Infant Classroom Lead Teacher

Position Summary

Linda and Ben Nighthorse Campbell Child and Family Center (CCFC) is a multi-purpose facility that trains teachers, parents, and other advocates for young children. The center provides quality care and education for young children ages 1-5 (including children with disabilities). The center supports the state-approved Early Childhood Teacher Licensure Program (birth-Grade 3) that is located within the Fort Lewis College Teacher Education Department.

The CCFC is a facility for observation, teaching assignments, and research by college students and faculty, especially Teacher Education and Psychology. Finally, the CCFC collaborates with area agencies (Board of Cooperative Education Services, Colorado Preschool Program, Child Care Assistance Program) and provides training through Early Childhood Professional Training Project and other community organizations. It is dedicated to providing a model of quality early childhood education and hands-on professional development opportunities.

The person fulfilling this role must be professionally prepared as an Early Childhood Educator of infant and toddler-age children. He or she must have the ability to provide leadership and stability for program continuity. Salary $17 - $18/hour to start depending on experience plus a comprehensive benefits package . Position to be filled asap.

Minimum Qualifications

• Associate degree in Early Childhood Education or Director’s license and a professional development plan.
• 6 months of professional experience with infant or toddler age children or completed courses of ECE 111 and ECE 101.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Development, Early Childhood Education or comparable field
• Two years of professional experience with infant and toddler age children

Major Responsibilities

• Supervision and manage infant classroom to the highest quality possible.
• Be knowledgeable of the requirements for running a safe, contented infant room
• Have a full working understanding of Department of Human Services Rule and Regulations for Child Care centers specifically the sections dealing with infant care. (see attached document)
• Ensure the safety and well being of the children at all times, being alert and proactive to the needs and concerns of the children as individuals and as a group.
• Implement a responsive schedule, which allows the individual needs to be met as well as includes group experiences, music, large and small motor activities skill developments, meals, and effective transition between activities.
• Prepare the learning environment, setting up interest centers, preparing needed materials and supplies, and carrying out developmentally appropriate activities designed to meet the physical, emotional, and developmental needs of the children in the classroom.
• Complete child development assessments, individual child portfolios, and lesson plans as scheduled using Teaching Strategies program or other director approved approach.
• Participate with children in individual activities.
• Form a caring, nurturing, and responsive relationship with a primary group of children and their families.
• Treat all children, parents, and staff with dignity and respect.
• Provide an atmosphere that promotes and reinforces parental involvement in the classroom. Communicating with families regularly utilizing daily written communication, twice a year parent teacher conference, and other appropriate methods.
• Maintain a professional attitude and loyalty to the program in accordance to the educational philosophy of the center.
• Complete administrative recordkeeping as required by the Center including but not limited to; parental daily reports, daily meal reports, leave reports, incident reports, parent drop-off and pick-ups sign and out, student attendance, fire drills, medication and other regulated activities.
• Assist with general housekeeping, washing of food utensils and bottles, and maintain a classroom cleaning schedule to ensure the health and safety of all children and staff.
• Attend all staff meetings and recommended training programs and conferences.
• Complete all necessary training including 15 hours of continuing education, CPR, First Aid, and Universal Precautions, Safe Sleep, FEMA. and Shaken Baby/Abusive head trauma training.
• Effectively train, supervise, mentor, utilize, and support assistant teachers.
• Supervise and utilize student teachers, work study students, and volunteers placed in the classroom in an effective and appropriate way.
• Other duties as requested by the Director.
• Work Conditions
• Considerable noise (i.e. children’s voices, music, walkie talkies).
• Ability to work in a confined area.
• Environment involves considerable use of sanitation and disinfection products

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by the employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential function

• Sit on the floor with children
• Sit in child size chairs (or appropriate adult chair) with children at mealtimes and during art and other tabletop activities
• Dance and play with the children
• Pick up and assist children to wash hands,
  • upon arrival,
  • before and after meals,
  • after diaper changes,
  • after playing in the water table,
  • after playing outside
• prepare formula and or heat breast milk to proper temperature and feed solid foods to infants who are ready
• Sitting on the floor next to children while calming to sleep, while reading a book,
• Preform daily health checks for each child and inform director of any concern
• Providing hygiene care for all children including
  • Changing soiled diapers and clothes
  • Applying sunscreen
  • Wiping noses and faces
  • Cleaning up after ill children and sanitizing area
  • Be able to perform minor first aide
• Check diapers hourly and change when wet or soiled following Department of Health protocols
• Use appropriate language with children when redirecting their choices and play
• Be able to move quickly to intervene should the children make unsafe choices or are in physical conflict.
• Wash and sanitize child size tables prior to meal and immediately after meals and after all art activities
• Sweep floors when visibly soiled and after meals
• Wash and sanitize changing table after each use
• Sanitize toys in classroom each day
• Wash bedding and mouthed play items
• Wash dishes after meals
• Stack chairs at the end of the day so that the cleaning crew can clean the room
• Know where all children are at all times
• Setting out cots for nap
• Take walks with children around campus – for the infant room this entails the ability to push a multi-child stroller. (one is for 6 kids)
• Daily inspect playground for safety hazards, broken toys, trash etc and remedy immediately
• Remove tarp from sandbox in the morning and replace each evening after children leave the building
• Sweep sand off walking path on playground

Compensation

Salary $17 - $18/hour to start depending on experience plus a comprehensive benefits package . Position to be filled asap.


Application Process
A complete application packet includes:

• Cover letter addressing interest and qualifications for position
  • Include details regarding how your personal and professional experiences allow you to encourage a learning environment grounded in equity and inclusion. “How do you envision contributing to Fort Lewis College’s commitment to equity and inclusion?”
• Resume
• Names and contact information for three current, professional references

Submit materials as one PDF file via email to:

Peggy Ferguson

CCProfessional-Search@fortlewis.edu

Application materials received by April 10, 2022 will receive full consideration. Position will remain open until filled.

The successful candidate will be required to submit original, official college transcripts, and pass a background check.