Master Teacher

The priority consideration deadline is Sunday, April 14, 2024.

Compensation: $21.00 - $23.00per hour

GENERAL PURPOSE: The SDSU Children’s Center Master Teacher shall work under the general supervision of the Supervising Teacher and other Center Administrators while working as a team member dedicated to creating a safe environment for learning and ensuring a high standard of quality care is provided to all enrolled children. Responsibilities include managing all aspects of the classroom, including staff and student intern supervision and training, records maintenance and parent communication. As a member of the Center’s teaching community, where continuity of care is a targeted goal wherever possible, teachers follow their children from year to year. Master Teachers facilitate observations and assessments of individual and group learning experiences to ensure best practice and an anti-bias curriculum overtime. Master Teachers will be responsible for a classroom of up to a maximum of 40 children enrolled with flexible schedules.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

Teaching

• Develops and implements written curriculum plans to meet the individual needs of each child based on observations, emergent curriculums, DRDP goals, California Department of Education Foundations of Learning, West ED’s Program for Infant Toddler Care Principles (PITC) as appropriate for age group and NAEYC best practices
• Provides individual direction, guidance and supervision of children in the performance of learning activities
• Develops and maintains indoor and outdoor environments that adhere to ITERS and ECERS criteria
• Engages children in conversations throughout the day using open-ended questions to promote critical thinking
• Completes child development profiles, meeting deadlines as established by the Children’s Center calendar
• Maintains portfolios to monitor and document children’s’ individual progress and work
• Models NAEYC standards and inquiry-based teaching in the classroom

Primary Care

• Conducts a daily health check of each child and ensures adherence to treatment plans for special needs with prompt and appropriate response to acuity
• Understands, follows and trains staff in proper diapering procedure
• Understands, follows and trains staff in Center’s safe sleep policy
• Instructs and monitors children and staff in the proper and safe use of facilities and equipment
• Instructs and visually monitors children's outdoor play at all times
• Instructs and monitors children and staff in proper health and hygiene skills
• Supports the nutritional goals of the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) through daily meals ensuring all staff meet required standards as outlined by the CACFP
• Supervises children’s eating behavior by sitting with them while they eat
• Monitors classroom attendance logs and ensures daily parent sign-in and sign-out

Customer Service & Development of Relationships with Families

• Develops, nurtures and maintains relationships with parents from a strengths-based perspective
• Establishes and maintains open communication with parents
• Informs parents regarding child development and age appropriate behavior through parent discussion, weekly short stories sent through Center listserv, meetings and/or workshops
• Meets regularly with Center’s Mental Health Consultant to discuss classroom behaviors and communication with parents
• Creates documentation panels for the classroom and hallways that inform, as well as help make children’s learning visible
• Conducts parent-teacher conferences
• Stays informed as to the current research in the field of child development and offer parents’ resources as needed
• Hosts Back to School Night each fall, Open House in spring and other meetings, such as potlucks/picnics throughout the year

QUALIFICATIONS

Minimum & Preferred Requirements

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in Child Development or related field required
• OR with the ability to obtain a bachelor's degree in Child Development or related field required before anticipated hire date.
• Infant Toddler Development course (minimum of 3 semester units) required
• Twenty-four units ECE/CD including core courses and 16 GE units plus 6 specialization units and 2 adult supervision units and a minimum of 3 Infant Toddler units (Copy of transcripts required)

Experience:

• Two or more years’ experience directly related to the duties and responsibilities specified, including adult supervision required
• Experience working in a college lab school environment is preferred

Licenses & Certifications:

• Current California Children Development Permit at the Master Teacher level or above
• Child Accident and Illness Prevention Certification (AB243 Certificate)
• Develops and maintains an approved Professional Development Plan that includes acquiring the minimum of 21 CEUs annually (105 hours in 5 years)
• Maintains annual membership in NAEYC to read and discuss their educational periodicals, Young Children and/or Teaching Young Children
• Department of Justice fingerprint clearance, TB clearance and current Health Screening
• Current Pediatric First Aid and CPR training, including the proper use of asthma inhalers and/or Epi pens
• 15 hours of Accident Illness Prevention Training

Trainings:

