Job Description

Posting number: 25-26-C53

Department: Sophia Bremer Child Development Center

Job classification: Early Childhood Program Specialist 2 - Preschool

Posting type: Open

Categories: Child Care

Olympic College has an opening for an Early Childhood Program Specialist 2 (Preschool) in Sophia Bremer Early Learning Academy (SBELA). The Sophia Bremer Early Learning Academy provides quality, comprehensive early learning services for the Olympic College community. The Early Childhood Program Specialist 2 is an assistant teacher role in the classroom that requires working with children ages birth to 5.

The assistant teacher is responsible for supporting lead teachers and classroom activities by developing positive partnerships with families and providing quality learning environments that are responsive to individual developmental needs. The assistant teacher serves as a part of a diverse and responsive team, requiring strong collaboration skills, professionalism, and integrity in interactions with children, families, colleagues, and community partners. In addition to being responsible for ensuring full compliance with all legal, accreditation, and other standards, the assistant teacher also participates in accreditation, assessment, and continuous improvement processes. All teachers are expected to meet pre-service requirements upon hire, remain current in training and service requirements, and engage in early childhood education best practices to support practicum students in the daily application of these practices.

Examples of duties

Classroom Engagements

• Provide active supervision of children at all times to ensure a safe, healthy, and developmentally appropriate learning environment in accordance with licensing and Head Start requirements.
• Maintain awareness of child safety, classroom environment, and group dynamics while supporting safe transitions, indoor and outdoor activities, and daily routines
• Implement culturally responsive individual, small group, and large group activities based on the developmental needs of the children, and which cultivate each child's sense of importance and belonging across indoor and outdoor settings, as directed by the lead teacher.
• Assist in the developmental assessment and screening of each child using program-approved tools and instruments to maintain a healthy, safe, and developmentally appropriate program.
• Model positive communication skills, positive guidance techniques and nurturing qualities while promoting positive attachments between caregivers, children, and families, consistent with program-approved best practices.
• Use and be knowledgeable of all educational equipment and supplies routinely used in the program and maintain and request equipment and supplies through the director as necessary.
• Create and provide classroom visual aids and resources as necessary.
• Complete, secure, and deliver all required documentation as assigned.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Family Engagement

• Recognize parents as their child’s primary teachers and become familiar with family circumstances.
• Maintain positive, open communication that foregrounds a child’s strengths and assets and developmental needs, while recognizing parents as their child’s primary teachers and becoming familiar with family circumstances.
• Encourage and support parental involvement in the classroom and all other educational opportunities.
• Provide opportunities for parents to learn about the growth and development of their child, including ways to increase connections between school and home.
• Support dual language families with classroom and program resources where necessary.

Partnerships Engagement

• Support program approval and improvement activities consistent with existing and emerging partnerships.
• Maintain professional, respectful, and productive relationships with parents, prospective families, and community partners.
• Collaborate and partner with external coaches, including those designated from Head Start, Early Head Start, Early Achievers, and Olympic Educational Service District 114.
• Support all necessary and relevant Head Start and Early Head Start requirements, such as ensuring student progress, complying with standard and conduct agreements, and documenting progress and observations.
• Complete required reports and maintain all required documentation of services provided.
• Participate in meetings with center staff, families, external partners, and specialists, as well as center activities such as graduation and family events as necessary.
• Participate in trainings as required.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications

• ECE State Certificate
• One year of experience caring for children ages 1-5 in a center-based program required.
• One (1) year full-time equivalent (FTE) experience working with low-income families.
• One (1) year full-time equivalent (FTE) experience working with families from diverse cultures and ethnic backgrounds.

Preferred Qualification

• Associate degree in early childhood education from an accredited higher education institution.
• One (1) year FTE experience working in Head Start, Early Head Start, or Early Childhood Education and Assistant Programs (ECEAP); children with disabilities; and families of community college students.

Work Setting and Conditions
This position’s primary work setting spans both indoor and outdoor settings, including classrooms, restrooms, kitchen areas, office space, outdoor learning spaces, and play areas for children. Work may require extended time sitting or standing. Indoor and outdoor settings will experience typical noises, interruptions, and interactions. The office setting may often require privacy to preserve confidentiality. This position requires moving from one space or building to another.

Tools and Equipment
Consistent with indoor and outdoor childcare settings, tools and equipment range from typical office equipment like a computer, printer, copier, document scanner, first aid kits, and telephone, to kitchen and custodial equipment like ovens, dishwashers, vacuums, and laundry machines, to outdoor play environments, including toys, playground equipment, and landscaping tools like hoses, shovels, and brooms. An employer-provided mobile phone or radio may also be required.

Supplemental information

Terms of Employment

Please note that we are unable to sponsor visas for this position. Only candidates who are currently authorized to work in the United States will be considered.

This is a full-time classified position scheduled to work 40 hours a week, with a salary range of $45,924 - $61,332* annually. All classified positions will start their salary at Step A. After completing the six-month probation, your salary will increase by 2 steps. A collective bargaining agreement exists, and this position is covered by the Washington Public Employees Association (WPEA) Union. Classified positions qualify for the following benefits:

Medical/vision, dental, long-term disability, life insurance, and accidental dismemberment, Flexible Spending Arrangement, Dependent Care Assistance Program, Wellness Programs, Department of Retirement Systems Plan 2 or Plan 3, Deferred Compensation Program (DRS) retirement savings plan; TIAA supplemental retirement savings plan, Aflac, 11 paid holidays, leave – vacation/sick/personal holiday/personal leave, auto/home insurance, space available tuition waiver, Employee Assistance Program (EAP), fitness center, reduced rate and priority consideration for on-site child care based on space availability.

For more information regarding benefits, please visit our website here.