Early Childhood Certified Pre-K Teacher

JCC Greater Boston•Newton, MA

3d•$47,940 - $53,040•Onsite

About The Position

Godine Early Learning at JCC Greater Boston in Newton, MA, has an immediate need to hire a passionate and experienced Certified Pre-K Teacher! This role offers you the opportunity to join our mission driven team of professional educators within our highly reputable Godine ELC and become a vital part of JCC Greater Boston's respected and valued community of diverse services providers. This is a great opportunity for you to work with students of all backgrounds, with a focus on providing a positive, nurturing environment that fosters learning and growth. Our ideal candidate is an experienced, dedicated educator with a passion for helping students achieve their full potential with a kind and compassionate approach to their work and in their partnerships with their colleagues. As a valued Certified Pre-K Teacher you will be instrumental in shaping the educational journeys and social-emotional growth of our students. While engaging with young children facilitating a loving and supportive atmosphere, you'll collaborate with a dedicated team of enthusiastic educators, and develop captivating and age-appropriate lesson plans that ignite curiosity and inspire our young learners. JCC Greater Boston is deeply committed to valuing and celebrating the uniqueness of each constituent. We welcome staff and participants from diverse backgrounds. While being proudly Jewish, we strive in every way to provide an open and welcoming setting for all, irrespective of personal practices, beliefs, or background. We are guided by JCC Greater Boston’s core values - Belonging, Joyfulness, Collaboration, and Transformation - which resonate with many who do not identify as Jewish.

Requirements

EEC Teacher certification
A.A. in Early Childhood Education
A minimum of one year of supervised relevant work experience.
Computer literate; must have working knowledge of MS Office Suite applications and Outlook email.
Displays a knowledge with the needs of families with young children, with a creative ability to translate ideas, feedback, and data into innovative and meaningful experiences that meet the needs of families.
Displays a commitment to best practices relating to fostering the development of a child’s self-image as a competent and capable learner.
A record of excellent classroom management skills, oral and written language skills and excellent/effective communication skills with parents, children, and colleagues
Displays a commitment to being welcoming and warm toward children and must enjoy working with young children and their families; has a love of children and a strong desire to make a difference every day
Must be able to multi-task and juggle competing priorities while keeping child safety at the forefront at all times.
Must be committed to continuing professional development
Displays a history of working well independently and with others, with an excellent ability to build/sustain collaborative working relationships; including an ability to build strong relationships with a variety of stakeholders
Strong organizational skills, including teamwork, relationship-building skills, the ability to multitask, the ability to manage situations effectively and diplomatically
Excellent oral and written communication skills
Ability and commitment to build strong relationships with families, co-workers, ELC leadership, and JCCGB colleagues
Commitment to create and foster a dynamic environment where play and learning are a top priority
Must be willing and able to work in person at the Newton site.
Requires daily outside playground duties in weather elements.
Must have the ability to stand and walk for long periods of time, climb stairs or hill to outside space for a variety of activities.
Must be able to climb stairs with children between floors or in an emergency.
Ability to continually bend, kneel and reach.
Must be able to lift and carry young children, up to 20-30 pounds, on a regular basis.
Requires the ability to frequently stoop or squat to be at child’s eye level and frequently sits on floor or in very small chairs.

Nice To Haves

B.A. in Early Childhood Education or related field (i.e. elementary education, social work, psychology) is preferred.
An equivalent combination of education and experience may be substituted at the JCC’s discretion to meet minimum criteria.

Responsibilities

Aligned with JCC's core values, collegially collaborate regularly with co-teacher(s), colleagues and director to develop a high quality program around a base of observations which support the intellectual, social/emotional, moral and physical development of each child:
Effectively implement developmentally appropriate early childhood curriculum
Communicate and document children’s interactions and experiences aligned with best practice and policy
Assess the developmental stages of children and maintain records, including writing children’s progress reports using COR Advantage; observe and produce play-based assessments and clear effective written evaluations using COR Advantage
Use best practices incorporating Mass EEC, and the JCC SHEVA frameworks and curriculum guidelines; adhere to all EEC regulations as well as NAEYC guidelines
Maintains an aesthetically pleasing, organized, vibrant classroom environment that promotes health, safety, and positive age appropriate developmental experiences for each child
Effectively and consistently set limits using positive language and providing emotional safety for each child; maintain excellent classroom management
Work with and incorporate suggestions from the regular support of our Child Development Specialist
Document learning as an instructional/curriculum tool through portfolio, observational checklist, play-based assessment, digital photography/iPad, journals, or other methods as determined by your center director
Review and update files of all children in your classroom, noting allergies or special traits pertinent to the maximization of the child’s potential
Instruct and foster learning using a wide variety of activities, materials, and experiences that encourage children to explore and develop through play; effectively foster and provide a healthy, safe and secure, positive, nurturing, and fun learning environment:
Help each child develop a positive self-image and respect each child’s right to be an individual
Facilitate each child’s physical, social, emotional and intellectual growth and development; fostering the effective development of the verbalization of feelings and emotions
Encourage each child’s independence leading to a sense of competency
Assist with and foster the development of each child’s own awareness of their needs and their understanding and respect for the rights of others
Establish positive, interactive and effective relationships with families through informal conversations, feedback, and conferences:
Aid parents and children in the transition and adjustment to school
Provide excellent communication to effectively inform parents about developmental stages of young children and developmentally appropriate curriculum; provide supportive and informative communication daily with parents of each child and maintain classroom newsletters
Maintaining on-going communication with parents about the administration of classroom activities and activities.
Participate in scheduled parent conferences throughout the year
Maintain the highest level of professionalism and confidentiality regarding children and families and embody the principles of excellent customer service; as an employee of the JCCGB, the teacher is a representative of the mission and philosophy the JCC Early Learning Centers.
Actively create a welcoming dynamic environment where each individual is valued and respected
Support JCC Greater Boston’s mission, vision, and values including through personal role modeling
Attend JCC meetings and actively participate in the department's goals and initiatives
Other duties, as assigned
Provide mentorship to assistant teachers.

Benefits

Competitive cost-sharing Health and Dental Insurance
JCC Sponsored/Paid Health Reimbursement Account
JCC Sponsored/Paid Group Life Insurance and LTD Coverage
Flexible Spending Account (FSA) Tax benefit
403(b) retirement plan enrollment
Voluntary Supplemental Vision Insurance
Additional Voluntary Supplemental Life/ADD coverage for you and your family
Generous paid time off
Complimentary Individual JCC membership to the JCC Greater Boston facility in Newton – offering virtual and in-person programs including indoor swimming, many fitness classes, and workout facilities, as well as discounts to many JCCGB events, classes, outdoor pool, and more.
Use of the Fitness Center at Leventhal-Sidman
Access to group fit classes, Arts & Culture adult programming at member rates,
Discounted child care at JCCGB Early Learning Centers and after-school program
Discounted JCCGB camp tuition