Job Description

JOB SUMMARY:
This position is directly responsible for the comprehensive management and supervision of a class of eight to thirty children between the ages of six weeks and 12 years. This incumbent will provide safe, secure care, nurture and educational activities for enrolled Child Care children.

EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENTS
Associate's Degree in in Child Development or Certificate in CDA certification with 12 hours in courses directly related to child care or
Child development and 2 fulltime years child development experience in nursery school, kindergarten, or licensed child care center
H.S. Diploma/GED in high school diploma or equivalency certificate (GED)

CERTIFICATION & LICENSURE REQUIREMENTS
First Aide and CPR/AED required within 3 months of hire
Food Handler Training and Certificate or Food Protection Manager certificate within 3 months of hire

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS

• Use of usual and customary equipment used to perform essential functions of the position.
• Work may occasionally require travel to other Carle Peoria region facilities/hospitals.
• Required to drive your own vehicle for business purposes
• Fingerprinting and clearance by DCFS agencies
• 3 Letters of Recommendation
• Shall be at least 19 years of age

SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE

Required English Skills
Advanced reading skills
Advanced writing skills
Advanced oral skills

Communication Skills
Ability to respond appropriately to customer/co-worker
Interaction with a wide variety of people
Maintain confidential information
Ability to communicate only the facts to recipients or to decline to reveal information
Ability to project a professional, friendly, helpful demeanor

Computer Skills
Basic computer knowledge: Uses word processing, spreadsheet, e-mail application, and web browser.
Comfortable within a Windows OS and learning new applications.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

SERVES AS THE CLASSROOM TEACHING PROFESSIONAL TO PROVIDE PROGRAMMING TO DEVELOPMENTALLY PREPARE CHILDREN FOR PROGRESSIVE LEVELS OF CHALLENGE WITHIN PRESCHOOL AND PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEMS BY ADHERENCE TO STANDARDS OF EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION.

• Actively and positively enrolls and transfers children into the homeroom producing comforting results for children, families and co-workers.
• Communicates verbally and with written information any and all pertinent data needed to provide safe, secure nurture and education.
• Designs and institutes quality care and education for daily programs to meet the needs of the children enrolled according to age-appropriate guidelines.
• Reads professional literature, attends workshops and classes and gains experience to expand skills and techniques for professional growth.
• Guides, organizes and participates in all areas of care and nurture.
• Responsible for the curriculum and related activities that offer growth and development opportunities for enrolled children.
• Offers daily opportunities for fine motor coordination and developmental play, gross motor coordination and developmental play, music appreciation and interaction, verbal expression, use of literature, dramatic play and use of creative art materials.
• Works cooperatively with others to bring outside resources to the center.
• Works cooperatively with others to provide the best communication and interaction with parents.
• Seeks input from parents and responds positively by meeting the expressed needs of the parents for written and verbal reports detailing the desired information concerning their child's day.
• Works cooperatively with others in planning of field trips and in active participation so that positive experiences are the result.
• Leads and organizes center-wide activities. Participation will be active and promote the family opportunities to grow and nurture the child.
• Provide positive interactions and skill building for children of the Infant, Toddler, Preschool/Pre-K neighborhoods and Summer Camp as assigned.
• Provides flexibility and professional technique in working with any and all the children enrolled.

GUIDES AND NURTURES THE CHILDREN LEADING TO PROVISION OF CONSISTENT, SAFE CARE IN ACCORDANCE WITH DCFS AND COMPANY POLICIES.

