Join our Team

–Program Coordinator–

The Program Coordinator works in collaboration with the Administrative team to support Teachers, Assistant Teachers, and aide staff in the implementation of the children’s program. This position is full-time, 40 hours a week, with administrative responsibilities. The Program Coordinator reports directly to the Executive Director and job responsibilities may vary based on the needs of the program.

Qualifications

  • A Bachelor’s Degree, from an accredited institution, in child development, special education, education or related field. At minimum, an Associate’s Degree in early childhood education or child development, or a completed CDA, and at least five years of lead teaching experience
  • Physical and mental stamina. Ability to lift, push, and move weight 30lbs or more

Experience in early childhood education including the following;

  • Behavior support plans
  • Strong written and verbal communication skills
  • Interpersonal skills
  • Training and mentoring of adults
  • Experience planning lessons and activities that support an emergent learning environment

Knowledge of:

  • Child development and appropriate learning practices
  • Individualized developmental and behavior support methods
  • Teaching and activity methods used with children ages birth through six years
  • Materials and equipment used in group settings with young children
  • Positive discipline and redirection techniques
  • Appropriate assessment techniques and materials
  • Adult learning styles
  • NAEYC accreditation guidelines and Michigan Early Learning Standards o Community resources for staff, children, and families
  • HighScope Curriculum
  • A philosophy of early childhood education compatible with the center

Ability to:

  • Establish warm, supportive relationships with children and adults
  • Accept and profit from supervision and constructive criticism
  • Develop and maintain working relationships with staff
  • Thrive within a team-oriented environment

Responsibilities related to working with Administration and Office Staff

  • Work in collaboration with the Administrative Staff to ensure proper coverage for opening and closing the building
  • Serve as Building Administrator in the absence of the Executive Director and Assistant Director
  • Communicate with Center families and staff to include: maintaining polite, friendly relationships with Center families; answering staff and parent questions; giving Center tours to prospective families
  • Provide staff support and classroom relief as needed
  • Maintain confidentiality regarding staff, family, child and administrative information 132
  • Work with the Executive Director in the ordering and management of classroom supplies and materials
  • Work with and support the Executive Director and Assistant Director, as needed, with parent orientations, licensing, staff training, and special projects or events
  • Attend and participate in staff meetings and trainings
  • Assist and support the Executive Director and Assistant Director in the planning of special events. Support in arranging for parent volunteers, as needed
  • Update and distribute allergy information to classrooms and kitchen; ensure that proper paperwork is submitted from families and original copies are located in the sick room.

Responsibilities related to Enrollment

  • Enrollment of all new children and new family orientation
  • Maintenance of wait lists and classroom enrollment lists
  • Prepare for internal transitions
  • Share details of enrollment/transitions with teachers
  • Annual collection of renewal paperwork for children (licensing forms)

Responsibilities related to working with Teaching Staff

  • Serve as a substitute in the case of teacher absence
  • Serve as a resource for activities, ideas, information from professional and/or popular publications and conferences

Support teaching staff with the implementation of behavior plans as needed

  • Organize and facilitate meetings with teachers and families
  • Work with teachers and families to develop a behavior support plan
  • Seek advice from Assistant Director on implementation of plan

Working in coordination with the Preschool 4 teachers to plan the Summer Program

  • Coordinate units of study with the field trips
  • Plan and arrange field trips
  • Secure transportation for field trips – Work with CATA to determine bus routes and times – Work with the Lansing School District to schedule school bus transportation when needed
  • Utilize community resources for field trip destinations and special guests being brought into SCDC on non-field trip days
  • Attend field trips as an additional staff member \
  • Work with the Executive Director to create and maintain the summer program budget; to ensure payment as needed for field trips o Work with the cook to make special arrangements for meals as needed (early breakfast, late lunch, packing lunches or snacks for field trips)
  • Ensure that all field trip parent volunteers have turned in proper documentation prior to attending a field trip  Assist teachers with supervising parent volunteers and following SCDC volunteer policies

Responsibilities related to working with Professional Staff Substitutes and Teacher Aide Staff

  • Work with the Assistant Director in the implementation of the on-going training program – Conduct observations of staff, offer feedback of work performance, assist with on the job training as needed and development of improvement plans
  • Inform staff of literature and community resources that are available for professional development

Responsibilities related to families

  • Respond to questions and direct inquires to appropriate member in admin team if needed
  • Coordinate all new child paperwork and processing; distribute as needed
  • Maintain child files for licensing
  • Annual renewal paperwork disbursement and collection (before fall semester)
  • Social media posts, weekly events email

Maintain and coordinate the following

  • Fall Scholastic Book Fair
  • School Pictures through LifeTouch

Mandated training and development

  • Annual Enrichment Training and/or Professional Development
  • Bloodborne Pathogen training
  • CPR/First Aid Certification Training
  • Other training/classes

Center special events

  • Parent Involvement Events

Meetings

  • Active participation on one Committee
  • Board Meetings
  • Staff Meetings

Other duties as assigned; Some evening and weekend hours may be required

Job Type: Full-time

Benefits:

  • 403(b)
  • Dental insurance
  • Employee discount
  • Flexible schedule
  • Health insurance
  • Life insurance
  • Paid time off
  • Vision insurance

Schedule:

  • 8 hour shift
  • Monday to Friday

Ability to Commute:

  • East Lansing, MI 48823 (Required)

Ability to Relocate:

  • East Lansing, MI 48823: Relocate before starting work (Preferred)

Work Location: In person

–Infant Assistant Teacher–

The assistant teacher is responsible for supporting the lead teacher in the planning and implementation of the center curriculum and children’s program.

