Child Development Teacher

Job Overview

The major responsibilities of the Child Development Teacher will be to care for infants and toddlers requiring specialized knowledge and skills to properly address the cognitive, social, and emotional developmental needs of this age group.

Job Responsibilities

• Promotes and models the organization’s Core Values.
• Always ensures the safety and well-being of children while under AVANCE’s care.
• Follows program confidentiality policies concerning information about children, families, and other staff members.
• Ensures that no child will be left alone or unsupervised while under our care.
• Uses positive methods of child guidance and will not engage in corporal punishment, emotional or physical abuse, or humiliation. In addition, staff will not employ methods of discipline that involve isolation, the use of food as punishment or reward, or the denial of basic needs.
• When administering medications, the staff member must: 
• Read the label and prescription directions in relation to the required dose, frequency, storage, and other circumstances relative to administration.
• Use age-appropriate administration techniques to gain the child’s cooperation; and
• Document that medication, in fact, was administered.
• Maintains an open, friendly, and cooperative relationship with each child’s family, encourage their involvement in the program, and promote parent-child bonding and nurturing parent-child relationships.
• Promotes feelings of security and trust in infants and toddlers by being warm, supportive, and comforting, and by establishing strong and caring relationships with them.
• Provides toddlers with experiences and opportunities that allow them to develop curiosity, initiative, problem-solving skills, and creativity, as well as a sense of self and a feeling of belonging to the group. 
• Conducts developmental screenings of infants and toddlers’ motor, language, social, cognitive, perceptual, and emotional skills.
• Plans and prepares healthy and safe activities and provides supplies needed, according to lesson plans.
• Prepares and delivers the disinfecting solutions for all classrooms in the morning on a daily basis.
• Develops and teaches weekly lesson plans for each child according to early childhood and assessment tool standards.  
• Reports any unsafe or potentially unsafe areas inside or outside to include broken or non-working equipment.
• Assures that parents sign-in on the right day and times in and out are documented by parent.
• Maintains proper hygiene in children and all equipment and space used for care of children.
• Reports suspected neglect, abuse, medical conditions/illnesses immediately.
• Maintains assigned child’s portfolio and other documentation as specified by requirements.
• Responsible for maintaining an average daily attendance of at least 85 percent in applicable programs 
• Encourages parents to always have their child(ren) in class. When the child is absent, staff inquires as to the reason(s) for the absenteeism.
• Responsible for reporting to supervisor any patterns of absences or any special circumstances surrounding absenteeism.
• Responsible for initiating and documenting appropriate family support procedures for all children with four or more consecutive unexcused absences. These procedures include home visits or other direct contact with the child’s parent(s).  
• Participates in pre-service training, plans, and participates in start of the year programming, conducts home visits, oversees execution of health examinations, screening, and immunization activities, including maintenance of records, and conducts other duties as assigned.
• Actively encourages parents to participate in two home visits annually for each child enrolled in a center-based program option. These home visits must be initiated and carried out by the child’s teacher. The major purpose of the home visits is to enhance the parental role in the growth and development of the child. (Positions in PCEP do not require home visits.)
• Files and tracks program required information in the family folder.
• Attends staff training as required.
• Incorporates, in a consistent manner, the procedures as part of the daily classroom operations and instruction.
• Ensures that procedures are followed in accordance with State and Federal regulations and that all performance, program and licensing standards are followed consistently.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Education

Required:

• Infant and Toddler CDA (Child Development Associate Credential) 

Preferred:

• Associate in Early Childhood Education or Bachelor’s in Early Childhood Education or related field with 18 hours in Early Childhood Education.

Work Experience

Preferred:

• Six (6) months in a licensed childcare facility or in a public/private school or early childhood facility or has completed an early childhood degree program where practicum(s) were required.

Additional Skills

• CPR and First Aid Training.
• Must be computer literate, and have proficient working knowledge of assigned databases, software, and systems.
• Must have interpersonal and team building skills.
• Spanish fluency helpful, but not required.
• Strong organizational skills that reflect ability to perform and prioritize multiple tasks seamlessly with excellent attention to detail. 
• Strong verbal and written communication, problem solving and decision-making skills. 
• Must have dependable transportation daily, valid driver’s license, a clean driving record, current auto liability insurance and be bondable by AVANCE, San Antonio, Inc. 

Disclaimer(s)This is not necessarily an all-inclusive list of job-related responsibilities, duties, skills, efforts, requirements or working conditions. While this is intended to be an accurate reflection of the current job, management reserves the right to revise the job or to require that other or different tasks be performed as assigned. Nothing in this job description forms or is intended to form a contract of employment. Neither shall the content in this job description be interpreted to conflict with, or to eliminate or modify in any way, the “at will” employment status of AVANCE San Antonio employees. Employment remains on an “at-will” basis.

Travel0-5% annually on average, mostly local.

Equipment

Computer, computer software programs and peripherals, resource materials and equipment, copier, fax, and other equipment applicable to the position.  

Working Conditions

Mental and Physical Demands  Maintain emotional control under stress; work with interruptions and deadlines; walking, standing, stooping, bending, pulling, and pushing, use hands to finger, handle or feel; reach with hands and arms; occasional: lifting/carrying, pulling/pushing 10-30 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.

Environmental Factors

Occasional exposure to biological hazards (communicable diseases, bacteria, insects, mold, fungi, etc.). Occasional exposure to weather related conditions when working in outside environment/neighborhoods and events. 

ADA/ADAAA Statement

AVANCE is committed to equal opportunity in employment for persons with disabilities and complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), as amended, and any other applicable state and federal laws. Accordingly, AVANCE does not discriminate against qualified individuals with disabilities regarding application, hiring, advancement, discharge, compensation, training or other terms, conditions, and privileges of employment. Moreover, it is AVANCE’s policy to provide reasonable accommodations in employment to qualified individuals with disabilities so that they can perform the essential functions of the job, unless the accommodation would impose an undue hardship on the operation of AVANCE’s business or would change the essential functions of the position. Retaliation against an individual with a disability for utilizing this policy or seeking a reasonable accommodation is prohibited. Individuals with any questions or requests for accommodation should contact the Human Resources Department.