Classification: Full-time, Hourly, Non-exempt
Pay rate: $18-19/hr (depending on experience and credentials) plus benefits
Benefits: Full-time employees enjoy extensive benefits at the Asheville JCC, including: 27+ days of paid holidays and PTO; vision, life, and disability insurance; 401k*; membership at the JCC’s state of the art aquatics center; FREE childcare* at the JCC’s 5-star early childhood and school aged programs; and inclusion in a warm and welcoming center that has served the community for over 80 years. Scroll down for full benefits listing and additional information*.
Reports to: Early Childhood Education Director
If you are interested in this opportunity, please send your resume to hr@jcc-asheville.org.
Overview: A lead teacher or co-lead teacher is responsible for designing and implementing an engaging and developmentally appropriate learning experience for the children in their care. The lead or co-lead teacher works closely with families and the teaching team to create a nurturing support system aimed at providing each child with the highest level of individualized care possible and the greatest opportunity for physical, social, emotional and cognitive growth.
Essential Functions:
Instruction
- Utilize tools and resources to plan and execute developmentally appropriate learning experiences based, classroom activities and practices that promote the ideals and goals expressed in the Shalom Children’s Center philosophy and mission, and based on on-going evaluation of the group’s overall needs and the individual needs of each child
- Tailor classroom activities to developmental continuum of children
- Establish daily and weekly schedules for children to be followed by the entire classroom teaching team
- Foster strong classroom community by helping children develop empathy and conflict resolution skills
Management of Learning Environment
- Design and maintain the classroom space to provide safe and engaging learning opportunities that encourage children’s participation and comply with ECERS/ITERS requirements
- Provide constant supervision of the children, and take care of their welfare, health and safety, being fully present and engaged with the children
- Ensure team compliance with all current NC and DCDEE guidelines within the classroom and outdoors
- Engage in positive, developmentally appropriate interactions with children while setting appropriate limits, providing active listening, problem solving and positive redirection
Planning and Assessment
- Establish and implement classroom schedules and lesson plans in collaboration with teaching team
- Maintain documentation on each child and provide families with opportunities to meet in conferences and on an as needed basis
- Develop relationships with and serve as main point of contact for families, providing regular communication regarding their children’s progress and activities, as well as directing them to appropriate resources as needed
Professional Growth & Responsibility
- Participate in JCC all staff meetings, Shalom faculty meetings, POD meetings, and supervisions with ECE Director
- Attend any required in-service trainings on an annual basis. All teachers are required to meet Professional Development Hours as required per school year.
Work Experience:
- Minimum of 1 year experience teaching in a preschool environment required; 3 years experience teaching in a professional preschool or child care environment preferred
- Demonstrated classroom leadership experience
- Experience implementing a Reggio-Emilia inspired or emergent inquiry learning approach preferred
- Use of basic computer skills such as e-mail, communication apps, word documents, Zoom meetings
Physical Demands and Work Environment:
- Must be able to lift and provide responsive care for a child less than 40 lbs on flat and sloped terrain
Education:
- BA or AA in Early Childhood Education
OR
- College degree in related field with 22 semester credit hours in Early Childhood Education including NCECC (North Carolina Early Childhood Credential)
Additional:
- Must be at least 18 years old
- Pediatric First Aid and CPR certification
- NC Qualifying Letter (criminal background check)
- Understanding and ability to implement early childhood best practices and comply with all regulatory policies and procedures
Benefits Include:
- Free tuition for early childhood/youth programming for the first child, and 50% off for subsequent children offered after 90 days of service. A discount of 50% for first child and 25% for additional children is offered for the first 90 days.
- Employer paid insurance (after 90 days of service):
- Vision
- Life Insurance
- Short- and long-term disability
- Optional employee-paid insurance:
- Dental
- Additional Life Insurance
- Retirement 401K (available after 1 year of service)
- 10+ paid holidays
- Two paid “floating holidays” or personal days to be chosen by the employee
- 15+ paid vacation and sick days
- Paid bereavement leave
- Paid weather/emergency related closures
- Free, confidential counseling services through our Employee Assistance Plan
- Ongoing professional development
- Tuition reimbursement for courses at an accredited college or university
- Aquatics membership for employee and their household
- “Learn to Swim” lessons for employee and their household
- Complimentary use of meeting spaces, including the pavilion, aquatics facility, and social hall
