Pre-K Teacher

Your Career Their Future

Our employees are our biggest asset, and we intentionally shape their work experience to support growth opportunities that will impact our services. As we continue to evolve, we’re looking for skills, experience, energy, and creativity to support our initiatives. Put simply, this will be both fun and a meaningful journey

Position Overview: Under the direction of the Child Development Supervisor, the State Pre-K Teacher will deliver high-quality education programs to our community of children and families. Work with the Supervisor to implement curriculum based on best practice standards while ensuring that your classroom meets DCYF and RIDE Comprehensive Early Childhood Education Programs standards as well as other standards as appropriate. Coordinate and communicate on a regular basis with all staff and consultants providing services regarding the individual needs of each child. Responsible for the integration of services for families in the classroom, home, center, and community.

• Work with the child development supervisor to implement a curriculum based on best practice standards.
• Ensure that the classroom meets DCYF and RIDE Comprehensive Early Childhood Education Programs Standards requirements as well as other standards as appropriate. This includes performing tasks necessary to maintain a high-quality educational and childcare facility.
• Maintain progress notes and electronic data as appropriate on the emotional, physical, social, and intellectual development of assigned children.
• Responsible for integration of services for families in the classroom, home, center, and community. Coordinate and communicate on a regular basis with all staff and consultants providing services regarding the individual needs of each child.
• Hold a minimum of three center-based family/staff conferences per academic year. Actively participate in the preparation of this conference through regular care coordination with family development staff as well as health, nutrition, mental health, and disabilities staff.
• Provide home-based services to families as required to meet the needs of the individual families and program guidelines; with a minimum of four home visits occurring each month for a minimum of two home visits to each family occurring throughout the academic year. These visits should occur with the family worker whenever possible.
• Actively participate in all agency, program, and center meetings, including RIDE State Pre-K cohorts.
• Make constructive use of individual and peer supervision on a weekly basis.
• Provide training and supervision to the teacher assistant in the classroom. Demonstrate reflective supervision practices and build an environment of guidance and support where teaching assistants are comfortable discussing challenges and areas of growth.
• Mentor on site to ensure the implementation of all best practice standards and RIDE Comprehensive Early Childhood Education Programs Standards and to apply sound early childhood theory and practice. Model best practices in curriculum and classroom design.
• Serves as a peer mentor to newly hired Lead Teachers.
• Complete 30 hours of relevant training and ongoing professional development in child development and education-related topics, including but not limited to completion of RIELDS 2. Develop a plan for completion of no less than 24 semester hours of coursework in Early Childhood Education in each of the following areas: child growth and development, curriculum, and methods, reading readiness, health and nutrition, family and community relationships, and service to special needs children.
• Provide leadership in ensuring that all individuals are treated respectfully and that diversity in backgrounds and life experiences is supported and valued throughout the agency.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree or Master’s degree in Early Childhood Education/Child Development OR a Bachelor's or Master's degree in a related field.
  
• Hold a current RI Department of Elementary and Secondary Education Early Childhood Education Certificate (Pre-K – 2).
• Has a RIELDS 2 certificate or an individual plan not to exceed 1 year from the date of employment for achieving this requirement.
• A minimum of three months of successful supervised teaching in a licensed/approved education program for the appropriate age level
• Ability to organize and plan activities, establish warm, supportive relationships, and provide a wide variety of stimulating and developmentally appropriate experiences for children.
• Basic computer skills required for data input and use of email.
• Candidates must have a can-do spirit regarding flexibility. Incumbents must be flexible and have the ability to move from site to site as directed and needed.
• Proven ability to interact with members of the community representing diverse backgrounds and interests is required.
• Reliable automobile, valid driver's license, and auto liability insurance.
• Must maintain CPR and first aid training.
• Must provide documentation showing proof of all medical clearance and immunization requirements, and be able to lift up to 40 lbs. Must provide all required DCYF licensing forms within 30 days of hire.
• The successful candidate will be required to meet our pre-employment background screening requirements.
• Under general supervision from the Child Development Supervisor

*All offers of employment are contingent upon satisfactory completion of criminal background checks, educational verification, medical, and proof of immunizations.

Children’s Friend offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes the following:

• Medical Dental and Vision coverage
• Employer contributions to the 403(b) plan
• Employer-paid Life and Disability insurance
• Flex Spending Accounts
• 12 Holidays
• Competitive Vacation Benefits
• Training and Professional Development
• Education Assistance
• Student Loan Repayment Assistance

Our Mission

Children’s Friend is the innovative leader in improving the well-being and healthy development of Rhode Island’s most vulnerable young children.

About Us

Established in 1834, Children’s friend is Rhode Island’s oldest child welfare organization. We are an innovative leader in improving the well-being and healthy development of Rhode Island’s most vulnerable children and families. Our services include Early Head Start, Head Start, Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), adoption, foster care, support for families with substance abuse, counseling, assistance for children with developmental delays, and other child welfare and early childhood services.

All offers of employment are contingent upon satisfactory completion of criminal background checks, educational verification, medical, and proof of immunizations.

Children’s Friend is an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action employer committed to a culturally diverse workforce. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race; color; creed; religion; national origin; age; ancestry; nationality; marital, domestic partnership or civil union status; sex, gender, gender identity or expression; affectional or sexual orientation; disability; veteran or military status or any other characteristic protected by law.

At Children’s Friend, diversity and inclusion are foundational to how we operate and are embedded in our Core Values. We recognize that to tap into the richness diversity truly brings, we must lead with inclusion and have a workplace where those differences can thrive and be leveraged to empower the lives of our employees and clients. Therefore, we respect and celebrate our employees’ diverse backgrounds and experiences and provide equal opportunity for all.