Preschool Teacher

Peoria Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma•Miami, OK

About The Position

The Preschool Teacher provides a safe, supervised, and successful educational environment for children in the early childhood setting, including the classroom, outdoor play area, and field trips. The role promotes children's social, emotional, physical, and cognitive development; encourages parent involvement; assesses children's progress; and supports their transition to Pre-Kindergarten or Kindergarten. The teacher prepares and maintains a welcoming, clean, safe, and developmentally appropriate classroom, plans learning experiences, supervises and engages children, completes program documentation, and supports teacher assistants. The role also involves coordination with the Center Site Manager and Specialists, regular communication with parents, conducting home visits and parent-teacher conferences, addressing classroom or center concerns with program staff, maintaining confidentiality, and reporting suspected child abuse or neglect. The teacher participates in required professional development, including when the childcare center is closed, and performs other duties as assigned by the Director.

Requirements

Willingness to work educationally toward a Child Development Associate (CDA).
Proof of high school graduation, GED, or higher.
Experience working with children in a group setting.
Knowledge of culturally diverse populations and their needs.
Ability to apply Early Childhood Development theory in daily activities and adapt to individual children’s needs.
Keyboarding skills, computer literacy, and familiarity with word processing, email, and internet applications.
Ability to obtain CPR/First Aid/AED certification and a Food Handler’s Card.
Ability to respond appropriately, mentally and physically, to an emergency or crisis situation.
Ability to interact with children at their eye level, including sitting, kneeling, stooping, and bending, for most of the day.
Ability to occasionally lift up to 50 pounds.
Ability to communicate information and ideas verbally and in writing so that others understand.
Ability to organize and prioritize.
Valid driver’s license and insurance.
Obtain CPR/First Aid/AED certification within six months of employment.
Submit to and pass applicable drug, TB, and physical tests.

Nice To Haves

Associate’s or bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood.
Experience working with mixed-age groups.

Responsibilities

Provide a welcoming and friendly classroom environment for children, parents, and visitors, including maintaining an updated educational and informative parent board.
Prepare the classroom environment and materials to support developmentally appropriate curriculum plans and learning experiences.
Engage with and supervise children during activities, encouraging experimentation, exploration, problem solving, cooperation, socialization, and choice-making.
Maintain the classroom’s appearance, cleanliness, and safety in accordance with program, state, and federal guidelines.
Complete and submit required daily, weekly, and monthly documentation.
Provide support and direction to teacher assistants to maintain a productive, orderly, and cohesive classroom.
Coordinate with the Center Site Manager and Specialists to plan, implement, and follow up on identified health, social service, and disability needs of classroom children and families.
Communicate with parents in a friendly and effective manner, address concerns respectfully and promptly, provide positive feedback, and share regular updates about children’s development and classroom activities.
Organize and conduct home visits and parent-teacher conferences for assigned families, and ensure follow-up.
Identify and resolve classroom and center opportunities or problems in cooperation with appropriate program staff.
Maintain confidentiality regarding families, coworkers, and personal information.
Report suspected child abuse and neglect in accordance with applicable state, tribal, and federal laws.
Participate in all required program professional development, including days when the childcare center is closed.
Perform other duties as assigned by the Director.