Associate Teacher

San Juan Regional Medical Center • Farmington, NM

11d • Onsite

About The Position

Creating Life Better Here starts with you. At San Juan Regional Medical Center, we're more than a healthcare provider—we're a values-driven organization dedicated to delivering exceptional care. As a team member, you help fulfill our mission to make life better here for our community. Under the guidance of the Teacher, the Associate Teacher provides a safe and nurturing environment for children that encourage their social, emotional, physical and intellectual development. They design and implement a developmentally appropriate curriculum according to guidelines established by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). The Associate Teacher maintains a positive relationships with families, children and colleagues. They also assist the Teacher with all functions and responsibilities listed in the Duties and Responsibilities section.

Requirements

• High School diploma/GED is required.
• Demonstrates interest in working with children.
• Complete forty-five (45) Hour Entry Level Course or approved ECE course within six (6) months of employment.
• Must have Pediatric First Aide CPR AED certification within six (6) months of employment.
• Must complete twenty-four (24) hours of state training required by the ECECD.

Nice To Haves

• Prior experience working with children.

Responsibilities

• Must complete twenty-four (24) hours of state training required by the ECECD.
• Interact frequently, affectionately, and respectfully by smiling, touching, and holding children.
• Speak in a friendly, calm, soft, courteous manner within close proximity to the children.
• Respect and observe children's interests.
• Intervene when needed to maintain safety.
• Enhance children's play with language, toys, and activities.
• Engage and communicate constructively with individual children during activities and routines.
• Take every opportunity to positively extend children's thinking and actions.
• Be available and responsive to children's needs, questions, and requests.
• Acknowledge feelings with sensitivity and demonstrate appropriate expression of emotions.
• Practice positive guidance techniques in guiding children's behavior.
• Be attentive, flexible and supportive of children and their families during transitions to and from classrooms.
• Implement a developmentally appropriate curriculum that reflects observations and assessments of individual children and goals jointly developed with families.
• Assist in the design of an environment that responds to children's individual developmental levels, physical and emotional needs, and current interests.
• Provide a variety of developmentally appropriate materials and activities that foster social skills and encourage children to think, problem solve, question, and experiment.
• Foster a positive self-concept by supporting individuality, independence, and the ability to make choices.
• Demonstrate respect for diversity by providing anti-bias, non-sexist language, images, and experiences that reflect both location and global communities.
• Share ideas in planning a daily schedule that provides a balance of activities: quiet/active, indoor/outdoor, fine/gross motor, etc.
• Implement child-oriented, self-initiated activities while limiting large group, staff-initiated activities.
• Provide more than one (1) option for group activity and maintain flexibility in changing planned activities, according to the children's interests.
• Assist in the documentation of children's accomplishments through anecdotal notes, documentation panels, and/or portfolios.
• Acknowledge families and all classroom visitors. Demonstrate a friendly, courteous, and professional demeanor.
• Participate in a primary caregiving relationship with individual children and their families, including the intake meeting.
• Share appropriate information with families daily regarding the development and specific activities of the children in their primary care. Utilize appropriate written communication tools as assigned.
• Assist in planning and participate in regular family conferences to discuss orientation, transition, and developmental goals for their child based on appropriate assessment tools.
• Maintain and follow all safety and health rules of the location.
• Supervise children at all times. Demonstrate awareness of the entire group while working with a small group or individual.
• Know the number of children in your group and maintain ratios at all times.
• Maintain accurate attendance records throughout the day.
• Complete appropriate paperwork (i.e., accidents, medication, and allergies).
• Encourage children to utilize appropriate health, safety and nutritional practices.
• Keep the environment and equipment safe, clean, and attractive. Encourage respect for classroom materials. Notify designated individuals in advance when supplies are needed.
• Maintain confidentiality about issues concerning other staff members, children and families or Children’s Discovery Place management and operations. Must not involve families in center concerns.
• Become very familiar with ages and stages of development for those children under your care. Understand the general areas of physical, social, cognitive and emotional development for this age group.
• Support organizational mission, philosophies, values, goals, and policies to families, colleagues, and community.
• Respect and adhere to staffing schedules which may be adjusted as the program needs change and may include working in another classroom.
• Demonstrate flexibility and openness to new ideas in childcare practices.
• Attend staff meetings, training sessions, and other center events.
• Continue professional growth by attending courses, asking for feedback, and reading professional literature.
• Receive constructive criticism with an attitude that indicates a willingness to improve.
• Provide feedback in a respectful manner.
• Assume a fair share of work.
• Look for ways to be helpful.
• Demonstrate initiative.
• Assume additional classroom and center/school responsibilities as needed (i.e., kitchen, pets, children's files, etc.).
• Participate actively in teaching the team through communication, collaboration, and curriculum planning.
• Each employee is responsible for implementing SJRMC’s Service Standards into their daily work: Safety, Courtesy, Effectiveness, and Stewardship
• Other duties as assigned

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: High school or GED