• An appropriate bond with children and their families to provide consistent care.
• Maintains a nominal absentee/tardy rate so children and families can comfortably establish an interactive relationship that supports consistent care.
• Develops an approachable style of greeting and interacting with children, families and co-workers.
• Greets each individual, usually by name, with eye contact and sincere interest.
• Attends all available staff meetings to provide positive support for the early childhood program, receive information concerning safety policies and infection control policies and works to lead others in becoming compliant.
• Attends educational offerings to validate skills and maintain correct knowledge of skills and techniques for professional education.
• Models a diligent attitude toward Center policies regarding delivery and pick up of each child at the Center.
• Actively leads and seeks to implement appropriate techniques for providing safe, secure care. This is demonstrated by low incidences of injuries to children and coworkers in assigned area.
• Leads to establish an atmosphere of safe play and infection control.
• Leads to immediately call the office by intercom to report teacher- child ratio if above or below license-approved numbers.
• Leads co-workers in grouping of children for teacher-child ratio compliance.
• Leads staff in meeting the infection control guidelines for each child's healthy stay at the center.
• Follows infection control guidelines for hand washing, food service, diapering/toileting of children and all other good health protocols.
• Leads in being physically alert, responsive and interactive for all outdoor play.
• Physically moves regularly to areas where children are playing.
• Establishes playground rules promoting safe play that can be creative, imaginative and energetic as well as quiet and focused, depending on the desires of the child.
• Leads as a team member by returning playground equipment to storage areas before leaving, alerting the office to items broken or in need of repair, immediately responding to an obvious safety issues and following scheduled times for play.
• Joins in the maintenance of play areas required by seasons such as simple snow removal, sand sweeping, garden planting and weeding.
• Maintains discipline of the group of children so safe, fun plays is the result.
• Limits time-outs to situations resulting in injuries to children or equipment.
• The Lead Teacher will work to support the center program positively in any of the following neighborhoods: Infant, Toddler, Preschool, Pre-K, Kindergarten or Summer Camp/School Age.
• Provides comfort, attention and guidance for infants and children through 12 years of age, treating each one with dignity and respect.
• Leads by functioning competently in other positions within the Child Care Department as temporary assignments, including the following: Child Care Representative, Cafe Aide and Child Care provider.
• Respects center policies by keeping enrolled children outside of restricted areas such as the Center kitchen, staff lounge, staff storage room and Commons storage room.

WORKS WITH ENERGY AND ENTHUSIASM AS A COMPLEMENTARY MEMBER OF CHILD CARE FACULTY, SHARING REPSONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES ESTABLISHED AS PROTOCOL.

• Arrives promptly at classroom or care area ready to assist in provision of a comfortable, active play and learning experience for enrolled children.
• Appears in place with hands washed, personal appearance in accordance with dress code and emotionally prepared to positively influence the upcoming experiences.
• Focuses on the children enrolled and in attendance.
• Assures visual observation of enrolled children at all times.
• Spends a portion of each shift planning with team member for future projects and activities.
• Seeks opportunities to implement programs and activities; actively seeks tasks to be completed.
• Physically performs tasks that will meet the needs of enrolled children in a cheerful manner.
• Memorizes first and last names of each child.
• Takes each break and lunch period according to schedule by leaving on time and returning on time.
• Remains with the group to maintain appropriate ratio.
• Contacts the office by intercom/phone to relay communication to director, charge teachers or secretary and to teachers in other areas.
• Provides pertinent information on enrolled children to break staff, substitute personnel, co-teachers and supervisory personnel.
• Assists team members with all areas of care including handwashing, toileting, feeding injury recovery, guidance, naptime, temporary sick care and general well-being.
• Participates in team building activities.
• Demonstrates professionalism in all activities.
• Provides appropriate share of energy toward teamwork.
• Points out classroom and center accomplishments of others that have benefited customers.
• Leads in center wide activities for children, parents, co-workers and employees.
• Leads peers in assignment completion.
• Leads in promoting awareness of the quality care provided by the Center.
• Leads co-workers in a timely manner to group children for assurance of teacher-child ratio compliance. The incumbent actively works cheerfully to accomplish corrections.

USES TIME, SUPPLIES AND OTHER RESOURCES PRODUCTIVELY TO PROMOTE RESPONSIVE AND COST-EFFECTIVE NURTURE AND EDUCATION FOR ENROLLED CHILDREN AND FAMILIES.

• Promotes respect among the faculty/staff and student body for the maintenance and upkeep the Child Care Center and equipment.
• Actively puts her/his own industry and effort toward the care of toys, equipment and learning material of the Center.
• Manages time well by producing teaching aides and learning materials during children's rest period.
• Demonstrates productive abilities by assisting with classroom and care area tasks daily.
• Assures cleanliness of tabletops, counters, toys, chairs, and equipment for assigned room.
• Leads in Center-wide maintenance by active participation on staff committees.
• Manages time by keeping focus on children and families as served by Center.
• Completes work within assigned shift.
• Uses overtime only as approved by Charge teacher or Director.
• Prevents waste of supplies and linen.
• Checks rooms for unused equipment/supplies and returns items to appropriate storage.
• Accomplishes tasks in appropriate amount of time keeping in mind the age and needs of each child or family served.
• Personal and family concerns are attended to on break time.
• Leads others in organizing and prioritizing tasks as related to the Child Care program.
• Responds willingly to requests for help by accepting delegated duties from Charge Teachers and Director.
• Follows DCFS guidelines for care of children according to age and specific infection control measures.
• Accepts responsibility for physical appearance of homeroom as well as the Center and outdoor play areas as a whole.
• Leads in maintaining proper teacher-child ratios that maximize staff resources. Notifies the office or co-workers within the neighborhood of opportunities to adjust ratios.