: artbeaststudio.com Heart of Midtown Sacramento, In operation as a licensed facility since October 2022, operates 1:8 ratio

Art Beast Child Development Center: artbeastcdc.com South Sacramento, In operation as a licensed facility since October 2017, currently closed for construction, operates 1:8 ratio, has infant-toddler program operates at 1:3 ratio

Program Overview: Our child development centers are play based learning centers for infant, toddler, preschool and school aged children. We celebrate child directed learning and our indoor and outdoor spaces include opportunities for both community and independent play. The dynamic environments balance an offering of rhythm and predictability with ever rotating supplies and experiences that allow children to explore the arts, sciences, movement, nature, math, reading, writing, and community in a range of ways.

We offer:

Competitive Pay: Starting pay for a teacher in our program is $20-$24/ hour depending on experience and ECE coursework. Benefits: Full time employees are eligible for medical, vision, dental, and life insurance benefits on first of month after 60 day welcome period. WTV pays 70% of the premium with a $500 monthly cap.

Overview of Responsibilities and Duties: Preschool teachers deliver a child development program that gives each child ample time to explore, create, and learn about his or her world. We are seeking preschool teachers who will be responsible for inspiring and ensuring the safety of a class group with low child to adult ratios. Preschool teachers work closely with the center director to design and implement meaningful play environments and maintain healthy rhythms. We are looking for teachers with a true reverence for children and a passion for creating and leading process-based learning experiences. The teachers must also be able to maintain the fundamental philosophies and policies of both the school(s)and licensing requirements. Teachers communicate each child’s growth and challenges to his or her parent through quarterly documentation reports, portfolios of work, and daily communication.

Primary Responsibilities

Lead a Meaningful and Joyful Child Development Program: Celebrate each child by learning his or her interests, needs and talents. Teachers get to know individual learning styles and offer an environment that greets each child with possibility. This includes understanding and respecting the cultures and backgrounds of each child.

• Lead Circle times that are rhythmic, dynamic, and meaningful.
• Build a community of children where each can develop her or his voices in building relationships, resolving challenges, and exploring the possibilities of working together.
• Lead daily activities so that children can explore new ways of moving their bodies, creating, and interacting, our school(s) encourage(s) each child to explore, interact, play, and unfold their spirit.
• Lead daily opening traditions that may include a welcoming song, a movement game, and a greeting that names each child.
• Design environment and experiences in response to children’s curiosity and creative impulses. Supporting the projects and ideas that emerge from the children in the community will be a central element of the program.

Maintain a Safe and Inspiring Child Development Environment: Teachers help maintain the quality of each play space. At day’s end each day, teachers must return each play space to order, preferably by guiding the community of children in restoring the environment. Teachers ensure completion of daily cleaning tasks and safety checks to ensure the environment is safe. Cleaning checklists must be completed daily.

• Teachers ensure staff and students use of universal precautions.

Orient New Families

Teachers help educate parents about center policies such as sickness policy, participation guidelines, and drop off and pick up. Teachers also dialog with parents to clarify the structure and philosophies as a school centered on child choice and play based learning.

Grow as Leaders and Teachers

Teachers participate in staff meetings, design emergent curriculum, and on rotation facilitate monthly meetings with colleagues to ensure program quality. Our school embraces a collaborative model of planning and delivering a powerful program. Teachers are also expected to plan individual curriculum that is modified for the age and development group(s).

Requirements:

• Prefer experience working with children between the ages of 0 and 6.
• 12 core ECE units required of a teacher OR six core units completed and be enrolled in the next 3 required core units.
• Must have or be willing to secure current CPR and be responsible for renewal every two years as required by State Licensing.
• Must have immunizations required by the Health Department and TB clearance.
• A commitment to playfulness, warmth, gentle discipline and providing children with endless opportunities to explore. We are looking for teachers with a passion for the possibilities of teaching children and creating powerful environments to support learning and exploration.
• A willingness to expand expertise in the field through reading articles, attendance of conferences and workshops on Early Childhood Education.
• Knowledge of: principles of child development theories and practices; classroom team teaching techniques; pertinent state and local laws, codes, and regulations; principles and practices of curriculum development; appropriate activities and procedures of record-keeping; principles of basic nutrition; teacher has an awareness of Positive Discipline approach.

Essential Qualities

• Hard Working
• Creative
• Ability to work independently and see a plan through
• Professional: An ability to establish healthy, clear boundaries and model emotional intelligence is essential
• Joyful: Our young parents and children rely on us for smiles, hearty hellos, and a positive attitude that never quits.
• Open minded and inclusive: We respect the cultures and family traditions of our diverse families. We respect their cultures, their histories, their religious beliefs or their atheism, their politics, their sexual orientation, and decisions about how to best raise their children.
• Flexible: Your best laid plans will intersect with the busy-ness and vision of the children.
• Desire to be a part of a work environment where every person supports, encourages, problem solves, and envisions growth together.
• Honoring work schedule. We ask our teachers to take seriously the rhythms of our children’s day by honoring their assigned work schedule to the very best of their ability. This means scheduling any personal needs on off time- including trainings, doctors, dentist, car, vet appointments etc. With advanced notice we have the ability to be more flexible but prefer schedules to be honored.

Physical demands Lifting up to 30 pounds

• Occasional use of stairs
• Physical demands associated with caring for children

Equal Opportunity Employer: Waking the Village is an equal opportunity employer and service provider. WTV believes that all people are entitled to equal opportunity for employment or connection to services provided by our agency. We follow state, local, and federal laws prohibiting discrimination in hiring, employment, and service provision. We do not discriminate against employees, clients, volunteers, or applicants in violation of those laws. We extend this policy to volunteers and interns working for Waking the Village and all clients served by our agency. Waking the Village reaffirms its long-standing policy prohibiting discrimination in employment and the provision of services on the basis of the fact or perception of: Race, Color, Ancestry, National origin, Religion, Sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, and related medical conditions), Disability, Age, Citizenship status, Genetic information, Marital status, Sexual orientation and identity, Gender Expression and Gender Identity, AIDS/HIV, Medical condition, Political activities or affiliations/ opinion, Military or veteran status, Status as a victim of domestic violence, assault, or stalking.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $20.00 - $24.00 per hour

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• Childcare
• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Professional development assistance
• Retirement plan
• Vision insurance

Work Location: In person