Associate Teacher - Preschool

Over the course of more than 125 years, MNCs have provided services essential to the improvement of the lives of San Francisco’s communities. We believe that supporting individual members of a family throughout each life phase, brings success and upward mobility for the entire family. Today, we have 21 campuses which are enhancing the lives of low-income seniors, youth, and families.

The Associate Teacher will guide children throughout the day, will assist in providing quality, comprehensive child development services to preschool children and their families; and encouraging parental involvement in educational planning, goal setting and center activities. Promotes health, safety, nutrition, social, emotional, physical, and cognitive development of preschool children enrolled in the program. The Associate Teacher will assume responsibility of the Master/Lead teacher in their absence. Participate in community needs assessment activities, and an annual program self-assessment. Use information in ongoing program improvement.

Location: Bayview Campus, Valencia Campus and Mission Campus

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS / RESPONSIBILITIES

Interacting with Children

• Helps teacher instruct children and parents (e.g. nutrition, self-care, social, motor skills, language skills, etc.) to optimize each child's development and enhance parenting skills. Uses English language to assist ESL learners to acquire English language skills and to expand the language skills and vocabulary of the English-Speakers.
• Implements academic, behavior, family events, health, and nutrition plans (e.g. literacy activities, stories, songs, math/science activities, art, etc.) to achieve program objectives.
• Helps to carry out small groups’ activities to provide classroom activities and routines that support individual/group needs and/or deliver services in compliance with established guidelines.
• Assists children with hand washing and tooth brushing to model appropriate personal hygiene.
• Assists children during naptime.
• Use positive discipline techniques such as CSEFEL in guiding children’s behavior.

Assessing Children

• Observe children in all developmental domains and document observations showing progress through weekly lesson plans and anecdotal notes according to policy and procedures within the identified timelines.
• Monitors conversation, manners, cleanup activities, listening, etc. for the purpose of demonstrating appropriate social behavior.
• Demonstrates awareness of entire group, including number ratio while working with primary care children.

Curriculum Preparation

• Assists in organizing indoor/outdoor, quiet/active and field trip activities appropriate to age group for the purpose of actively participating in the learning activities with children.
• In collaboration with the Master/Lead Teacher, conducts home visits and parent-teacher conferences (ILP’s) in accordance with Head Start Performance Standards and program policies and procedures.
• In collaboration with the Master/Lead Teacher, develop developmentally appropriate lesson plans based on children’s strengths, interests, and needs reflected in observations, screenings, and the DRDP-2015 assessment results.
• In collaboration with the Master/Lead Teacher, prepare documentation to support referrals for further evaluation and specialized services for children with suspected special needs.

Communication with Parents

• Encourage parent involvement in the program.
• Inform parents about daily classroom routine, expectations, policies, field trips and volunteer opportunities.
• Communicate with parents about incidents that have been observed and recorded on-site regarding their child.
• Build strong foundations for continuing relationships with children and their families.
• Conduct ILP conferences with each child’s parents for a minimum of 2 times per year to partner in learning goals, develop coordinated learning support, strategies, and involve the parents in the child’s school experience.

Supervision

• Assist volunteers and parents in working with children in the classroom with proper health practices, food handling and interactions/supervision of children.
• Assists other personnel as may be required for the purpose of ensuring an efficient and effective work environment.
• Responsible for ensuring that all adults in the classroom follow schedules, routines and policies of the classroom, the campus, and the agency.

Administration

• Ensure the maintenance and filing of appropriate forms and documents in children’s files.
• May assume coverage in the absence of the Lead Teacher and remain flexible about staffing schedule which may be adjusted as program needs change and may include working in another classroom.
• Maintain flexibility in changing planned activities according to children’s interests.
• Conduct 45-day developmental screenings and three developmental assessments (DRDP-2015) for each child.
• In collaboration with campus staff, ensure that the timelines of 30, 45, and 90 days are met upon enrollment dates (e.g. homes visits, mental health notes, developmental screenings, ASQ-3, ASQ-SE-2, if needed, vision & hearing screenings).
• Develop Individualized Learning Plans (ILP) for each child based on observations, screenings, parent input and the DRDP-2015 assessment results.
• Assist in performing height and weight measurements of the children twice a year according to policy and procedure within the designated timelines.
• Complete daily meal counts and checks ChildPlus for any sign-in/sign-out missing signatures of records of daily attendance for the Childcare Food Program according to MNC’s policies and procedures.
• Complete and track Attendance Reports, and Best Interest Days (daily/monthly), if applicable to facility.