This is a professional position and includes responsibilities related to the classroom, center and community. The following is a list of specific areas of responsibility for this position. It is understood that some factors which affect the quality of a teaching program may not be quantifiable or possible to clearly define. Therefore, this list may not be all inclusive; specific duties may vary according to the needs of the program and children in the classroom. Policies relating to benefits, evaluations, and procedures may be found in the employee handbook. It is expected that professional staff members will maintain professional attitude and exhibit a commitment to the field of early childhood.

An Assistant Teacher is hired to the Center and may be assigned to any classroom.

This position requires the possession of a valid Infant/Toddler CDA, or equivalent.

Job Description:

The assistant teacher is responsible for supporting the lead teacher in the planning and implementation of the center curriculum and children’s program. This is a professional position and includes responsibilities related to the classroom, center and community.

Qualifications:

  • At least 30 college-level semester hours in coursework related to early childhood or related field are required, or a current CDA
  • Physical and mental stamina; including repeated lifting (30 lbs or more), ability to move quickly from sitting on the floor to standing position repeatedly, and the ability to run if needed
  • Knowledge of teaching and activity methods used with infant, toddler, preschool or early elementary school-age children and principles of child development, the behavior of young children, positive discipline and redirection techniques
  • Ability to establish warm supportive relationships with the children, recognize illness symptoms, accept and profit from supervision and constructive criticism, develop and maintain working relationships with parents and staff, and thrive in a team-oriented environment
  • Experience with planning lessons and activities that support an emergent learning environment
  • Basic computer skills including ability to access the internet for research, send and receive emails, and experience using Microsoft Office to create documents
  • Knowledge of the Michigan Early Learning Standards for Infants and Toddlers
  • Ability to lead and supervise support staff members
  • Assist the lead teacher in writing and posting weekly lesson plans; these may be thematic or developmental and must meet the criteria required by High Scope curriculum
  • Aid in the evaluation and documentation of the developmental progress of the children
  • Step into the lead teacher position when there is an absence
  • Collaborate in supervising and planning activities and lessons to be implemented in the classroom.
  • Attend and participate in staff meetings, trainings, and professional development opportunities with other professional staff
  • Create a safe environment designed to promote the physical, cognitive, and socio-emotional growth and development of each child
  • Carry out experiences which promote global awareness and sensitivity to the likenesses and differences among people of all cultures
  • Encourage respect for other individuals, including the teaching of non-violent problem-solving techniques. Employment is contingent upon the completion and positive review of a Criminal History Background Check, Central Registry Clearance, Tuberculosis Test, and References Check.

Responsibilities related to other staff:

Working with the Lead Teacher:

o Assist the lead teacher in writing and posting weekly lesson plans; these may be thematic or developmental and must meet the criteria required by High Scope curriculum

o Aid in the evaluation and documentation of the developmental progress of the children

o Discuss daily health and developmental observations of the children

o Step into the lead teacher position when there is an absence.

o Collaborate in supervising and planning activities and lessons to be implemented in the classroom.

o Coordinate with the lead teacher in orienting new staff members to the classroom, providing written information about specific room limits and procedures, including emergency procedures.

  • Coordinate with the lead teacher in directly supervising all classroom staff; provide ongoing training via modeling, daily instruction, immediate feedback, notes, and formal classroom meetings.
  • Collaborate to complete Aide evaluations and conduct classroom meetings, twice a year
  • Meet regularly with other professional staff and Administrative/Assistant Director to improve own teaching skills.
  • Comply with all of the center’s policies and procedures as outlined in the Employee Handbook
  • Attend and participate in staff meetings, trainings, and professional development opportunities with other professional staff
  • Share activities, ideas and resources; share information from professional and/or popular publications, conferences, etc.
  • Share playground supervision duties, clean-up responsibilities and classroom supervision duties.

Responsibilities related to the children:

· Create a safe environment designed to promote the physical, cognitive, and socio-emotional growth and development of each child.

· Supervise the children’s activities inside and outside, be engaged with the children, ensure the safety and well-being of the children while under the center’s care, and intervene to support children when necessary.

· Participate in problem solving related to classroom management issues.

· Interact directly with children during all parts of the day including indoor and outdoor play, meals and naptime.

o Dress appropriately for these times of the day

· Regularly rotate children’s art displays.

· Discuss with the lead teacher regular observations of the children for the purpose of detecting early symptoms of developmental challenges and determine if children are well enough to participate in group care on a day to day basis.

