Reports to: Director of Early Childhood
Salary Range: Early Childhood Teacher Salary Schedule
Benefits: Fringe benefits based on Fremont Re-2 Negotiated Agreement
Status: Classified Employee
SUMMARY OF FUNCTIONS:
The Early Childhood Educator functions as a member of the Preschool teaching team. The Educator applies research-based knowledge of child development and the stages of learning for preschoolers to promote student growth and achievement at a rate appropriate to age and stage of development. The Educator organizes and maintains a learning environment along with varied learning experiences conducive to social/emotional, cognitive, physical, language, literacy, and mathematical development for preschool age children. Responsibilities include but are not limited to maintaining a clean and safe learning environment, documentation of individual student progress/completing data reports, conferencing collaboratively with parents, and when needed, feeding, and changing diapers.
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. The physical demands, work environment factors, and mental functions described below are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
REQUIRED:
- Must meet the minimum state licensing requirements for Early Childhood Teacher (formally known in the district as "Group Leader") as per the Colorado Office of Early Childhood, Child Care Licensing Review the Early Childhood Teacher chart to see the options.
- Minimum requirements include two Early Childhood Education college courses (ECE 101 OR ECE 1 03 and any other ECE college course) and a minimum of two years (3,640 hours) of experience with children under the age of six years
- Meet the minimum state licensing requirements for Large Center Director (as per the Colorado Office of Early Childhood, Child Care Licensing See the Director Qualifications Chart to see the options.
- Minimum requirements include thirty (30) semester hours of specific college course work in Early Childhood Education and a minimum of two years (3,640 hours) of experience with children under the age of six years
PREFERRED:
- Demonstrated knowledge and skills in working with 3 to 6 year old students
- Demonstrated previous experience working with students with special needs including but not limited to Autism in an inclusive model
- Demonstrated willingness to work with the team concept
- Demonstrated willingness to attend and participate in school and district professional development activities
- Demonstrated flexibility in work settings
- Demonstrated ability to maintain confidentiality
SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE:
- Ability to work under high pressure with a multitude of on-going tasks and last-minute deadlines and changes with minimal errors
- Ability to prioritize, plan, organize, and work effectively, using independent judgment to complete assignments and meet timelines
- Ability to work as a member of a team concept
- Ability to relate well with District staff and the public and to understand their requests and needs and to respond to such requests in a professional and timely manner
- Ability to make independent decisions in accordance with established policies and procedures
- Ability to establish and maintain a professional/effective working relationship with building staff, administrators, parents, students, city/county officials, and other community members
- Possess an excellent work attitude and the ability and willingness to take ownership/responsibility for project completion; demonstrated ability to provide initiative in reaching organizational goals
- Ability to maintain strict confidentiality in all aspects of assignments
- Ability to coordinate daily activities and schedule with little supervision
- Ability to be flexible and adaptable in a variety of situations
- Ability to remain calm under trying circumstances
- Ability to work with frequent interruptions
ESSENTIAL JOB DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
The following statements of duties and responsibilities are intended to describe the general nature and level or work being performed by individuals assigned to this position. These statements are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties and responsibilities required of all personnel within this position. This organization believes that every individual makes a significant contribution to our success. That contribution should not be limited to assigned responsibilities. Therefore, this position description is designed to define primary duties, qualifications and job scope but should not limit the incumbent nor the organization to the work identified. It is our expectation that every employee will offer his/her services wherever and whenever necessary to ensure the success of the District's/department's goals.
- Ensure developmentally appropriate practices (DAP) occur through an "active learning" approach and in compliance with the Colorado Department of Quality Standards for Early Childhood Programs when implementing the district curriculum.
