Major Responsibilities:

• Educational Program Development and Implementation: Responsibility for planning and implementing curriculum activities and primary caregiving based on the educational program goals/guidelines utilizing observations and recording of children's behavior.
  • 1)Uses Illinois Early Learning Standards/Guidelines, NAEYC developmentally appropriate guidelines and Environmental Rating Scale when planning curriculum and activities.
  • 9)Seek ongoing training and professional development through attendance at professional seminars, workshops, conferences and/or early childhood related college classes. Implement practices learned at conferences and share acquired knowledge with coworkers. Earns required inservice hours annually, updates Professional Development Record, and provides documentation of hours earned. Works towards earning Early Childhood Credential (Level 3 or above) and/or maintaining credential through Gateways.
  • 2)Ensure that equipment and materials/supplies are prepared ahead of time and available for implementation of planned activities.
  • 3)Makes changes to classroom environment and activities as a way to continually improve quality of care and education. Demonstrate ability to adopt and embrace new direction and goals and communicate support for their relevancy to other associates through the understanding of the change process as a means to increase the quality of the curriculum and program.
  • 4)Use observations and recordings of children's behaviors and development in planning the curriculum, lesson plan, and activities and completing progress reports, developmental checklists. behavioral plans, individual goals for children and portfolios. Through direct observations, plan for continuing growth and development for each child supporting and responding to their physical, cognitive, social, and emotional needs in a timely and appropriate fashion. .
  • 5)Completes Environmental Rating Scale and reviews annually. Attends/completes ECRS trainings and other trainings as assigned and are required.
  • 6)Develop and ensure that the daily curriculum, learning activities, and environment meet the needs, abilities and interests of the whole child.
  • 7)Consistently improve knowledge of possible disciplines within the curriculum and implement age-appropriate activities based on new knowledge. (i.e., music, movement, science, math, literacy, etc.,). Provide information to coworkers and assist in developing these disciplines as a means of increasing and adding on to learning opportunities for children and families.
  • 8)Prepare for, lead and attend classroom team meetings and all other assigned meetings. Continue to develop an understanding of the program philosophy and goals by listening and contributing to discussions and to continue to develop a professional knowledge base.
  • 10)Develop, plan, prepare and implement age appropriate curriculum and learning activities by providing weekly lesson plans for use by the entire classroom staff to implement cohesive learning activities to further the growth and development of each child. Plan for children with special needs, utilize and assess equipment, environment and interactions.
• Demonstrates positive interactions with children, families, and associates through verbal and non-verbal communication within the expectations and guidelines of the Day Center, Advocate's Behaviors of Excellence as well as Advocate's Be Safe Behaviors and Tools.
  • 1)Listen, respond and speak to children in positive, respectful tones for the purpose of modeling appropriate behavior and exhibiting respect for each child.
  • 2)Demonstrate ability to nurture children appropriately, to provide children with the comfort of a safe, responsive environment as needed.
  • 3)Demonstrate ability to understand children's requests and need for routine, direction and time to follow through, to increase the child's chances for success and the development of positive behavior patterns.
  • 4)Follow Day Center discipline guidelines and discuss child's behavior and development with co-workers and supervisor to maintain compliance with DCFS regulations as well as develop a strong understanding of each child for the purpose of individualized planning.
  • 5)Interacts with children at all times and engage them in activities that support their growth and development.
  • 6)Implement the primary caregiving care plan for assigned children, as necessary, to maintain a consistent positive relationship with both child and family.
  • 7)Listen, respond and speak to children at eye level within close proximity of child.
  • 8)Demonstrates positive guidance and discipline techniques to help children understand consequences of their behavior. Ensures that all classroom staff model positive guidance and discipline techniques to help children understand consequences of their behavior. Peer checks and coaches coworkers in positive guidance/discipline techniques.
• Responsibility to monitor the safety of assigned group of children at all times.
  • 1)Is aware of children's presence at all times. Interact with children at all times and engage them in activities while providing direct supervision to the children and group.
  • 2)Continually asses the classroom environment and create and implement classroom arrangements that meets the developmental needs, abilities, and interests of the children.
  • 6)Implement child health and safety practices that include head counts, name-to-face checks, sleep room checks, ratio sheets, and attendance sheets along with conducting daily safety checks within the classroom. Completes and turns in weekly classroom health and safety checklist
  • 7)Adheres to, follows and coaches others in Advocate's Be Safe Behaviors and tools. Reports safety issues and concerns to Supervisor in a timely manner. Follows Day Center policy regarding children's accidents and injuries.
  • 8)Avoids distractions that interferes with supervision of children. Refrains from gossip, personal conversations, checking cell phone and usage, use of computer while children are awake.
  • 9)Maintains active supervision of children by engaging, interacting, and role modeling appropriate behaviors.
  • 10)Maintains current lists/information regarding children's allergies, medication needs and photo releases.
  • 3)Organize and maintain a safe, clean and clutter-free classroom environment according to DCFS, NAEYC and the Environmental Rating Scale and reviews annually.
