Toddler Associate Teacher

Catalyst Family•Oxnard, 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 at all times in a healthy and safe environment. Associate Teachers share responsibility with the teaching team for the care and education of an assigned group of children or classroom. The role involves creating developmentally appropriate curricula and enriched learning environments, building culturally responsive relationships with children, families, schools, communities, and colleagues, and maintaining high standards for safety, compliance, and customer service. Teaching staff work indoors and outdoors, participate in active programming, and may supervise field trips.

Requirements

12–24 postsecondary semester units, or equivalent quarter units, in Early Childhood Education, Child Development, or a related field, with passing grades of C- or better; alternatively, an Associate Teacher Permit or higher issued by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing.
Ability to be physically and mentally capable of interacting with children up to 13 years of age, meeting their needs, and ensuring their safety.
Effective problem-solving, conflict-resolution, classroom-management, and communication skills with children and families.
Effective organization and time-management skills.
Ability to work alongside colleagues and maintain a professional team environment.
Ability to tolerate occasional loud noise and frequent bending, lifting, twisting, reaching, pushing, and pulling.
Ability to push, lift, carry, and hold objects weighing up to 15 pounds, individually or with a team.
Ability to work indoors and outdoors in weather conditions that are safe for children, traverse varied terrain and heights, and adapt to children’s physical level.

Nice To Haves

6–12 months of experience in a group-care environment providing care or teaching to a consistent age group.
Current adult and infant/child CPR and First Aid certification.
Bilingual or multilingual language skills, based on individual center needs.

Responsibilities

Create and implement developmentally appropriate curriculum based on learning foundations and children’s interests.
Create, implement, and maintain intentional, enriched, supportive, and age-appropriate learning environments and experiences.
Establish authentic connections and reciprocal, culturally responsive relationships with children, youth, families, schools, communities, and center or classroom teams.
Keep children healthy and safe through proper supervision, positive interactions, healthy habits, and compliance with applicable requirements.
Collaborate with fellow staff to provide high-quality programs and creative workplaces.
Maintain positive interactions with children and youth and kind, respectful, safe emotional and physical environments.
Arrive on time and attend work regularly as scheduled.
Participate actively in indoor and outdoor programs.
Implement safety guidelines, identify and report health and safety issues or incidents to management, and remain calm when providing first aid during emergencies as needed.
Inspect environments for hazards and take preventive actions to maintain children’s safety.
Adapt physically to children’s activity levels, including sitting on the floor, kneeling, and squatting.
Supervise field trips to destinations such as aquatic parks, beaches, and trampoline parks.
Complete curriculum and assessment documentation, including lesson plans, portfolios, and anecdotal notes.