Classroom Maintenance

• Maintains classroom equipment, work areas, student files/records for the purpose of ensuring availability of items, providing reliable information and/or ensuring a safe and sanitary environment.
• Responds to emergency situations for the purpose of resolving immediate safety concerns and/or directing to appropriate personnel for resolution. Assist in the maintenance of equipment and emergency supplies.
• Cleans facilities, equipment, refrigerator, and playground area for the purpose of ensuring a safe and sanitary environment.
• Assist in keeping labeled classroom areas and objects.
• Responsible to take the initiative to rotate a variety of materials on low open shelves for children to use independently.
• Set-up and serves meals and snacks for the purpose of meeting nutritional needs of students. Checks and signs for food and food service supplies when they are delivered if assistant or floater teacher not available.
• Check temperature of food delivery, log temperature and follow procedure for heating and storage of food according to MNC’s policies and procedures.
• Carries out Health & Safety Checklist; corrects and identifies deficiencies. Perform minor repairs and maintenance in classroom, as needed. Report major repairs to the Site Supervisor / Master Teacher.

Secondary Functions

• Follow Head Start/CDE/CLD policies and procedures in reporting suspected child abuse in accordance with federal and state laws.
• Attends meetings and/or workshops (e.g. staff/center meetings, in-service sessions, training, and parent meetings) for the purpose of conveying and/or gathering information required to perform functions and/or maintaining their professional development.
• Must follow timekeeping policies and procedures and approve your timesheet following payroll schedule.

Customer Service

• Provide exceptional customer service.
• Always represent the Company in a professional manner.

Safety

• Maintain personal safety, use personal protection equipment (PPE) and follow Company policies.
• Report all and any safety issues, accidents or injuries to your manager as a matter of priority.
• Use safety walk and carry one child at a time up and down stairs.

Effective Team Member

• Ability to interact positively with team members.
• Ability to facilitate positive change.
• Partner with supervisor when necessary to address department issues or concerns.

Position Qualification Requirements

Education: Require a High School Diploma or GED; must be enrolled in college education working towards an AA degree in Early Childhood Development, ESL and/or General Education in accordance with the Professional Development Plan developed with the Site Supervisor or Master Teacher.

Experience: Must have a 16-hour certification in training and experience in the principles of child health, safety, and nutrition. In addition, must have experience in preschool setting and meets the California Community Care Licensing requirements, including 12 ECE Units including core course as listed on the Child Development Permit Matrix. Current or Previous Head Start Parent, preferred.

Requirements:

• State of California Child Development Associate Teacher Level Permit
• Current Physical Health Screening (every 2 years thereafter)

• Fingerprinting Clearance (DOJ)
• Current Immunizations (TB, Influenza, MMR, Pertussis) (must be kept current)
• Clearance Child Abuse Index
• Current CPR & First Aid Certificate (every 2 years thereafter)
• Must be register with the Early Care & Education Workforce Registry
• Must attend trainings that are required by funders (might be an evening or Saturday)

Language(s): Bilingual, bi-literate preferred; English/Spanish or other language ability based on program needs.

Skills and Abilities:

• Personality - Independent thinker, possess excellent customer service skills, professional attitude, a high level of personal integrity, maturity, and business judgment required.
• Performance - Able to multi-task, prioritize task, meet deadlines, able to do presentations and to maintain confident information.
• Communication - Strong written and verbal communication skills. Must be a well-organized professional who thrives in a team-oriented environment.
• Stress Management - Ability to remain tactful under pressure and present a professional demeanor and communication style with co-workers in a multicultural setting.

Software: Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications: Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Internet Explorer.

Decision Making: Set priorities and standards of performance; Develop plans by which work can be accomplished.

Tools and Equipment: General office equipment, fax, copier, printer, phone, and computer.

Confidential and Sensitive Information: Maintain the highest level of confidentiality when dealing with client records

What we offer

• Pay Rate: $33.88 Hourly
• Location: Bayview Campus, Valencia Campus and Mission Campus
• Medical – Kaiser and CCHP / Dental – Principal / Vision – Vision Care / Life Insurance - $50,000 / 403b – 3% match / FSA / Pet Care
• 15 paid sick days / 12 paid holidays / 12 paid vacation days
• EAP (Employee Assistance Program) / WADP (Working Advantage Discount Program)

If you are seeking an organization that values, promotes and develops leadership by delivering culturally sensitive, multi-generational, community-based services that empower families to build strong, healthy, and vibrant neighborhoods with the vision of a strong, healthier and more vibrant community that respects and celebrates its many rich, cultural traditions, please apply.

How to Apply

If you are qualified and interested in applying, please apply on this job board or on their website www.mncsf.org under careers or send your resume and cover letter with the name of the position in the subject line to mario.quintanilla@mncsf.org or jobs@mncsf.org

MNC is an equal-opportunity employer that welcomes diversity in the workplace and has a great company culture. Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, they will consider qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records for employment.