Kindergarten Teacher, 2023-24 School Year

Summary
Leila Day is eager to hire a Teacher for our exceptional play-based, outdoors/nature-focused Kindergarten. This is an opening for a full-time position in our 10-month, school year program to start in August 2023.
We are looking for a curious and nurturing adult who enjoys spending time supporting children?s growth and development through play- and nature-based explorations. If you desire to work in a diverse and progressive early childhood program making a difference in children?s lives, we invite you to apply to become part of our special community.
Leila Day is an accredited, nonprofit child care center serving children of working families from diverse economic, racial and cultural backgrounds from New Haven and surrounding towns. In operation since 1878, this celebrated program?s mission is to foster children?s social, emotional, intellectual, and physical development within a warm and nurturing environment built on sound principles of child development. Children and teachers spend time learning outside every day, so interested candidates should be prepared to support children in both the indoor and outdoor learning environments. www.leiladay.org
Leila Day is committed to creating and sustaining a diverse community and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status.
Duties
Work collaboratively with the Head Teacher and the teaching team to:

• Keep daily/weekly/monthly lesson plans current and accessible to the educational leadership team.
• Plan, implement, and document an emergent child-centered curriculum with activities in all developmental areas - cognitive, social, emotional, physical, and language; spend a large portion of the day directly involved in facilitating children's play and demonstrating patience, respect and nurturance of children.
• Create experiences that encourage positive self-concept while supporting and respecting the cultural backgrounds, languages, individual interests and learning style of each child and being sensitive to issues of equity and implicit bias.
• Create and organize a learning environment that is welcoming, child-centered and developmentally appropriate.
• Document and report on each child's progress using a variety of assessment tools.
• Participate in all required trainings.
• Establish daily routines and procedures (e.g. behavioral expectations, group management, limit setting and transitions) reflective of children's different needs and that also ensure the safety and well-being of the group.

Requirements
We will only consider candidates who submit both a resume and a cover letter.
We are seeking candidates with the following educational credentials:

• Master?s degree in child development, early childhood, elementary education, or related field, preferred.
• Qualified Staff Member (QSM) designation in the state of Connecticut, required.
• Bachelor?s degree and 12 credits in Early Childhood Education, required.

A minimum of 3 years? experience working in a kindergarten setting and:

• Strong oral and written communication skills including experience communicating with parents.
• Skills, experience and patience helping children develop social and emotional skills and their abilities to work in groups.
• Experience using a progressive, whole-child, experiential approach to teaching and learning.
• Desire to work in a team and continue to learn and grow as a professional.
• Desire to join the rotation of teachers for beginning and end of day care and family-style meals.
• Knowledge of child development and its relationship to curriculum creation.

Health & safety requirements:

• Must adhere to all CT State guidelines and Leila Day policies regarding health and safety, as well as all Covid-19 related guidelines as revised due to pandemic conditions and response. Leila Day requires the Covid-19 vaccine for all employees.
• Must have desire and ability to regularly spend as many as 4 hours per day outdoors.
• Must be able to maintain mental and physical alertness, and an appropriate level of energy and respond quickly to emergencies or unexpected situations.
• Must have the physical ability to participate in activities that may include walking, squatting, climbing and sitting on the floor.

Nice To Haves
Experience teaching in a nature-based, outdoors educational environment.
Benefits
Salary is commensurate with education and experience and ranges from $40,000-50,000 for a 10-month school year. Teachers have additional opportunities for earnings during our summer and vacation programs. Leila Day offers generous benefits for full time employees including:

• Retirement benefit.
• Paid time off (4 weeks of paid vacation, plus five federal holidays and 2 personal days),
• Meals: Breakfast, lunch and snack every day
• Health dental, life, & vision insurance (90% of the health insurance premium is paid by Leila Day)
• A collaborative work environment and many opportunities for professional growth and development.

About Us

Leila Day is an accredited, nonprofit child care center serving children of working families from diverse economic, racial and cultural backgrounds from New Haven and surrounding towns. In operation since 1878, this celebrated program's mission is to foster children's social, emotional, intellectual and physical development within a warm and nurturing environment built on sound

principles of child development. Leila Day emphasizes nature and outdoors education and children and teachers spend time learning outside every day.