- Responsible for overall classroom management to meet the social and emotional needs of students enrolled
- Responsible for student assessments, including but not limited to Teaching Strategies Gold
- Responsible for planning, preparing and carrying out student learning opportunities based on current and on-going knowledge of individual student needs and the goals of the preschool program
- Responsible for adapting the curriculum and explicit/direct instruction to meet the needs of individual children identified for special education services; work with children individually or in small groups; attend special education meetings to support the development of classroom activities when requested; initiate referrals when necessary
- Work cooperatively with team members to engage families and parents in Family
Partnership Events, parent-teacher conferences, and other assigned/created parent events
- Develop action plans when necessary and work with children to achieve independent self help skills to include toileting, potty-training, and diapering as needed and assist students with preparing for and taking part in classroom snacks/meals
- Recognize the needs of young children and interact with all stakeholders in a spirit of respect, courtesy, and confidence
- Function as a preschool team member, take appropriate measures to communicate expectations effectively, offer solutions for work problems, and take action for self improvement
- Demonstrate understanding of job responsibilities, model appropriate team leadership skills, maintain consistent attendance and punctuality to work, appropriate appearance and dress, and observe established safety and health standards
- Teach and interact with students in order to effectively provide early childhood education/ intervention services in a multiage and inclusive preschool setting
- Work cooperatively with parents, colleagues, and administrators
- Attend and participate in school and district professional development activities
- Where applicable, oversee the day-to-day operation of the classroom such as responding to student behaviors, addressing parent concerns, entering student attendance data in the district student information system, ensuring compliance with licensing (both for the classroom and for individual requirements; i.e., up-to-date director qualifications), health and fire regulations for preschool programs, etc.
- Perform any and all other duties as assigned by building and program administration
WORKING CONDITIONS:
The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate. The work is performed in a typical classroom environment.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS: The physical demands, work environment factors, and mental functions described below are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
In an 8-hour workday, this job requires:
Rarely (Less than 0.5 hr per day) Occasionally (0.5-2.5 hr per day) Frequently (2.5- 5.5 hrs per day)
Standing Frequently | Pushing/Pulling up to 120 lbs Occasionally |
Walking Frequently | Climbing Rarely |
Lifting under 10 lbs Frequently | Balancing Occasionally |
10-25 lbs Frequently | Stooping Frequently |
25-60 lbs Occasionally | Kneeling Occasionally |
61-75 lbs Rarely | Crouching Occasionally |
76-100 lbs Never | Crawling Occasionally |
Carrying under 10 lbs Frequently | Reaching Frequently |
10-25 lbs Frequently | Handling Frequently |
26-60 lbs Occasionally | Fingering Occasionally |
61-75 lbs Rarely | Use of telephone Occasionally |
76-100 lbs Never | Keyboarding skills Occasionally |
Fremont Re-2 School District seeks to comply with state and/or federal law prohibiting discrimination in employment on the basis of race, creed, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, sexual orientation, sex (gender), age, genetic information, or disabilities in admission or access to, or treatment of employment in its educational programs or activities
"Any Applicant who knowingly or willfully makes a false statement of any material fact or thing in the application is guilty of perjury in the second degree as defined in Section 18-8-503, C.R.S., and, upon conviction thereof, shall be punished accordingly."
Inquiries regarding Fremont Re-2 School District’s compliance may be referred to the Equal Opportunity Affirmative Action Compliance Officer, the Superintendent, 403 W 5th St, Florence, CO 81226. 719-784-6312
RENEWAL OF DIRECTOR QUALIFICATION LETTERS FOR DIRECTORS WHO HOLD A CURRENT 5-YEAR FULLY QUALIFIED DIRECTOR LETTER
DIRECTORS ARE NOT REQUIRED TO TAKE ONGOING COLLEGE COURSEWORK TO RENEW THEIR DIRECTOR QUALIFICATIONS.
A director ONLY NEEDS TO SUBMIT A COMPLETED RENEWAL APPLICATION
several months prior to the letter’s expiration date, so an updated director letter can be issued.
7.702.42, C, 1 -- Previously Qualified Large Center Directors
who have not been issued a current 5-Year Fully Qualified Director Letter
C, 1.
Directors are required to complete the five (5) courses listed below. Once you have completed one (1) or more of the five (5) required classes
listed below, you may apply for a Transitory Qualified Director Letter. Upon receipt of this letter, you will be allowed to operate as a director while completing your coursework. Of the courses listed below that you have not completed, one (1) course shall be completed every two (2) years, until all coursework is completed. You may choose the order in which you complete the outstanding coursework requirements. Please submit sealed official transcripts or e-mailed electronic digital PDF transcripts from the college registrar, or department-approved training certificates, for each of the following completed courses:
Early Childhood Guidance Strategies (3 semester credit hours) –or- Pyramid Plus Approach Training (certificate);
Infant/Toddler Theory and Practice (3 semester credit hours) –or- Expanding Quality Infant/Toddler Training (certificate);
Early Childhood Health, Nutrition and Safety (3 semester credit hours);
Administration: Human Relations for Early Childhood Professions (3 semester credit hours) -or- Introduction to Business (3 semester credit hours);
The Exceptional Child (3 semester credit hours).
