Head Preschool Teacher - The Riverbrook Regional YMCA : Job Details

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Head Preschool Teacher is primarily responsible for planning, supervising, and implementing the nursery school classroom in accordance with the goals and policies of the YMCA. Provide supervision and guidance to assistant teachers and volunteers in the classroom as well supporting positive growth and nurturing of children in the program by meeting individual developmental needs.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Responsible for the appearance of the classroom (i.e. cleanliness, reporting maintenance requests) as well as setting up and breaking down the furniture one hour before and after class.
• Effectively communicating with classroom parents verbally, in writing or via e-mail.
• Complete end-of-the-year student evaluations.
• Develop and plan a creative learning environment by offering fresh center choices and activities.
• Ensure a safe and conducive environment for the children as well as being certain to speak with the children in an appropriate manner.
• Maintain a professional attitude, following the philosophy of the Riverbrook Regional YMCA and modeling the Character Development values of caring, honesty, respect, and responsibility.
• Attend all staff meetings and recommended training programs and conferences and being sure to comply with State of Connecticut CEU requirements.
• Participate in activities and communicating with the children at their level and remain a positive role model at all times.
• Accompany the class to daily programs/ activities as well as to the bathroom and to playground activities.
• Keep accurate documentation of children's attendance, absences, and excessive lateness of children's parents in compliance with state requirements. Monitor parents' sign-in/out daily with their initials and time of arrival in the sign-in/out book.
• Keep track of petty cash for your class and hand it in by the last week of the month.
• Maintain the 8:1 ratio at all times. Does not exceed the 16:2 ratio while in the classroom.
• Maintain confidentiality regarding personnel as well as personal issues.
• For your own protection of both the teachers and students, teachers should never be in an enclosed area alone with children.
• Maintain & post updated monthly snack calendars. Provide parents with the snack calendar prior to the month beginning so that they can fill it out and return it to you. Teachers should use these forms to fill out the class snack calendar.
• Create a warm, friendly, and safe atmosphere in which families can grow ensuring a quality Preschool Program that reflects a positive image of the Riverbrook Regional YMCA and its services to the community.
• Serve as an ambassador of the YMCA. Exemplify the four-character values of Caring, Honesty, Respect and Responsibility with students, members, staff, and the general public.
• Provide a creative learning environment by setting up varied interest centers and table manipulatives.
• Plan and implement curriculum in accordance with the goals and policies of the YMCA.
• Maintain quality of the program (i.e. managing supplies, equipment, and general housekeeping in the classroom).
• Promote confidence and enthusiasm.
• Participate in all classroom activities.
• Speak respectfully and appropriately to students, co-workers, and parents.
• Carry out disciplinary action in accordance with the Disciplinary Policy.
• Establish open communication between teachers and parents (i.e. conferences, weekly e-mails, daily correspondences).
• Attend all staff meetings and trainings to comply with State of Connecticut CEU requirements.
• Execute and enforce all safety regulations policies and procedures, including those for the prevention of child abuse.
• Understand that you are here as an advocate of the Y and each member. Accommodate Accordingly.
• Assume any other duties as directed by directors.
• Adheres to policies and procedures related to boundaries with youth, managing high-risk activities and supervising youth.
• Completes all required organizational trainings annually.
• Reports suspicious or inappropriate behaviors and policy violations.
• Follows mandated abuse reporting requirements.
• This organization takes every allegation of abuse or misconduct seriously and will fully cooperate with the authorities to investigate all case of alleged abuse or misconduct. Employees and Volunteers shall cooperate with any external investigation by outside authorities or internal investigation conducted by the organization or persons given investigative authority by the organization.
• An employee or volunteer's failure to cooperate with an investigation will result in disciplinary action up to and including termination of employment or dismissal from the organization.
• This organization has zero tolerance for abuse and will not tolerate the mistreatment or abuse of consumers in its programs. Any mistreatment or abuse by an employee or volunteer will result in disciplinary action, up to and including termination of employment or volunteer service and cooperation with law enforcement.
• Job responsibilities include access to protected health information. The employee may access protected health information (PHI) only to the extent that it is necessary for job requirements. May only share PHI with those who have a need to know specific member/participant/employee information in order to complete job responsibilities related to the individual's participation, payment or company operations . Is expected to complete required HIPAA privacy training and maintain HIPAA compliance at all times.
• The Head Preschool Teacher has access to protected health information (PHI) of Y program participants. The Head Preschool Teacher may use and disclose PHI to workforce members for the purpose of treatment, payment and operations only.
• Actively participates in and upholds the YMCA's mission to be open and accessible to everyone, regardless of financial situation or special need. Contributes time to raise funds for this worthy and necessary endeavor by supporting the Y's Annual Giving and Capital Development campaigns.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Must be 20 years of age and have knowledge of the YMCA mission as well as operations.
• Must have a Bachelor's Degree in Early Childhood Education or 12 credits in Early Childhood Education or 3 years of supervised experience with children aged two to five years.
• Excellent communication, conflict resolution and human relations are essential.
• Able to lift at least 40 pounds and complete repetitive lifting, bending and/or kneeling.
• Possess sufficient visual and auditory acuity to respond to emergency situations in a timely manner during high activity.
• Complete CPR, First Aid, Medication Administration training upon hire.
• Provide documentation of a physical examination every 24 months and a TB Tine Test upon hire.
• Must submit to OEC BCIS Database for a background check and fingerprint forms within 5 days of employment and must renew every 5 years after.
• Has sufficient visual and auditory acuity to respond to emergency situations in a timely manner during activity.
• HIPAA Compliance Training upon hire.