Pre-Kindergarten Teacher

A teacher at The Goddard School is responsible for establishing and maintaining a safe, healthy and nurturing learning environment. Additionally a lead teacher is responsible to work together with an assistant teacher and in conjunction with the entire faculty.

General Qualifications

• A teacher must meet the following qualifications:
• must be 18 years of age or older;
• must submit to a background check and drug screen;
• must be able to bend and lift;
• must be able to sit and/or stand for long periods of time;
• must be able to work 9:00A - 6:00P Monday through Friday
• have the ability to understand and support the education program using “learning through play” philosophy;
• have the ability to interact closely with children at their level;
• have the ability to keep children within sight and sound supervision at all times;
• have the ability to change children’s diapers and/or assist in toileting;
• have the ability to communicate effectively and professionally with school personnel, children and parents

Educational Qualifications

• All candidates who wish to be considered for the position of teacher must meet one or more of the following criteria:
• A minimum of a High School Diploma or equivalent
• A current CDA or Early Childhood Teaching Credential.
• An Associate’s degree or higher in Early Childhood Education, Elementary Education, Child Development or a related field.
• A Bachelor’s degree or higher in Early Childhood Education, Elementary Education, Child Development.

A teacher’s responsibilities may include, but are not limited to, the following:

Establish and maintain a safe, healthy and nurturing learning environment

• Develop an appropriate classroom management system to support the goals and developmental level of the children in the classroom
• Ensure that classroom equipment is in good repair
• Understand and implement The Goddard School® emergency procedure(s)
• Promote healthy eating practices at lunch and snack times
• Ensure that children are always within state ratio requirements
• Perform minor cleaning responsibilities (e.g., spills) immediately
• Perform major cleaning during times when children are not present

Advance children’s physical and intellectual competence

• Adapt program to meet the individual needs of each child
• Create a multi-cultural learning environment
• Provide a variety of developmentally appropriate activities to engage children in learning
• Interact with the children to support play, exploration and learning
• Encourage children to talk with each other and with the faculty
• Present age- and developmentally-appropriate expectations for all children
• Create a print-rich environment
• Encourage creativity through art, music, dramatic play and blocks
• Provide opportunities for both active and quiet play
• Integrate Enrichment Programs into lesson plans

Establish positive and effective family relations

• Communicate, in a professional manner, with families and faculty
• Encourage families to become an integral part of their children’s learning experiences
• Provide opportunities (e.g., conferences) in which families are made to feel a part of their children’s learning experiences

Ensure an effective program, responsive to children’s needs

• Assess supplies and materials needed to implement activities
• Build teamwork
• Develop lesson plans
• Manage classrooms according to GSI QA Standards
• Perform child observations and document

Maintain professional commitment

• Promote “learning through play” philosophy and educational objectives
• Support a code of ethical conduct
• Pursue professional development/continuing education
• Attend faculty meetings, in-service days, conferences and professional growth opportunities