Any official transcripts and documentation submitted with your initial director application have been purged. College coursework must be taken from a regionally accredited college or university; completed classes must be two-year, four-year, or graduate level coursework. Please send the certificate or official transcript to our office for review, until all five (5) courses have been completed.
7.702.42, A, 1 - 3 -- Large Center Director Qualifications
A.
The educational requirements for the director or substitute director of a large center must be met by satisfactory completion of one of the following. (All course hours are given in semester hours, but equivalent quarter hours are acceptable.) Official college transcripts must be submitted to the Department for evaluation of qualifications.
A, 1.
Director candidates must meet ONE of the following Section A options.
All individuals with a Bachelor's degree in early childhood education from a regionally accredited Colorado college or university are considered fully director qualified.
All individuals with a Master's degree with a major emphasis in child development, early childhood education, or early childhood special education, from a regionally accredited college or university are considered fully director qualified.
A, 2.
All individuals with a current early childhood professional Credential Level IV Version 2.0 as determined by the Colorado Department of
Education are considered fully director qualified.
A, 3.
Completion of all the following three (3) semester hour courses from a regionally accredited college or university, either two (2) year, four
(4) year, or gradual level courses, must be completed in each of the following subject or content areas in each of the following subject or
content areas listed below. All accepted college coursework grades must be a “C” or better. Please submit sealed official transcripts or department-approved training certificates for each of the following completed courses:
Introduction to Early Childhood Professions (3 semester credit hours);
Introduction to Early Childhood Lab Techniques (3 semester credit hours);
Early Childhood Guidance Strategies (3 semester credit hours) –or- Pyramid Plus Approach Training (certificate);
Infant/Toddler Theory and Practice (3 semester credit hours) –or- Expanding Quality Infant/Toddler Training (certificate);
Early Childhood Health, Nutrition and Safety (3 semester credit hours);
Early Childhood Curriculum Development (3 semester credit hours);
Early Childhood Growth and Development (3 semester credit hours);
Administration of Early Childhood Care and Education Programs (3 semester credit hours);
Administration: Human Relations for Early Childhood Professions (3 semester credit hours) -or- Introduction to Business (3 semester credit hours);
The Exceptional Child (3 semester credit hours).
7.702.42,B, Large Center Director Qualifications EXPERIENCE OPTIONS
One option must be meet:
B.
The experience requirements for the director of a large center must be met by completion of the following amount of work experience in a child development program, which includes working with a group of children in such programs as a preschool, child care center, kindergarten, or Head Start program.
B, 1.
Persons with Bachelor’s or Master’s degree with a major emphasis in child development, early childhood education, early childhood special education, or an early childhood professional Credential Level IV Version 2.0 as determined by the Colorado Department of Education, no additional experience is required.
B, 2.
Persons with a 2-year college degree in early childhood education must have twelve (12) months (1,820 hours) of verified experience working directly with children in a child development program.
B, 3.
Persons with a Bachelor's degree and completion of courses specified in Sections 7.702.42, A, 3, a-j, must have twelve (12) months (1,820 hours) of verified experience working directly with children in a child development program.
B, 4.
Persons who have no degree but have completed the thirty (30) semester hours specified in Section 7.702.42, A, 3, a-j, must have twenty-four
(24) months (3,640 hours) of verified experience working directly with children in a child development program.
B, 5.
Verified experience acquired in a licensed Colorado family child care home or school-age child care center may count for up to half of the required experience for director qualifications. To have Colorado family child care home experience considered, the applicant must be or have been the licensee. The other half of the required experience must be working directly with children in a child development program.
B, 6.
Experience with five (5) year olds must be verified as follows:
a. If experience caring for five (5) year old children occurs in a child care center classroom, the hours worked shall be counted as preschool experience;
b. If experience caring for five (5) year old children occurs in an elementary school program, the hours worked shall be counted as school-age experience.
