Teacher

Required Education and Experience

• Minimum of one-year recent work experience teaching preschool-age children.
• Minimum of an associate degree in child development or early childhood education (ECE) or in a *related field with coursework equivalent to a major relating to early childhood education and a minimum of a state-awarded child development associate teacher permit or California children’s center permit.

• Alternate Education Qualifications
• A bachelor’s or advanced degree in an unrelated field with coursework equivalent to a major relating to early childhood education is acceptable along with a minimum of a state-awarded child development teacher permit.

Those hired without the minimum state-awarded child development permit must qualify and apply within 60 days of hire, renew prior to expiration, and maintain active as a condition of employment.

*Related fields are defined as

• human development, liberal arts, psychology, sociology, home economics, nutrition, special education, general education, or health education, and with coursework equivalent to a major in early childhood education.
• A degree in a related field must include the following four courses: child/human growth & development; child/family & community or child and family relations; programs/curriculum; and supervised field experience in ECE/CD setting.

Preferred Criteria

A bachelor’s degree in child development or ECE or in a *related field with coursework equivalent to a major relating to early childhood education and a minimum of a state-awarded child development associate teacher permit. Bilingual capability (English/Spanish, English/Vietnamese or English/Chinese).

Knowledge and Abilities

Requires fluent English language skills. Ability to determine cognitive, social, and physical needs of children and communicate verbally and in writing. Ability to maintain confidentiality. Sensitive to needs of low-income families, multicultural beliefs and practices, and ability to relate to children/parents/community. Ability to work with high-risk families and provide necessary support. Ability to work as a cooperative team member with center staff. Ability to effectively supervise and provide leadership to assistant teachers and classroom aides. Ability to handle the responsibilities and routine stress often associated with childcare. Flexibility and ability to implement a developmentally and culturally appropriate early childhood program. Able to observe, see, hear, and respond to children’s needs, emergencies, & conflicts.

Physical Abilities

Ability to see at normal distance. Hear normal conversations and sounds. Physical ability to bend, squat, sit on floor, skip, run, and climb stairs as part of daily center activities. Use hands and fingers to fill out required forms. Ability to safely lift or assist children weighing up to 40 pounds in emergency situations only. Ability to reach a child 30 feet away within 30 seconds without danger to the staff person’s health.

License or Other Requirements

Must hold current Pediatric CPR and First Aid certificate and renew prior to expiration. Must submit to a job-pertinent agency-paid pre-employment physical examination, negative tuberculosis test and criminal record background checks. Employment is conditional pending satisfactory results of all required tests and background checks mentioned above. Periodic physical examinations and TB clearances will be required if hired. Mandated Reporter.