CDL Assistant Teacher - Internal

CDL Assistant Teacher - Internal

Brief Summary of This Position:

The Assistant Teacher at the Berea College Child Development Lab works with the Lead Teacher to organize and maintain a safe and stimulating learning environment for young children. Assistant Teachers are expected to step into the Lead Teacher role during the Lead Teachers' absence. This position is responsible for working collaboratively with the Teacher to plan, implement, and evaluate a daily schedule and the emergent curriculum. Assistant Teachers are responsible for working with the Lead Teacher to model best practices through documentation of children's development, planning emergent curriculum and implementing such practices. Assistant Teachers are responsible for interacting with families, labor students, college students, and co--workers in a professional manner. Assistant Teachers are expected to adhere to CDL policies and procedures, program philosophy, state childcare regulations, and NAEYC and KY ALLSTARS standards. Assistant Teachers are expected to participate in ongoing professional development and have the disposition of a lifelong learner and researcher. They also share responsibility with the Teacher for routine housekeeping and record keeping tasks in order to meet state licensing regulations and CDL policies and procedures. Assistant Teachers attend staff meetings and work to develop themselves professionally through in-services and workshops.

Minimum Qualifications Required

Education required to ensure success in this position:

• Child Development Associate Credential (CDA) required
• Associate degree in Early Childhood Education or related field strongly preferred

Experience required to ensure success in this position:

• Two years related experience (paid and/or supervised experience in childcare or an early childhood education classroom, preferred)

• Special skills, knowledge and abilities
• Knowledge of child development
• Knowledge of Kentucky childcare regulations
• Ability to organize and maintain a safe and stimulating learning environment
• Good communication skills
• Ability to receive and follow instructions
• Ability to take the lead in the absence of the Lead Teacher
• Ability to work collaboratively with co-workers, families, and college students
• Ability to make sound decisions and remain calm during a crisis

License, certification, or registration necessary:

• Ability to meet state licensing agreements
• Complete orientation I & II training and a minimum of 15 hours professional development annually
• Clear criminal background check
• Clear child abuse and neglect check
• Clear TB skin test
• Clear Drug Screen
• Obtain Adult/Infant/Child CPR & First Aid
• Obtain Food Handler Certification

Physical requirements:

• Ability to lift 35 pounds and move swiftly
• Ability to be aware of all children in your care at all times

Environmental conditions:

• Work in well-lighted, temperature-controlled building with reasonable space and equipment
• Work with children outdoors in various weather conditions

Ability to operate the following vehicles or equipment:

• Personal Vehicle
• Laptop Computer
• Printer

Primary Duties and Responsibilities

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. Regular and predictable attendance is essential. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Engage with children in intentional ways.
• Work with teacher to document play and assess development.
• Participate in planning, implementing, and evaluating a daily schedule through an emergent curriculum.
• Participate in planning, implementing, and evaluating activities to involve families in the daily life of the classroom.
• Work collaboratively with families, co-workers, labor students and college students.
• Practice open, respectful communication with families, co-workers, labor students, college students and supervisors at all times.
• Utilize positive guidance strategies and agreed upon best practices.
• Meet regularly with Lead Teacher to develop weekly classroom plans and appropriate curriculum and to confer about classroom issues and concerns.
• In absence of the Lead Teacher, step into leadership position in the classroom.
• Assist in keeping up to date records on attendance, accidents, incidents, etc., in accordance with licensing regulations and program policies.
• Assist in maintaining a portfolio on each child that includes copies of required documents and ongoing documentation and work samples as a record of each child's development.
• Assist the Lead Teacher in providing constructive feedback to labor and college students.
• Maintain a standard of behavior and confidentiality in all matters in accordance with NAEYC code of ethics.
• Perform housekeeping tasks as necessary, as assigned, and in a timely manner (classroom and indoor and outdoor shared play spaces).
• Attend conferences, in-services, and workshops in order to develop professionally.
• Attend staff meetings and required College training and orientation meetings.

Other roles/duties will be assigned as necessary to assist the College in the attainment of the goals set forth and the enhancement of a positive, respectful learning environment for all staff, faculty and students.

Founded in 1855, Berea College achieved national distinction as the first coeducational and interracial college in the South. Berea has a longstanding commitment to interracial education and is one of the most racially diverse private liberal arts colleges in the United States. With an emphasis on service to Appalachia and beyond, Berea enrolls 1,600 students from 43 states and U.S. territories and more than 70 countries. Berea College admits students who are unable to afford tuition and provides all of them a no-tuition promise, valued at more than $178,000. Berea’s students excel in the College’s supportive yet demanding academic environment, and many are the first in their families to attend college. As one of only nine federally recognized Work Colleges, all Berea students are expected to work 10-12 hours weekly in various positions across campus. Berea College was again named one of the nation’s “Best Institutions for Undergraduates to Earn their College Degree” in the 2022 edition of The Princeton Review’s book, The Best 387 Colleges. Berea also appeared on four other lists within the publication: Best Colleges in the Southeast; Best Value Colleges; Best Green Colleges; and Tuition Free Schools. Berea College is ranked #148 by The Princeton Review – the highest-ranked Kentucky college, and the #3 “Best Value College” in the nation. Berea is one of only two private institutions ranked in the Top 10 for Value in the Wall Street Journal/Times Higher Education (THE) 2022 College Rankings. The Washington Monthly ranks Berea College #13 among the nation’s liberal arts colleges, recognizing Berea for maintaining “consistently high rankings thanks to their economic diversity, relatively strong graduation rates, and commitment to meeting students’ financial need.” U.S. News and World Report Rankings lists Berea as #30 among National Liberal Arts Colleges, including ranking Berea #1 in Service Learning, #2 for Most Innovative Schools, #3 in Co-ops/Internships, #4 in First-year Experiences, and tied for #13 in Best Undergraduate Teaching.

Located where the Bluegrass Region meets the Cumberland Mountains, the town of Berea (pop. 16,000) lies forty miles south of Lexington and is approximately two hours from Cincinnati, Louisville, and Knoxville. More information about Berea College is available at www.berea.edu.

Berea College, in light of its mission in the tradition of impartial love and social equality, welcomes all people of the earth to learn and work here.

Berea College is always looking for talented, self-motivated individuals to join our team. If you think you are ready to be a part of an exciting team, then we encourage you to continue with this applicant friendly, online job application!

Berea College is an Equal Opportunity Employer that recruits and hires qualified candidates without regard to race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, disability, or veteran status.

Note to Prospective Employees:

Each year, Berea College Public Safety publishes an annual report to the campus to make public crime statistics, policies, and procedures for Berea College.  This Annual Security Report, required by the Jeane Clery Act, Minger Act, and the Student Right To Know Act is now available for review.  For a full, printable version of the ASR, you can click here: https://www.berea.edu/public-safety/annual-security-report-2019/

For a policy-by-policy version that is easier to read and browse, please visit Public Safety’s website here: https://www.berea.edu/public-safety/annual-security-report-2019/