Early Childhood Teacher

Goodwill Industries of Central Texas • Austin, TX

1d • $51,701 - $65,892 • Onsite

About The Position

The primary role of the Early Childhood Teacher is to implement high-quality exceptional care and education to children in the Exploration Center. This position will be responsible for the overall well-being of children in the center and will be dedicated to the growth and development of each of our children. This position will be responsible for the design/layout of appropriate environments, plan for classroom instruction, and model interactions with children.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree in any discipline with a minimum of 36 college credits in early childhood education, child development, elementary education, or early childhood special; and professional practices and development, including relevant experience.
• Accredited, in-person Pediatric CPR/First Aid certification (must obtain within 30 days of hire).
• Three years of experience as a classroom teacher of young children in a child development center or other educational facility working with children from birth to kindergarten age.
• Must be able to understand work instructions in English.
• Must have a working knowledge of computer programs and accessing internet applications such as Microsoft Products, Google Applications (Gmail), Excel, Microsoft Word, and Internet Explorer.
• Communication skills to be able to work on a team as well as interact with parents in a professional manner.
• Ability to multi-task in a fast-paced environment, including taking care of multiple children at a time.
• Ability to respond to a child’s needs promptly and courteously.
• Ability to safely lift children throughout the day.
• Ability to perform continuous walking, stooping, standing, and bending for most of the shift.
• Must possess an understanding of marginalization and how it impacts those Goodwill serves and employs.
• Exhibit respect for diversity of thought and have the experience to advance it in teams/organizations.
• Pre-employment background check and fingerprinting is required.
• Pre-employment drug testing may be required for positions entering a campus located within a correctional facility.

Nice To Haves

• Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education, Child Development, Interdisciplinary Studies, or Child and Family.
• Texas Teacher Certification for EC-6 or Spec ED EC-12.
• Bilingual in Spanish or Arabic and English.

Responsibilities

• Maintain compliance with all DHHS Minimum Standards for Licensing, Texas Rising Star, and aid Center in pursuing national accreditation.
• Organizes educational planning and delivery of instruction for quality early childhood education to stimulate exploration, discovery, and conceptual learning for children.
• Provide quality early care and education to young children by planning and implementing developmentally appropriate experiences and curricula across each of the developmental domains.
• Maintain open and cooperative communication with parents and families encouraging their involvement in the program through parent-teacher partnerships and coordination of center-home child-rearing practices.
• Develops and implements daily schedules, lesson plans, and classroom management techniques using program curriculum for whole group/small group of children and individualized child.
• Assess progress for children informally (collecting relevant work samples over an extended period, develop portfolios and records of developmental growth) and formally.
• Conducts ongoing program evaluation in cooperation with Director; uses current research in implementing classroom changes for updating methods of practices.
• Participates in program evaluation efforts and in developing action plans for program improvement.
• Describes and identifies basic patterns of development associated with age groups. Uses knowledge of child development to meet the needs of individual children during group activities.
• Utilize appropriate direct and indirect guidance strategies to guide behavior.
• Attend and participate in staff meetings and mandatory training requirements (Pediatric First Aid/CPR, Child Abuse Training, Pre-Service Training, and Annual Training) a minimum of 30 hours annually.
• Communicate in a positive, professional manner following the NAEYC Professional Code of Ethical Conduct.
• Maintain a clean and safe physical environment for children (cleaning, sanitizing, and organizing the areas).
• Assist in preparing food for children and serve meals and refreshments to children and regulate rest periods.
• Ensure that curriculum lesson plans, daily schedules provide ample opportunities for both child-initiated and adult-guided play based on children’s interests.
• Communicate the center policy to staff and parents.

Benefits

• Comprehensive Health Coverage: We provide top-tier medical, dental, and vision insurance to ensure you and your family stay healthy and happy.
• Generous Paid Time Off: Recharge with our generous PTO policy, which includes vacation days, personal days, and company-wide holidays.
• Teacher Retirement System & 403b Participation
• Paid Parental Leave: We understand the importance of family. We offer a generous parental leave policy to support you during this significant life event.
• Professional Development Opportunities: We believe in continuous growth! Take advantage of our access to workshops and online courses & tuition/certification support.
• Wellness Programs: Prioritize your well-being with our wellness initiatives, including gym memberships and free mental health support.
• Employee Recognition Programs: We celebrate our team members’ achievements with recognition awards.
• Diverse and Inclusive Culture: Join a workplace that values diversity and inclusion, with regular team-building activities and events that foster a sense of belonging.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level