Early Childhood Instructor

AVANCE Austin Inc•Austin, TX

1h•Hybrid

About The Position

The Early Childhood Instructor provides a safe, educationally stimulating, and nurturing environment for children at AVANCE-Austin service sites. The role delivers developmentally appropriate learning experiences for young children, with an emphasis on pre-literacy and math skills that support cognitive development. The instructor follows lesson plans and daily schedules, prepares activities and materials, maintains classroom learning areas, and supports children’s health, hygiene, and developmental needs. The position also maintains children’s attendance, health, injury, and assessment records; communicates and collaborates with families and coworkers; attends scheduled meetings and training; and participates in recruitment and special-event activities. For services outside AVANCE-Austin centers, the instructor prepares and transports materials, sets up temporary children’s centers and activities, and removes them afterward. The position may require travel to partner and AVANCE Austin sites, up to 15% locally, using dependable transportation.

Requirements

High school diploma and/or equivalent, a Child Development Associate (CDA), an equivalent credential addressing comparable competencies, or equivalent experience in the field.
At least 1 year of experience in an early childhood program serving infants and toddlers in a developmentally appropriate environment.
Ability to travel to various sites, with dependable transportation required daily.
Valid driver’s license, clean driving record subject to annual MVR check and policy, current auto liability insurance, and ability to be bondable by AVANCE, Inc.
Important skills include problem solving, active listening, reading comprehension, speaking, service orientation, writing coordination, time management, social perceptiveness, monitoring, and active learning.
Additional important skills include written comprehension, oral comprehension, oral expression, speech recognition, written expression, and effective presentation.
Ability to maintain emotional control under stress and work with interruptions and deadlines.
Ability to walk, stand, stoop, bend, pull, push, use hands to finger, handle, or feel, and reach with hands and arms.
Occasional ability to lift or carry, pull, or push 10–30 pounds.
Vision abilities required include close, distance, color, and peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.

Nice To Haves

Graduate of the AVANCE to College Program or AVANCE Parent-Child Education Program.

Responsibilities

Provide developmentally appropriate learning experiences, emphasizing pre-literacy and math skills that support cognitive development.
Create and prepare activities according to lesson plans and lead preparation of materials.
Follow children’s daily activity schedules and lesson plans that meet their needs and interests.
Maintain classroom theme areas and a healthy, safe, stimulating, and attractive learning environment.
Maintain accurate and complete records, including attendance, health records, injury reports, and child assessments.
Ensure parents sign children in on the attendance sheet.
Help children develop eating, resting, and toileting skills; change diapers as needed; support personal hygiene, clothing changes, and handwashing.
Label children’s belongings and ensure parents take all belongings at the end of each session.
Attend staff meetings, workshops, and trainings as scheduled by the supervisor.
Maintain proper hygiene for children and for equipment and spaces used in childcare.
Protect children from physical punishment or verbal abuse and immediately report incidents to the center director or person in charge.
Participate in recruitment activities, including tabling at community events, canvassing neighborhoods, and distributing flyers.
Help organize and plan special events, such as the Holiday Party, Dia de los Niños, and graduation.
Support positive morale and an environment directed toward achieving the project mission.
Maintain high ethical standards and participant confidentiality.
Facilitate effective conflict resolution and maintain a positive attitude.
Work effectively both as part of a team and independently.
For services outside AVANCE-Austin centers, prepare and transport materials and supplies, set up children’s centers and activities at non-permanent sites, and remove them afterward.
Perform other duties as assigned.