  • 4)Organize materials and equipment to be best utilized by staff and children and share in the responsibility of cleaning, storing of toys and equipment and/or removing damaged/unsafe materials and equipment. Places work orders as appropriate.
  • 5)Maintain appropriate adult/child ratios at all times. To maintain a safe and responsive environment for all children by adjusting and monitoring the number of adults responsible for the group of children being supervised and where the adults are placed within the classroom group.
• Parent-Family Relations: Responsibility for maintaining relationships with parents through daily contacts and open communication, parent-teacher conferences, and orientation to classroom and Day Center.
  • 1)Makes observations and take notes of children's behaviors and development to share with families throughout the year. By visually observing children in group setting and objectively noting/recording their behavior for the purpose of further increasing the understanding of the child, meet and plan for their needs and further their development.
  • 2)Create a welcoming and open atmosphere that promotes daily communication and accommodates parents needs in a professional manner. To facilitate the communication and integration of the parent as part of the team.
  • 3)Conduct new family intake meetings familiarizing families and children to classroom and daily routine to facilitate the transition into the program. Orients new children and families to classroom and Center.
  • 4)Complete daily notes/Today We Did board informing parents of day's activities and how activity relates to developement and curricular goals.
  • 5)Under direction and guidance of Child Care Supervisor, prepare, conduct, and document parent/teacher conferences to share and receive information regarding child's growth and development gained through observations, interactions and documentation and plan together goals for future learning.
  • 6)From observations/written documentation and assessments of children complete children's portfolios, progress reports, developmental checklists, and transition sheets to share with families throughout the year and to prepare for parent/teacher conferences.
  • 7)Communicates daily with parents about child's day, accomplishments and interests through friendly and professional interactions.
  • 8)With final approval from supervisor, provide parents with monthly newsletter and/or appropriate resource materials to increase their understanding of child development and facilitate the professional dialouge between associates and parents.
  • 9)Greet parents by first name and communicates child's daily accomplishments and interests. In a professional manner, keep parents informed of their child's growth and development and create a partnership with parents to further enhance their child's development.
  • 10)Respond to parent requests in timely manner and if necessary, direct parent concerns and issues to supervisor. Demonstrate understanding of parent as the most important teacher in their child's life through daily interaction, noting important information and informing responsible staff of issues which may effect the care and development of each child. Works with Supervisor to ensure that appropriate resources are bring utilized in response to each parent concern and to maintain the safety and integrity of the program and its response to each child.
• Team Collaboration/Communication - Demonstration of cooperative relationships and open communication with teaching teams, administration and co-workers.
  • 1)Resolve conflicts directly with co-workers in professional manner and address issues/concerns with team as they arise and in team meetings following Advocate's Behaviors of Excellence. Model appropriate behavior at all times. Takes appropriate action to resolve problems with chilren, families, and/or coworkers.
  • 2)Follows Advocates Behaviors of Excellence and Be Safe Behaviors and Tools to create open relationships with all staff. Coaches others in these areas.
  • 3)Demonstrate positive attitude and manages up coworkers and classrooms. Provide suggestions/solutions as issues arise.
  • 4)Be pro-active and take initiative to complete classroom responsibilities. Lead classroom team in providing a developmentally appropriate program for the children in their care.
  • 5)Orient, train, and mentor new staff and be a positive role model and resource for all staff.
  • 6)Communicate with co-workers regarding children, parents, staff, schedules, routines on a daily basis. Share important information to facilitate the planning of curriculum and activities and the communication to families to increase the ability to individualize programming.
  • 7)Demonstrate flexibility with teaching team, daily schedule, routines and classroom assignments.
  • 8)Demonstrate knowledge of and compliance with Day Center policies and procedures. Provide direction to classroom staff if a policy or procedure is not being followed correctly. Policies and procedures have been established to maintain a professionally run organization. Policies and procedures must be followed to maintain the integrity and safety of the program, as well as maintaining compliance with regulatory agencies.
• Maintain a safe, clean and welcoming classroom environment based on the educational program goals/guidelines.
  • 1)Organize materials and equipment to be best utilized by staff and children and share in the responsibility of cleaning, storing, and removing damaged/unsafe materials or equipment.
  • 2)Share in the daily responsibility of maintaining classroom environments and common areas in the Day Center that meet the licensing requirements and standards set by the Day Center, through observation of the program environment. Provide corrective action to areas not meeting set standards.
  • 3)Evaluate equipment and material needs, report to Superviosr. Maintain a classroom that is responsive to the needs of each individual child through the materials available to the children and staff.
  • 4)Conduct periodic safety checks within the classroom. Complete classroom health and safety checklists.
  • 5)Orders supplies/equipment based on budget.
  • 6)Demonstrates appropriate hand hygiene by following handwashing policy/proicedure and ensuring staff, children, and families do the same.
  • 7)Be proactive and take initiative to complete all classroom responsibilities
  • 8)Ensures and shares responsibility to clean, sanitize, disinfect toys/equipment on a daily/weekly basis.
  • 9)Plan and implement child safety practices.

