Day Care Teacher - Part Time

Little Sprouts Day Care Inc•San Luis Obispo, CA

About The Position

The Infant/Toddler Teacher cares for, supervises, and manages a class of children ages 5 months to 3 years in accordance with Little Sprouts’ goals and curriculum plan. The teacher develops and carries out daily activities, evaluates their effectiveness, supports each child’s development, and contributes to the operation of the early care and education center. The role reports to the Center Director and Assistant Director. The teacher provides a safe, hygienic, supportive classroom environment; maintains regular communication with families; keeps individual child records; and works collaboratively with other staff. Little Sprouts describes its program as centered on each child’s individual developmental needs, age-appropriate programming, community-building, and sustainable environmental choices and business practices.

Requirements

Must be at least 18 years old.
High school graduate or GED.
12 core semester units in early childhood education/development or an appropriate age-level program curriculum, including 3 units in infant care.
Six months of experience working in a licensed child-care center.
CPR and First Aid certification.
Cleared fingerprints.
Up-to-date immunizations.
Mandated Reporter Training completion certification.
Warm, supportive attitude toward children and families; reliability and reachability; flexibility with assignments and program changes; and willingness to accept supervision.
Excellent oral and written communication skills.
Physically able to perform the work of a teacher of young children.
Professional appearance, attitude, and ability; respect for confidentiality and dignity; ability to build trusting relationships and work as part of a team.
Knowledge and experience working with infants and toddlers and of basic child development and age-appropriate activities.
Knowledge of safety, communicable disease management, control and prevention, and basic first aid.
Patience and ability to remain calm under pressure and react quickly in emergencies.
Time-management, organization, and parent-communication skills.

Responsibilities

Carry out child-care routines promptly and hygienically, including diapering, hand washing, meals, naps, and transitions.
Plan and deliver activities that meet children’s physical, social, emotional, and intellectual needs in line with Little Sprouts’ curriculum and goals.
Maintain children’s safety through constant supervision, safe room arrangements and equipment, and regular fire drills and emergency procedures.
Operate the classroom in compliance with child-care licensing standards and the Little Sprouts Infant/Toddler Center Employee and Policy Handbook.
Create a friendly, cooperative environment where children and families feel comfortable and secure.
Provide experiences that encourage individual expression through conversation, play, creativity, and language stimulation.
Maintain confidentiality of staff, child, and family information.
Assist with training new staff and volunteers; model respectful conduct and do not yell at children or use derogatory comments.
Communicate with parents through daily contacts and scheduled conferences, sharing information about children’s experiences and development.
Maintain written records to evaluate each child and support parent-child bonding and relationships.
Greet children and parents warmly each morning.
Initiate daily classroom activities such as sing-alongs, art projects, sensory exploration, and outdoor stimulation; display children’s artwork monthly when age appropriate.
Provide individualized daily care to infants and toddlers, including diapering every two hours and feeding on demand.
Observe children for signs of illness, injury, abuse, neglect, emotional disturbance, or other special needs and report concerns immediately to the Director.
Use equipment and supplies safely, keep the environment clean and orderly, and inspect the site and equipment for hazards, taking corrective action or informing the Director.
Participate in staff meetings and share information gained through workshops and professional reading.
Work as part of a team to maintain continuity and quality across classrooms.
Supervise assistants, give instructions, and delegate duties professionally.
Learn and implement current curriculum practices in the classroom.