Bright Beginnings Early Childhood Education Teacher

Job Tittle: Bright Beginnings Early Childhood Education Teacher
Reports To: Director of Family Literacy Expansion
Part-Time: School Year, 27.5 hours/week (Monday – Friday, 8:00 AM – 1:30 PM)
Supervisory Responsibilities: None
Classification: Part-Time, Exempt

The Mission Behind the Role:

At Grace Place, we believe a family's story doesn't have to be defined by poverty. Every day, we work to change that, through education, community, and a deep commitment to the families we serve. But that work doesn’t happen without people who are organized, driven, and genuinely invested in what we’re building.

That’s where you come in. As a Bright Beginnings Early Childhood Education Teacher, you will play a vital role in creating a nurturing, engaging, and developmentally appropriate learning environment where children and families can thrive. You will work alongside the Director of Family Literacy Expansion, the ECE Co‑Teacher, Family Literacy staff, and volunteers to bring the Grace Place Family Literacy Model® to life across every aspect of our two‑generation approach:
Early Childhood Education, Adult Education, Parent Time, and PACT Time.

This is not simply a classroom role. It’s for someone who thrives in a collaborative environment, finds purpose in supporting young learners and their families, and understands that meaningful early childhood experiences lay the foundation for lifelong growth and success. With the leadership and guidance of the Director of Family Literacy Expansion, the Bright Beginnings ECE Teacher is responsible for implementing a high‑quality, comprehensive, and developmentally appropriate preschool program that supports the academic, social, emotional, and developmental needs of every child.

Creating a safe, engaging, and developmentally appropriate classroom where children and families feel supported and welcomed. A successful Bright Beginnings ECE Teacher collaborates effectively with staff and families, implements high‑quality instruction, and fosters meaningful growth in each child through the Grace Place Family Literacy Model®.

• Utilize play‑based curriculum, DCF Performance Standards, and Grace Place’s established rules and procedures to develop schemes of work, lesson plans, and instructional activities that facilitate and promote early learning skills carried over into the home.
• Create a developmentally appropriate classroom environment and identify and select differentiated instructional resources and methods to meet students’ individual needs.
• Maintain a well‑organized, DCF‑compliant, safe, and attractive classroom environment conducive to the optimal growth and development of children.

• Build positive relationships with students and families, providing effective ongoing coaching of parents in appropriate strategies modeled during Parent and Child Together (P.A.C.T.) Time.
• Meet with parents and guardians during two home visits per year to discuss their children’s progress and needs, determine their priorities for their children, and suggest ways they can promote learning and development.
• Maintain regular communication with parents regarding their child’s progress and needs and keep parents informed of program expectations and activities.
• Conduct home visits and staff/parent conferences.
• Welcome and effectively manage volunteer involvement in the ECE classroom.
• Provide effective ongoing coaching in appropriate strategies and model these strategies in the classroom.
• Maintain high visibility and a hands‑on presence with students, staff, volunteers, and parents in all aspects of the program.

• Observe and evaluate student performance and development, maintaining records of each child’s progress to be utilized for planning and evaluation.
• Comply with and complete all required Grace Place evaluations throughout the academic year.
• Incorporate student performance and progress into lesson planning and implemented activities to achieve mastery of outcomes and goals.
• Identify developmental and social‑emotional needs of children and make appropriate interventions and referrals with the guidance of the Director of…