· Ensure that children with allergies are not exposed to materials which may be harmful to them

o Post this information in the classroom.

· Create a pleasant mealtime atmosphere which encourages healthy eating habits and social interactions; include tooth brushing as a regular part of the lunchtime meal.

· Work with the lead teacher to enhance children’s experiences through creative use of community resources such as field trips and visitors.

· Carry out experiences which promote global awareness and sensitivity to the likenesses and differences among people of all cultures.

· Encourage respect for other individuals, including the teaching of non-violent problem solving techniques.

Responsibilities related to the parents:

· Maintain informal daily communication with parents, ensuring that confidentiality is maintained.

· Inform parents when a child is ill or has been injured and complete an accident report.

· Establish rapport through use of parent involvement activities and/or parent education conferences.

· Encourage parents to visit, observe, and participate in their child’s classroom

· Assist the lead teacher with formal communication with parents via newsletters, room signs, and/or personal notes.

· Coordinate with the lead teacher to be available to parents for in-center or telephone conferences upon request and inform parents of this option.

· Discuss with the lead teacher the resource options for parents, other sources of information or assistance, or seek guidance from the administration.

· Coordinate with the lead teacher to meet with prospective and new parents to provide specific information about the classroom and other concerns.

SCDC reserves the right to add and/or require attendance for trainings, meetings and special events per center policies, state or accreditation guidelines. This may include but is not limited to the following:

Mandated training and development

o Annual Enrichment Training and Professional Development

o First Aid/CPR

o Blood Borne Pathogen training

o Infant/Toddler Training (Infant/Toddler/Transition teachers)

o Room Meetings

o School Readiness Seminars/Trainings (Preschool teachers/assistants)

· Center special events

o International Night

o Parent Involvement Activities

· Meetings

o Committee Meetings and Board Meetings

  • Staff Meetings

–Classroom Support Staff–

The ideal candidate for this position would have 2+ years experience working with children ages 2-5 years

Qualifications:

  • Completion of at least sophomore status at an accredited college or university or two years experience in the field of early childhood.
  • Valid references or currently employed with the center.
  • Physical and mental stamina.
  • Evidence of sufficient maturity and judgment to handle crisis situations.
  • A philosophy of Early Childhood Education compatible with the center.
  • Ability to establish warm supportive relationships with the children, recognize illness symptoms, accept and profit from supervision and constructive feedback, to develop and maintain working relationships with parents and staff, and to thrive in a team oriented environment.
  • Supervise activities inside and outside of the building, and intervene to aide children when necessary.
  • Attend and participate in staff meetings with other professional staff and administration when applicable.
  • Maintain a safe environment designed to promote the physical, cognitive, and socio-emotional growth and development of each child.
  • Interact directly with the children during all parts of the day including indoor and outdoor play, meals and naptime. Dress appropriately for these periods.
  • Other duties as assigned.

Job offers are contingent upon the completion and positive review of a Criminal History Background Check, Central Registry Clearance, Tuberculosis Test, and References Check.

–Part Time Staff–

Required Availability: Must be available 12:30-5:30 at least 3 days per week, preferably 5 days per week (Monday-Friday)

This para-professional position requires work in an early childhood classroom with children between 0-5 years old. Teacher aides are accompanied by another professional staff member at all times. An employee in this position helps children in all program activities, interacts with them, guides their interactions with each other, and instructs them in the use of materials.

Qualifications:

  • High school diploma required, prefer additional education in Child Development or a related field.
  • Knowledge relating to young children, first aid methods, and safety requirements.
  • Ability to work with children in a warm, responsible, and positive manner and to react calmly in a crisis situation.
  • Physical and mental stamina
  • Ability to stand for long periods of time
  • Ability to bend down, kneel, sit on floor, run and move quickly
  • Ability to lift up to 30 lbs, repeatedly and as needed
  • Room maintenance: help keep toys in order, keep floors and table spaces clean and orderly during the working day, sort artwork, arrange bulletin boards, etc.
  • Supervise activities as directed by the Lead or Assistant Teacher including eating, toileting, tooth brushing, napping, dressing, free play activities, small group and outdoor activities
  • Aides are expected to interact with the children in a warm, positive, and supportive manner; to is needed; to remain with one or more children until relieved by another adult; and to use positive guidance approaches.
  • Report to the Lead or Assistant Teacher any pertinent problems, injuries incurred by the children, observations and parent inquiries.
  • Accept the suggestions of the Lead Teacher, Assistant Teacher and/or Administration to improve teaching and management techniques.
  • Attend all required aide staff in-service training and/or meetings.

Job offers are contingent upon the completion and positive review of a Criminal History Background Check, Central Registry Clearance, Tuberculosis Test, and References Check.

Job Type: Part-time

Salary: $13.02 per hour

Expected hours: No more than 35 per week

Benefits:

  • Flexible schedule
  • Professional development assistance

Schedule:

  • 5 hour shift
  • Monday to Friday
  • No nights
  • No weekends