Teacher - Preschool

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

3d•$27 - $32•Onsite

About The Position

The Teacher is part of the Early Education program team and provides early care and education to children. The position is supervised by the Site Supervisor and is onsite for 36 hours per week. Compensation is $27.22–$31.67 per hour, depending on experience and teaching permit, with an additional $1.00 per hour bilingual/biliterate differential for employees who are bilingual and biliterate in English and Spanish. The role follows Title 5 and Title 22 requirements for early education programs.

Requirements

Meet Title 5 teacher qualifications through one of the stated routes: 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 175 days of qualifying experience within the past four years; or hold an associate degree in ECE or a related field with three units of supervised ECE field experience.
Meet Title 22 qualifications: have completed at least six postsecondary semester units of specified early childhood education classes and be 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 full Title 22 qualification, 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 when necessary under Health and Safety Code Section 1596.866.
For work in the infant/toddler program, have four additional units in infant/toddler development.
Have a valid and current Infant and Child CPR and First Aid card.
Complete a health screening, including full immunization and negative TB, DPT, and MMR tests.
Demonstrate English proficiency, including speaking, reading, and writing.
Pass the agency’s background check and fingerprinting; a DMV background check is also required if the position involves driving on behalf of the agency.
Have competent computer and smartphone skills, including intermediate Microsoft Office, internet, and other software application skills.
Be able to represent the agency professionally through appropriate demeanor and attire.
Work collaboratively and independently; maintain self-awareness and healthy boundaries with participants; and be willing to self-reflect on personal beliefs, biases, values, attitudes, and actions.
Maintain and practice a comprehensive self-care routine and flexibility regarding job roles and duties.
Apply a strength-based model to support volunteers and coworkers.
Manage volunteers by creating a welcoming environment, setting clear expectations, maintaining healthy boundaries, and addressing performance issues.
Assess, prioritize, and manage multiple tasks in a fast-paced, changing environment with minimal supervision; evaluate and solve complex issues efficiently.
Commit to a mutually respectful and supportive work environment that values and empowers team members.

Nice To Haves

Bilingual and biliterate in English and Spanish.

Responsibilities

Plan and implement developmentally appropriate curriculum with team members in language development and early literacy, math, social-emotional development, science, creative expression, and fostering independence.
Monitor children indoors and outdoors to support safety and appropriate interactions while following licensing regulations.
Engage with children using appropriate language and tools consistent with the EEC philosophy.
Provide for children’s basic needs, including eating, sleeping or resting, diapering or 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.
Plan and lead morning and afternoon circle times that stimulate cognitive growth, develop literacy, increase creativity, and are appropriate to children’s developmental levels.
Set up stimulating indoor and outdoor classroom environments and activities that support the whole child.
Foster an anti-bias classroom environment.
Maintain confidentiality about children and families in the program.
Seek support from the supervisor or Behavioral Health Specialist to assist children in the classroom.
Model and foster clear communication with coworkers and the supervisor to support a cooperative team.
Attend and participate in staff meetings and position-related training.
Greet families and children and support children’s daily adjustment to the center.
Build positive relationships with parents and guardians, communicate daily about children’s days, exchange important information, and respond to families’ needs and ideas through collaboration.
Inform families about and promote upcoming agency and program events.
Maintain documentation, reports, and charts required for licensing, CDE contracts, and program standards.
Perform other responsibilities as required and other duties assigned by the supervisor.