Education/Experience Required:

• Two years of college with minimum of 9 hours of Early Childhood Education courses with 1 year recent teaching experience or Current Child Development Associate (CDA) Certificate with 1 year day care experience

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities Required:

• Basic computer skills Ability to communicate verbally and non-verbally with children, families and associates. Emotional maturity when working with children Listening skills, availability and responsiveness to children, families, and associates. Ability to provide an environment in which children and coworkers feel comfortable, relaxed, welcomed, and involved. Ability to plan, implement, and evaluate activities/learning experiences for the children
• N/A

Physicial Requirements and Working Conditions:

• Lifting: up to 11 to 50 pounds frequently and/or up to 10 pounds constantly. For lifting over 35 pounds assistance is required. Ability to stand, stoop, bend, and carry children, sit without back support for 15-20 minutes at a time Requires unusual hours and flexible work schedules. Ability to communicate with children at an age appropriate level. Ability to handle multiple tasks and complete work within short timeframes. Ability to work in a fast-paced environment with established time constraints. Ability to physically respond quickly to unsafe conditions which may put children at risk. Ability to demonstrate understanding of developmentally appropriate practice
• If position has direct patient care or direct patient contact the following lifting requirement supersedes any previous lifting requirement effective 06/01/2015. Ability to lift up to 35 pounds without assistance. For patient lifts of over 35 pounds, or when patient is unable to assist with the lift, patient handling equipment is expected to be used, with at least one other associate, when available. Unique patient lifting/movement situations will be assessed on a case-by-case basis.

This job description indicates the general nature and level of work expected of the incumbent. It is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities required of the incumbent. Incumbent may be required to perform other related duties.