Early Childhood Teacher

Description

Sacred Heart Catholic School is currently accepting resumes for highly qualified, full-time Early Childhood Teacher (PreK-4). The ideal candidate will be able to conduct standards-based instruction and assessment while incorporating 21st century skills into engaging lessons.

Sacred Heart Catholic School offers a positive work environment and competitive compensation. Sacred Heart Catholic School values the student and teacher by providing the time and resources necessary for success. Our mission is to integrate Catholic faith and values with learning and life, treating each student as a unique child of God in a safe, supportive, and challenging academic environment.

SUMMARY

The Early Childhood Teacher is a qualified professional in education who meets the requirements to teach in a Catholic school in the Diocese of Orlando. The teacher, being creative and resourceful, utilizes instructional materials which are suitable, and provides a variety of meaningful, engaging learning experiences which are academically sound.

The Diocese of Orlando four core values lay the foundation for the work performed by its employees.

1. Authenticity: Conviction that God has called us to reflect exteriorly our inner life of faith in our daily living.

2. Respect: Affirming each person’s God-given dignity and uniqueness.

3. Courage: Inspired by this gift of the Holy Spirit, we proclaim and live the Word of God fearlessly and devotedly.

4. Commitment: Individually and collectively, we are steadfast to the team and its purpose.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILTIES include the following. Other duties may be assigned. 

· Instructs preschool-aged children in activities designed to promote social, physical, and intellectual growth needed for primary school. 

· Establishes and enforces rules for behavior and procedures for maintaining order. 

· Organizes and leads activities designed to promote physical, mental, and social development, such as games, arts and crafts, music, storytelling, and field trips. 

· Teaches basic skills, such as color, shape, number and letter recognition, personal hygiene, and social skills.

· Observes and evaluates children's performance, behavior, social development, and physical health. 

· Provides a variety of materials and resources for children to explore, manipulate, and use, both in learning activities and in imaginative play. 

· Serves meals and snacks in accordance with nutritional guidelines. Teaches proper eating habits and personal hygiene. 

· Prepares materials and classrooms for class activities. 

· Enforces all administration policies and rules governing students. 

· Identifies children showing signs of emotional, developmental, or health-related problems and discuss them with supervisors, parents or guardians, and child development specialists. 

· Establishes clear objectives for all lessons, units, and projects and communicate those objectives to children. 

· Meets with parents and guardians to discuss their children's progress and needs, determines their priorities for their children, and suggests ways that they can promote learning and development. 

· Adapts teaching methods and instructional materials to meet students' varying needs and interests. 

· Arranges indoor and outdoor space to facilitate creative play, motor-skill activities, and safety. 

· Maintains accurate and complete student records as required by laws, district policies, and administrative regulations. 

· Attends professional meetings, educational conferences, and teacher training workshops to maintain and improve professional competence. 

· Prepares reports on students and activities as required by administration. 

· Collaborates with other teachers and administrators in the development, evaluation, and revision of preschool programs. 

· Plans and supervises class projects, field trips, visits by guests, or other experiential activities and guides students in learning from those activities. 

· Attends staff meetings and serves on committees as required. 

· Attends faculty functions, such as monthly faculty meetings, Diocesan educational conferences, and other events of the school.

· Selects, stores, orders, issues, and inventories classroom equipment, materials, and supplies. 

· Administers tests to help determine children's developmental levels, needs, and potential.

· Prepares and implements remedial programs for students requiring extra help.

· Performs administrative duties, such as hall and cafeteria monitoring and bus loading and unloading.

· Supervises, evaluates, and plans assignments for teacher assistants and volunteers.

ACADEMIC/SUPERVISORY DUTIES

Teachers are academically qualified and prepared for each day's lessons. They are accountable to the principal, the parents, and the students in the following ways for example but not limited to:

· Lesson planning and class preparedness;

· Evaluation of student performance; 

· Parent conferences;

· End of year records;

· Daily Attendance. 

Requirements

QUALIFICATIONS

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

CATHOLIC FAITH

Requires an appreciation and respect for the Catholic Church and its teachings. Church employees must conduct themselves in a manner that is consistent with and supportive of the mission and purpose of the Church. Their public behavior must not violate the faith, morals or laws of the Church or the policies of the diocese.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

 Must have a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited university or college that is recognized as acceptable for Florida certification. Bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education preferred.  

· Must hold or obtain a Professional Certificate in subject area taught within three years of hire.

· Documented progress towards certification must be made within the first year of hire and filed in school personnel file; otherwise teaching contract cannot be renewed.

· Must hold or obtain Faith Fit Enrichment Certification in Levels 1, 2, and 3 within three years of hire and continue ongoing enrichment.

OTHER SKILLS AND ABILITIES

The ability to communicate, listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences. The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing. Strong command of both written and spoken English language.

WORKING CONDITIONS

· Work is performed mostly indoors in an environmentally controlled setting.

· Work is performed in a busy and occasionally noisy environment.

· Work is to be performed directly on school campuses.

· Works frequently in close physical proximity to others and may encounter work in enclosed or tight spaces.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

Caring for children can be physically demanding. The Early Childhood Teacher may be required to lift and/or carry children or equipment (up to 40 lbs.), and may spend time sitting on the floor or child sized furniture. Expected to clean and maintain equipment and facility, and may move throughout the community with children. Ability to stand and sit for long periods of time, walking, bending, stooping/squatting, and reaching. May come in contact with children who are ill and/or contagious, and must take precautions to ensure the health and safety of all children, parents, staff and themselves.

WORKING CONDITIONS

The Early Childhood Teacher will be working in a busy and occasionally noisy environment. There may be a number of activities and situations happening at once, and the teacher will have to supervise all children at all times.

Sensory Demands - The Preschool Teacher may experience smells associated with toileting and children who are ill. There may be times that the environment is noisy and busy.

Mental Demands - Caring for children can be stressful. The Preschool Teacher must ensure that children are supervised at all times, and that children are involved in safe and appropriate activities. There may be a number of situations happening at once, and the Preschool Teacher must be prepared to handle accidents and emergencies at any time.