Substitute Early Childhood Teacher (Infant, Toddler, Preschool, & PreK)

Walnut Avenue Family & Women's Center•Santa Cruz, CA

4d•$27 - $32•Onsite

About The Position

The Substitute Early Childhood Teacher works as part of Walnut Avenue Family & Women’s Center’s Early Education program team and provides early care and education to children in infant, toddler, preschool, and PreK classrooms. Substitute teachers are responsible for all Teacher responsibilities, including supporting children’s development and basic care, maintaining safe and engaging indoor and outdoor environments, collaborating with staff, communicating with families, and maintaining required program documentation. The role is supervised by the Site Supervisor and is part-time and non-exempt. The hourly pay range is $27.25–$32.25, depending on experience and ECE units. Walnut Avenue Family & Women’s Center is a public benefit organization and family center serving women, children, and families in Santa Cruz County. Its mission is to end cycles of trauma, support lifelong learning, and promote healthy relationships. The Early Education program serves families, many of whom are from underserved populations affected by poverty, housing instability, and/or domestic violence. The position requires meeting applicable Title 5 and Title 22 education and experience qualifications, English proficiency, and current infant and child CPR and First Aid certification. Employment offers are contingent on clear background-check and fingerprinting results. Staff must also complete health screening, including immunization and specified test results.

Requirements

Meet Title 5 qualification requirements through one of the stated pathways: hold or be eligible to apply within 30 days of hire for a valid Child Development Permit requiring 24 ECE units including core courses, 16 general education units, and qualifying experience; or hold an AA in ECE or a related field with three units of supervised ECE field experience.
Meet Title 22 qualification requirements: have completed at least six postsecondary semester units of specified ECE classes and be currently enrolled in Early Education classes, or hold a valid Child Development Assistant permit issued by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing. Teachers hired with six units must complete at least two additional units each semester until fully qualified.
For fully qualified Title 22 status, have 12 postsecondary semester units in early childhood education from an accredited college and six months of work experience in a licensed child care center or similar program; coursework must cover child growth and development, child, family and community, and program/curriculum.
Complete 15 hours of health and safety training if required under Health and Safety Code Section 1596.866.
For work in the infant program, have four additional units in infant/toddler development.
Have proficient English skills; English verbal and written proficiency is required.
Hold a current infant and child CPR and First Aid card.
Complete health screening, including full immunization and negative TB, DPT, and MMR test results.
Pass the required background check and fingerprinting; a DMV background check is also required if driving on behalf of the agency.
Have competent computer skills, including basic Microsoft Office knowledge.
Professionally represent the agency through appropriate demeanor and attire.
Work collaboratively and independently; maintain self-awareness and healthy boundaries with participants; and be willing to self-reflect on beliefs, biases, values, attitudes, and actions.
Maintain a comprehensive self-care routine and flexibility regarding job roles and duties.
Apply a strength-based model to support volunteers and coworkers, and manage volunteers by creating a welcoming environment, setting clear expectations, maintaining healthy boundaries, and addressing performance issues.
Prioritize and manage multiple tasks in a fast-paced, changing environment with minimal supervision; evaluate and solve complex issues efficiently.
Have fluent and articulate writing abilities and contribute to a mutually respectful and supportive work environment.

Nice To Haves

Bilingual English/Spanish ability is helpful but not required.

Responsibilities

Plan and implement developmentally appropriate curriculum with team members in language development and early literacy, math, social-emotional development, science, creative expression, and independence.
Monitor children and indoor and outdoor environments for safety and appropriate interactions.
Meet children’s basic needs, including eating, sleeping and resting, diapering and toileting, dressing, and hygiene.
Support children’s emotional needs through nurturing, problem solving, fostering autonomy, respecting feelings, positive communication, peer interaction, and development of social skills; model positive communication.
Plan and conduct developmentally and age-appropriate morning and afternoon circle times that support cognitive growth, literacy, and creativity.
Set up stimulating indoor and outdoor classroom environments and activities that support the whole child.
Foster an anti-bias classroom environment and maintain confidentiality about children and families.
Maintain a safe and healthy environment for children.
Model and mentor other teachers, teacher’s aides, and volunteers; share ideas and provide positive and constructive feedback.
Help develop cooperative staff relationships and maintain clear communication with coworkers.
Greet parents and children and help children adjust to the center each day.
Develop positive relationships with parents; communicate daily about children’s experiences and exchange important information.
Respond to parents’ needs and ideas and inform families about upcoming agency and program events.
Maintain documentation, reports, and charts required for licensing, CDE contract requirements, and program standards.
Perform other responsibilities as required.