Early Childhood Program Specialist 2 (INFANT)

Olympic College • Bremerton, WA

4d • Onsite

About The Position

The Sophia Bremer Early Learning Academy provides quality, comprehensive early learning services for the Olympic College community. The Early Childhood Program Specialist 2 is the assistant teacher role in the classroom, which requires working with children that range in age from birth to 5. The assistant teacher is responsible for supporting lead teachers and classroom activities by developing positive partnerships with families and providing quality learning environments that are responsive to individual developmental needs. The assistant teacher serves as a part of a diverse and responsive team, requiring strong collaboration skills, professionalism, and integrity in interactions with children, families, colleagues, and community partners. In addition to being responsible for assuring full compliance with all legal, accreditation, and other standards, the assistant teacher also participates in accreditation, assessment, and continuous improvement processes. All teachers are expected to meet pre-service requirements upon hire, remain current in training and service requirements, and engage in early childhood education best practices to support practicum students in the daily application of these practices.

Requirements

• Early Childhood Education (ECE) State Certificate
• High school diploma or equivalent
• One year of experience caring or children from 1 to 5 years in a center-based program.
• One year full-time (FTE) experience working with low-income families.
• One year full-time (FTE) experience working with families from diverse cultures and ethnic backgrounds.

Nice To Haves

• Associate degree in early childhood education from an accredited higher education institution.
• One (1) year FTE experience working in Head Start, Early Head Start, or Early Childhood Education and Assistant Programs (ECEAP); children with disabilities; and families of community college students.

Responsibilities

• Provide active supervision of children at all times to ensure a safe, healthy, and developmentally appropriate learning environment in accordance with licensing and Head Start requirements.
• Maintain awareness of child safety, classroom environment, and group dynamics while supporting safe transitions, indoor and outdoor activities, and daily routines.
• Implement culturally responsive individual, small group, and large group activities based on the developmental needs of the children, and which cultivate each child's sense of importance and belonging across indoor and outdoor settings, as directed by the lead teacher.
• Assist in the developmental assessment and screening of each child using program-approved tools and instruments to maintain a healthy, safe, and developmentally appropriate program.
• Use and be knowledgeable of all educational equipment and supplies routinely used in the program and maintain and request equipment and supplies through the director as necessary.
• Complete, secure, and deliver all required documentation as assigned.
• Recognize parents as their child’s primary teachers and become familiar with family circumstances.
• Maintain positive, open communication, that foregrounds a child’s strengths and assets and developmental needs, while recognizing parents as their child’s primary teachers and becoming familiar with family circumstances.
• Encourage and support parental involvement in the classroom and all other educational opportunities.
• Maintain professional, respectful, and productive relationships with parents, prospective families, and community partners.
• Support all necessary and relevant Head Start and Early Head Start requirements, such as ensuring student progress, complying with standard and conduct agreements, and documenting progress and observations.
• Complete required reports and maintain all required documentation of services provided.

Benefits

• Medical/vision
• dental
• long-term disability
• life insurance
• accidental dismemberment
• Flexible Spending Arrangement
• Dependent Care Assistance Program
• Wellness Programs
• Department of Retirement Systems Plan 2 or Plan 3
• Deferred Compensation Program (DRS) retirement savings plan
• TIAA supplemental retirement savings plan
• Aflac
• 11 paid holidays
• leave – vacation/sick/personal holiday/personal leave
• auto/home insurance
• space available tuition waiver
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• fitness center
• reduced rate and priority consideration on-site child care on a space available.

What This Job Offers

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