Organization: Compass Family Services helps homeless families and families at imminent risk for homelessness to achieve housing stability, family well-being, and self-sufficiency. We are the access point for any SF family facing a housing crisis and our services include emergency shelter, transitional housing, rental assistance, early childhood education, mental health support, in addition to a broad spectrum of counseling, parenting education, prevention, and support services.
Program: Compass Children’s Center is a nationally accredited enriched early childhood education center with a curriculum tailored to meet the specific needs of children living in extreme poverty and homelessness. The Center serves 70 children, ages 0-5, and their families each day, and addresses the social, emotional, cognitive, and physical development of the children, as well as the functioning and well-being of the families.
Reports to: Team Coordinator
Exempt Status: Non-exempt, full-time (37.5 hours/week.)
Responsibilities:
The primary responsibility of the teacher is to ensure a safe, healthy and nurturing environment for all the children, based on a positive, non-punitive approach, as outlined in the CCC Program Handbook and Staff Manual. Every member of the staff is responsible for providing the highest quality of care for the children consistent with the mission, philosophy and practices outlined in the CCC Staff Manual and for modeling appropriate behavior to children, families and fellow staff. As part of the teaching team, the teacher is responsible for helping to plan and maintain the environment and for participation in meetings.
To establish and maintain a safe and healthy environment.
Prepare the infant/toddler learning environment for children to learn through active exploration and interaction with adult caregivers.
Designs appropriate room arrangement to support infant/toddler exploration, growth, each child’s goals as well as the program goals and practices as outlined in the Program Handbook and Staff Manual.
Works with assigned group of infants and toddlers applying best practices for infant/toddler care.
Plans and implements a nutritious snack program which includes two food groups each snack.
Promotes healthy eating practices by sitting and eating with the children. Assists in preparation of snacks and breakfast. In the Infant Room, assists with special prep of foods and formula/breast milk.
Promotes good personal hygiene habits and independent care skills when appropriate. This includes diaper changing, toilet training, washing hands and face, assisting children with changing clothes and brushing teeth, when appropriate.
Maintains a clean, orderly and well-stocked learning environment. This includes but is not limited to having water available for children at all times, dishes, furniture and equipment; setting up and putting away cots; changing bedding and laundry; stocking and organizing classroom supplies; and arranging furniture and active play equipment.
Reviews and familiarizes self with center’s emergency procedures.
Provides basic first-aid in event of injuries, choking or other emergencies.
To advance physical and cognitive competence
Provides a balance between child-initiated and teacher-initiated activities.
Provides a balance between quiet and active learning activities.
Plans, sets-up and secures equipment and materials for gross motor play that promote children’s physical development, improved coordination, balance and body awareness, both indoors and outdoors.
Provides an integrated curriculum through the daily activities that meets the needs of individual children based on the children’s interests and goals from their screening and assessments.
Plans and implements experiences that promote language, literacy and pre-reading skills.
Plans and implements activities that promote the acquisition of number concepts and pre-mathematic skills.
Plans and implements activities that encourage interest in science by discovery, exploration and questioning the environment.
To support social and emotional development and provide positive guidance.
Plans and implements hands-on activities that develop positive self-esteem.
Plans and sets-up the environment to facilitate positive play.
Plans and implements hands-on activities that develop social skills.
Plans and implements culturally diverse experiences.
Provides a wide variety of creative and expressive activities.
Establishes routines with smooth transition periods.
Communicates with children at their developmental level.
Encourages children to be interdependent (independent and dependent).
Plans and coordinates field trips and special events.
To establish positive and productive relationships with families.
Acts as the “Primary Teacher” for a group of 3 children which includes, but is not limited to primary bonding, individual observations and written documentation of development, and primary communication with families in person and in writing.
Completes screenings and assessments and documents children’s individual developmental progress, according to the CA Department of Education requirements and program philosophy.
Relates assessment information to families and offers support for dealing with
children at different developmental stages.
Promotes communication with families through daily exchanges of information and semi-annual family conferences.
Encourages parents to participate in the program by providing a variety of opportunities to do so.
Helps create a mutually supportive relationship between the program, the child and the family.
Maintains confidentiality of client information.
To ensure a well run, purposeful program responsive to participant needs.
Prepares materials prior to implementing activities.
Coordinates, orients and helps supervise Foster Grandparents, interns, substitute teachers and volunteers working in the classroom.
Uses information gathered from the children’s ASQ’s and DRDP’s to create written curriculum plans on a weekly basis.
Assesses children’s needs and developmental progress on an ongoing basis through observation and assessment tools and shares this information with families at meetings and conferences.
Uses the results of assessments to plan activities and make necessary referrals to the appropriate agencies.
Maintains all written records and logs, e.g. attendance-books, sign-out sheets, accident reports, etc.
To maintain a commitment to professionalism.
Promotes the center’s philosophy and educational objectives.
Supports the center’s code of ethical conduct.
Engages in ongoing staff development to improve personal and professional skills.
Supports the professional growth and development of colleagues by sharing materials and information and providing helpful feedback and encouragement.
Attends weekly staff meetings, workshops and in-service training provided by the center.
Develops and promotes positive working relationships and an effective teaching team with other staff members.
Requirements and qualifications, unless reasonable accommodations can appropriately be made.
Must be at least 18 years old.
Must have a high school diploma or equivalent.
Must either have BA or be willing to engage in coursework toward a BA and Site Supervisor Permit.
Must have experience working with infants and toddlers.
Must be able to lift a child of 30lbs.
Must be able to arrange, move, set-up and break-down furniture and equipment.
Must be able to bend, squat, sit, kneel and stand in order to engage children at their level and need.
Must be able to hand write or type documentation on children and curriculum.
Health screening, TB and fingerprint clearance (Department of Justice, FBI, Child Abuse Index)
10. CPR and First Aid Certificate and Infectious Disease Prevention training
11. Possess a Teacher Permit from the California Commission on Teaching Credentials. (24 ECE/CD including core courses and 16 general education units).
12. 3 units of infant care working toward 6 units.
13. At least 2 years of experience working directly with infants/preschool age children.
14. Ability to provide leadership and accept responsibility
15. Bilingual a plus
16. Ability to provide leadership and accept responsibility
17. Be willing to continually attend classes to obtain a BA/BS and Site Supervisor Permit
Please send cover letter and resume to HR@compass-sf.org