Teacher Apprentice

Teacher Apprentice

Sunbeam Family Services - Oklahoma City, OK

Position Type:
Full Time Education Level: High School Diploma or GED Category:
Early Education

The Teacher Apprentice provides daily care to children in Head Start/Early Head Start (HS/EHS) classrooms using appropriate child guidance techniques and building responsive relationships with classroom teachers, staff, children and families. Assists co-teacher in maintaining a safe, clean, and healthy work environment, while completing coursework and observed classroom hours required for completion of Infant/Toddler Child Development Associate (CDA) Certification. All employees and volunteers are expected to be sensitive to our clients' cultural and socioeconomic characteristics, reflect Sunbeam Family Services core values and to always perform at Sunbeam's standards of excellence.

Essential Functions:

• Support and individualize the physical, social-emotional, and cognitive development of each child in the classroom.
• Demonstrate capacity for providing developmentally appropriate practice, for exemplifying the values expected within the program, and for promoting the mission of the organization.
• Work with co-teacher to maintain a safe, clean, and healthy work environment.
• Work with supervisor to ensure child-staff ratio is maintained at all times.
• Develop an understanding of compliance with Head Start Performance Standards, federal and state regulation, and DHS Child Care Licensing requirements.
• Participate in ongoing professional development through education, role modeling, mentoring, and providing training and resources.
• Assist with implementation of HS/EHS written curriculum plan and demonstrate capacity for providing developmentally appropriate practice.
• Support record keeping and reporting systems to ensure accurate information, with timely completion and follow-up.
• Work cooperatively with other staff assigned to classroom as a team to involve all parents with the children and to encourage the active participation of all parents in the program.
• Model and promotes standard health practices, following established center protocols.
• Build and sustain relationships with children to promote safety and attachment.
• Collaborate with teaching team to implement developmentally-appropriate activities that support emergent learning practices.
• Maintain assigned progress on attaining Child Development Associate (CDA) certification, with at least 2 hours per week allotted to related coursework and observed classroom hours as needed to complete CDA within six (6) months of hire.
• Promote culturally sensitive practice.
• Work in a team setting with all staff to determine individual needs of children including children with disabilities or special needs.
• Regular, reliable attendance is required.
• Participate in and attend all staff meetings, trainings, and certification courses as required.
• Travel locally as required in the performance of responsibilities.
• Perform other appropriate and related responsibilities as assigned by supervisor, ECS leadership, or member of the Executive Team.

Job Qualifications:

Minimally Required Preferred

Education / Certification:

• High School Diploma
• Complete requirements for Center-Based Child Development Associate CDA ® OR Infant/Toddler CDA ® certification within six months of hire
• CPR/First Aid Certification (or within 30 days of hire), maintained throughout employment
• Child Development Associate CDA ®

Experience:

• Experience in Early Childhood Education or Head Start/Early Head Start programs

Skills Knowledge Abilities:

• Caring and compassionate attitude when interacting with and caring for children and families.
• Excellent command of English language and grammar, both verbal and written
• Intermediate knowledge of Microsoft applications and the ability to master other software as needed
• Good organizational and time management skills.
• Must work independently and collaboratively in a team environment.
• Exercise independent judgment.
• Communicate in a professional manner, demonstrating dignity, respect for our internal, external, and community members.
• Process, protect and exercise discretion in handling confidential information and…