Early Childhood Program Specialist ; INFANT

Early Childhood Program Specialist 2 (INFANT)

Salary: $45,924 - $61,332
* annually

Classification:
Classified

Reports to:

Director of SBELA

This position will remain open for a minimum of seven (7) days. The College reserves the right to close the recruitment at any time after the minimum posting period once a sufficient applicant pool has been established. All classified positions will start their salary at Step

A.

The Sophia Bremer Early Learning Academy provides quality, comprehensive early learning services for the Olympic College community. The Early Childhood Program Specialist 2 is the assistant teacher role in the classroom, which requires working with children that range in age from birth to 5. The assistant teacher is responsible for supporting lead teachers and classroom activities by developing positive partnerships with families and providing quality learning environments that are responsive to individual developmental needs.

The assistant teacher serves as a part of a diverse and responsive team, requiring strong collaboration skills, professionalism, and integrity in interactions with children, families, colleagues, and community partners. In addition to being responsible for assuring full compliance with all legal, accreditation, and other standards, the assistant teacher also participates in accreditation, assessment, and continuous improvement processes. All teachers are expected to meet pre-service requirements upon hire, remain current in training and service requirements, and engage in early childhood education best practices to support practicum students in the daily application of these practices.

• Provide active supervision of children at all times to ensure a safe, healthy, and developmentally appropriate learning environment in accordance with licensing and Head Start requirements.
• Maintain awareness of child safety, classroom environment, and group dynamics while supporting safe transitions, indoor and outdoor activities, and daily routines.
• Implement culturally responsive individual, small group, and large group activities based on the developmental needs of the children, and which cultivate each child's sense of importance and belonging across indoor and outdoor settings, as directed by the lead teacher.
• Assist in the developmental assessment and screening of each child using program-approved tools and instruments to maintain a healthy, safe, and developmentally appropriate program.
• Use and be knowledgeable of all educational equipment and supplies routinely used in the program and maintain and request equipment and supplies through the director as necessary.
• Complete, secure, and deliver all required documentation as assigned.
• Recognize parents as their child's primary teachers and become familiar with family circumstances.
• Maintain positive, open communication, that foregrounds a child's strengths and assets and developmental needs, while recognizing parents as their child's primary teachers and becoming familiar with family circumstances.
• Encourage and support parental involvement in the classroom and all other educational opportunities.
• Maintain professional, respectful, and productive relationships with parents, prospective families, and community partners.
• Support all necessary and relevant Head Start and Early Head Start requirements, such as ensuring student progress, complying with standard and conduct agreements, and documenting progress and observations.
• Complete required reports and maintain all required documentation of services provided.

Minimum Qualifications

• Early Childhood Education (ECE) State Certificate
• High school diploma or equivalent
• One year of experience caring or children from 1 to 5 years in a center-based program.
• One year full-time (FTE) experience working with low-income families.
• One year full-time (FTE) experience working with families from diverse cultures and ethnic backgrounds.

Preferred Qualifications

• Associate degree in early childhood education from an accredited higher education institution.
• One (1) year FTE experience working in Head Start, Early Head Start, or Early Childhood Education and Assistant Programs (ECEAP); children with disabilities; and families of community college students.

Special Requirements

• Prior to employment, the candidate must show proof of all required immunizations, certifications, and tests, including a Tuberculosis (TB) test, MMR vaccination, and all required STARS certification requirements.
• Within 1 month of hire, the employee must complete all required training and certifications in accordance with state and federal guidelines, including:
  Child Care Basics Training, Safe Sleep Training, Abusive Head Trauma Training, Mandated Reporter Training, Medication Management Training, Families Experiencing Homelessness Training, Disaster and Emergency Preparedness Training, Bloodborne Pathogens Training, CPR & First Aid for Infants and Children certification, Food Handlers Permit, and WAC and Licensing training…