• Attends at least one Reggio Roundtable a year to support a Reggio inspired curriculum in the classroom
• Universal Health Precautions, Blood-borne Pathogens and infectious waste disposal
• Site safety and emergency procedures including fire and earthquake drills
• Sexual Harassment Prevention for Supervisors
• Data Security & Privacy

PERFORMANCE EXPECTATIONS

• Maintains professionalism at all times while providing positive customer service to children, students, families, staff, and community
• Keeps current of new issues and research in the field of early childhood
• Works in an independent manner without undue supervision
• Establishes mutual respect by showing an accepting attitude toward children, families and co-workers
• Prepares for, and engages in, whole staff professional development, such as staff meetings, book clubs, seminars, training events, celebrations, etc.
• Seeks to improve personal practice
• Shares new ideas with staff
• Contributes to the professional community
• Collaborates on presentations for the Center’s workshops, as well as local, national or international conferences
• Must work effectively with a wide range of constituencies in a diverse community
• Must work cooperatively with others and value working as part of a team
• Must be able to work in a high-stress environment that is unique to campus childcare settings

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES

• Knowledge of NAEYC best practices, licensing requirements, child abuse reporting, universal precautions, tools for child observation and assessment
• Knowledge of the unique needs of student parent families
• Knowledge of the principles and theories of child growth and development
• Knowledge of Reggio-inspired environments and learning
• Working knowledge of emergent curriculum planning and implementation
• Knowledge of WestEd’s Program For Infant and Toddler Care (PITC) principles and practice
• Knowledge of California’s Desired Results Developmental Profile (DRDP), The Infant/Toddler and Preschool Learning and Development Foundations, published by the California Department of Education (CDE)
• Knowledge of NAEYC best practices and accreditation standards
• Knowledge of the California Department of Social Services, Community Care Licensing, Title 5 & 22 and NAEYC accreditation regulations and reporting requirements
• Provides effective and appropriate oral and written communication
• Utilizes computer and Microsoft Office Suite programs
• Demonstrates interpersonal skills using tact, patience and courtesy
• Commits to, and utilizes, the protocol outlined in the NAEYC Code of Ethics
• Demonstrates effective communication skills in conflict resolution
• Provides ongoing child and adult observation and assessment
• Demonstrates effective time management skills

SCHEDULE & WORKING CONDITIONS

Year-round, campus-based, indoor-outdoor childcare center serving 200 children on a daily basis between the ages of 6 months to 5 years and their parents. This is a regular, full-time position which requires flexibility in work hours.

Staff-child ratios: Infants (1:3), Toddlers (1:4), 2-Year olds (1:4), Preschooler (1:8) Classroom group size: Infants (9), Toddlers (12/16), 2 year olds (16/20), Preschooler (24)

WORK ENVIRONMENT The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

The work environment may involve exposure to various elements including but not limited to: chemicals, dust, bloodborne pathogens and other environmental risks.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Hearing and speaking to exchange information with children, staff and parents; bending, stooping and lifting children and/or equipment up to 50 pounds from the floor; standing for extended periods of time; moving quickly and easily from sitting to standing; working outdoors on a daily basis; visual scanning to insure child safety indoors and out; able to perform movements including grasping, touching, pushing, pulling, manual dexterity and eye-hand coordination.

RELATIONSHIPS

Inside the Organization:

• Reports to a SDSU Children's Center Supervising Teacher
• Works with other Children’s Center staff and Associated Students staff as needed
• Directs the work of:
  1. 8-20 Part-time Teachers
  2. 25-45 Parents
  3. 8-10 Student Interns/Lab Students & Volunteers

Outside the Organization:

• Campus Departments (particularly Child and Family Development Faculty)
• Prospective Families
• Parents
• Volunteers
• Referral agencies

EMPLOYMENT CATEGORY: Full-Time, Hourly, Non-Exempt, Grade 3

A background check (including a criminal records check) must be completed satisfactorily before any candidate can be offered this position with Associated Students. Failure to satisfactorily complete the background check may affect the application status of applicants or continued employment of current Associated Students employees who apply for the position. Fingerprinting is required for all employee and volunteer positions that have direct contact with minor children.