7.703.44 AN EARLY CHILDHOOD TEACHER (FORMERLY GROUP LEADER),
assigned responsibility for a single group of children and working under the supervision of a director,
must be at least 18 years of age and must meet ONE of the following (from A – I options):
Effective February 1, 2016
A – I Options Degree or college course requirement
Grades Must be “C” or Better
Experience Requirement
A. A Bachelor’s (4 year) degree. a. A Bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited college or university with a major area of study in one of the following areas:
1) Early childhood education; 2) Elementary education; 3) Special education; 4) Family and child development; 5) Child psychology.
No additional experience required.
B. A Bachelor’s (4 year) degree in an unrelated area.
b. A Bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university with a major area of study in any area other than those listed at Section 7.702.44, A, 1, and additional two (2) three-semester hour early childhood education college courses with one course being either introduction to early childhood education or guidance strategies.
No additional experience required.
C. Current early childhood professional Credential Level III Version 2.0.
c. Current early childhood professional Credential Level III Version 2.0 as determined by the Colorado Department of Education.
No additional experience required.
D. A 2-year college degree, sixty
(60) semester hours.
d. A 2-year college degree, sixty (60) semester hours, in early childhood education from a regionally accredited college or university, which must include at least two (2) three-semester hour courses, one of which must be either introduction to early childhood education or guidance
strategies.
At least six (6) moths (910 hours)
of satisfactory experience.
E. Twelve (12) semester hours in college-level credits in Early Childhood.
e. Completion of twelve (12) semester hours from a regionally accredited college or university, at either a two year, four year or graduate level, in each of the following subject or content areas in early childhood education and one of the three (3) semester hour courses must be either introduction to early childhood education or guidance strategies.
Nine (9) months (1,395 hours) of verified experience in the care and supervision of four (4) or more children less than six (6) years of age who are not related to the individual.
F. Completion of a vocational or occupational education sequence in child growth and development.
f. Completion of a vocational or occupational education sequence in child growth and development.
Twelve (12) months (1,820 hours) of verified experience in the care and supervision of four (4) or more children less than six (6) years of age who are not related to the individual.
G. Child Development Associate
(CDA).
g. Current certification as a Child Development Associate (CDA) from the Council of Professional Recognition, or other Department-approved credential.
No additional experience required.
H. Completion of a course of training approved by the Department.
h. Completion of a course of training approved by the Department that includes training and work experience with children in a child growth and development program.
Twelve (12) months (1,820 hours) of verified experience in the care and supervision of four (4) or more children less than six (6) years of age who are not related to the individual.
I. A current Colorado Level I credential or two (2) three-semester hour early childhood education college courses from a regionally accredited college or university.
i. 1) A current Colorado Level I credential; or, 2) Two (2) three- semester hour early childhood education college courses from a regionally accredited college or university, at either a two year, four year or graduate level, in each of the following subject or content areas with one course being either introduction to early childhood education or guidance strategies.
Twenty-four (24) months (3,640 hours) of verified experience in the care and supervision of four (4) or more children less than six (6) years of age who are not related to the individual. Satisfactory experience includes being a licensee of a Colorado family child care home; a teacher’s aide or teacher in a child care center, preschool, or
elementary school, plus either.
THE DEPARTMENT WILL ACCEPT EXPANDING QUALITY INFANT/TODDLER (EQIT) TRAINING AND PYRAMID PLUS APPROACH TRAINING AS ADDITIONAL COURSES, WITH VERIFICATION FROM THE TRAINER.
Fremont RE-2 School District does not discriminate on the basis of disability, race, creed, color, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, religion or need for special education services, access to, treatment or employment in its educational programs or activities. Additionally, a lack of English language skills is not a barrier to admission or participation in activities. The following individuals have been designated to handle inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policies: Dr. Brenda Krage, Superintendent, and EEO/Affirmative Action/Title IX/Section 504 Compliance Officer for complaints involving employees, and Jason Cellan, Title IX Compliance Officer for complaints involving students. Both individuals can be located at 403 W. 5th Street, Florence, Colorado, 81226. (719) 784-6312. Complaint procedures have been established for students, parents, employees, and members of the public. (Policy AC, AC-R, AC-E-1, AC-E-2)