Infant/Toddler Teacher

CHS Harrisburg will be the second Center to open under the Catherine Hershey Schools organization, and is expected to open in 2024. The two-story, 48,692-square-foot building, located at the northeast corner of North 6th St. and Muench St., will include a Family Success Center, an Innovation Studio, and an experiential learning garden. The Center will accommodate 150 children from birth to age 5 and is expected to employ up to 80 employees and volunteers.

To prepare for the opening of CHS Harrisburg in 2024, teachers and staff will receive pre-opening professional development, coaching, training, and team building through the CHS Development Program. This is a unique opportunity for early childhood professionals to expand their knowledge, grow their careers, and launch a child-focused state-of-the-art early learning center.

The Associate Teacher is an individual passionate about education, and excited about working with children to further their educational and emotional growth. In collaboration with the Lead Teacher and the Assistant Teacher, the Associate Teacher is responsible for supporting the implementation of the early childhood classroom curriculum and assessment process, involving families in classroom experiences, and cultivating a classroom environment that represents each child’s family culture. This individual is responsible for supporting the Lead Teacher in planning and implementing the daily education program for children. The Associate Teacher reports to the Assistant Director to provide information should a risk of issue arise. Minimum starting salary is $43,000. A higher salary will be offered if candidate has a bachelor's degree, certification, and years of teaching experience.

Responsibilities:

• Ensuring general classroom management, organization, cleanliness, and maintenance
• Enhancing social, emotional, and cognitive development through age-specific manipulatives, activities, and language experiences for children
• Acting as a role model for child development
• Scheduling family/staff conferences and, in collaboration with the Lead Teacher, conducting meetings
• Implementing classroom lesson plans linked to child outcomes, program development, and classroom routines/schedules
• Caring for safety and hygiene of children on a frequent basis
• Supervising and providing a safe and nurturing environment for children
• Remaining compliant with all state licensing requirements as they pertain to health, safety, and professional requirements
• Maintaining confidentiality as it pertains to program, staff, and families
• Participating in classroom coaching cycles
• Maintaining daily communication with families using multiple channels of communication
• Observing, assessing, and documenting each assigned child’s health, skills, behavior, growth, and development
• Completing daily attendance and meal participation reports
• Assuming Lead Teacher’s responsibilities in the Lead Teacher’s temporary absence
• Completing all required program documentation and submitting it in a timely manner to the Lead Teacher

Qualifications:

• Comfortability with technology including MS Office Suite (Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint) and /or willingness to learn
• Commitment to the mission and values of CHS and MHS and demonstrated high degree of integrity as all MHS and CHS staff are considered to be role models for students
• Familiar with inquiry-based and project approach learning, as well as PBIS strategies preferred
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment with changing priorities
• U.S. work authorization and successful completion of pre-employment background checks and clearances
• Demonstrated understanding of and ability to effectively work with low-income families preferred
• Current Child Development Associate credential issued by the Council for Professional Recognition OR at least 12 college credits in early childhood education, child development, elementary education, or early childhood special education; level A or B certification in the PA ECE Career Pathway preferred
• Exceptional interpersonal skills including the ability to influence, lead, and educate teams
• Willingness to be held accountable and receive feedback
• Excels at engaging with parents/caregivers, including initiating discussions when necessary
• Responsible, enthusiastic, and cares about working in a mission-focused organization
• Ability to proactively identify problems and implement solutions
• Ability to physically interact with children (e.g., talk, hear, stoop, kneel, crouch, etc.) and lift and or move items of up to 40 pounds
• Experience and knowledge in Early Childhood Education program and teaching standards, including code of ethics – NAEYC standards preferred