Preschool Teacher

Catalyst Family•Costa Mesa, CA

About The Position

Catalyst teaching staff support the planning and implementation of programming for children from infancy through school age, depending on the location. Teachers facilitate age-appropriate activities, support children’s social-emotional development, and ensure children are supervised in a healthy and safe environment. The role involves creating and implementing developmentally appropriate curriculum and intentional, enriched learning environments, building culturally responsive relationships with children, families, schools, communities, and colleagues, and collaborating with the classroom team to deliver high-quality programs. Teaching staff are expected to interact positively with children, maintain respectful and safe emotional and physical environments, be punctual and regularly present, and participate actively in indoor and outdoor programming. Staff must be able to interact with children up to 13 years old, meet their needs, follow safety guidelines, report health and safety concerns, and remain calm when providing first aid during emergencies. The position involves indoor and outdoor work and may include supervising field trips. Staff must be comfortable with occasional loud noise, frequent bending and other physical movements, lifting or carrying objects up to 15 pounds, working in safe weather conditions, traversing varied terrain and heights, and adapting to children’s physical level during activities and interactions.

Requirements

Meet applicable education and permit requirements, which may vary by center and age group: 24 postsecondary semester (or equivalent quarter) units in Early Childhood Education, Child Development, or a related field with grades of C- or better, plus 16 general education units; or an associate degree or higher in ECE, CD, or a related field from a nationally accredited college; or a Teacher Permit or above issued by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing.
Effective problem-solving, conflict-resolution, classroom-management, and communication skills with children and families.
Effective organization and time-management skills, including curriculum and assessment documentation.
Ability to work alongside colleagues and maintain a professional team environment.
Ability to interact physically and mentally with children up to 13 years of age, meet their needs, and ensure their safety.
Ability to perform frequent bending, lifting, twisting, reaching, pushing, and pulling, and to push, lift, carry, or hold objects up to 15 pounds.
Ability to work indoors and outdoors in weather conditions considered safe for children and traverse varied terrain and heights.

Nice To Haves

Two years of experience in a group-care environment providing care or teaching to a consistent age group is preferred.
One year of experience supervising adults or equivalent adult supervision units is preferred.
Current adult and infant/child CPR and First Aid certification is preferred.
Bilingual or multilingual language skills are preferred based on individual center needs.

Responsibilities

Create and implement developmentally appropriate curriculum connected to children’s interests and positive child development.
Create, implement, and maintain intentional, enriched, supportive learning environments and age-appropriate experiences.
Build authentic connections and reciprocal, culturally responsive relationships with children, youth, families, schools, communities, and the center or classroom team.
Keep children healthy and safe through proper supervision, positive interactions, healthy habits, and compliance with requirements.
Collaborate with fellow staff to provide high-quality programs and creative workplaces.
Maintain positive interactions and respectful, safe emotional and physical environments for children and youth.
Be punctual and regularly present, and actively participate in indoor and outdoor programs.
Implement safety guidelines, identify and report health and safety issues or incidents, and remain calm when providing first aid as needed.
Inspect environments for hazards and take preventative actions to maintain children’s safety.
Supervise field trips to destinations such as aquatic parks, beaches, and trampoline parks.
Prepare curriculum and assessment documentation, including lesson plans, portfolios, and anecdotal notes.