Child Development Teacher
About PLN
Founded on Skid Row in 1980, Para Los Niños provides education and wraparound support, serving over 10,000 children, youth, and families annually in some of the most underserved areas in Los Angeles. PLN fosters pathways to success by striving for excellence in education, family support, and comprehensive social-emotional, and community-based services.
Through early education, TK-8th grade education, youth workforce services, and family and community services Para Los Niño’s’ model provides a comprehensive, holistic approach to break the cycle of poverty and help children and youth thrive.
Position Overview
Under the supervision of the Area Supervisor, the Early Head Start and Head Start Teacher is responsible for overall development and emotional well-being of the infants and toddlers in his/her care. The Teacher, is responsible for ensuring the:
- Health and Safety of children, infants, and toddlers.
- Care and Supervision of children, infants, and toddlers.
- Provision of a quality early learning experience that is responsive to the interests, needs and developmental age of the children enrolled in the assigned classroom(s).
Duties
Guiding Philosophy
- Carries out Mission, Vision, and Values established by the President/C.E.O. and Board of Directors of Para Los Niños.
- Carry out Head Start Performance Standards, requirements of the Head Start Act, and the requirements of the LACOE contract.
- Adheres to professional conduct at all times (e.g., proper tone and language use in the classroom, with parents and with peers).
- Attends and participates in: 1) Professional Development activities, 2) Supervision, and 3) Individualized Professional Development goals/activities.
Planning and Creating the Learning Environment
- Ensuring adherence to all Policies and Procedures for Education, Health, Nutrition, Mental Health, Disabilities, and Family Engagement as related to the provision of a high-quality early learning environment for infants/toddlers.
- Promoting Child/infant/toddler development in relationship to the School Readiness Goals.
- Supporting children’s emotional well-being.
- Encouraging family involvement of the children in a Head Start program and support the development of relationships between children and their families.
- Collecting and maintaining all mandated data, records and reports (e.g., DRDPs, attendance, home visits, attendance, emergency cards).
- Remains current on child development practices through classes, workshops, and membership in professional organizations.
- Completes incident reports for Area Supervisor regarding staffing or classroom concerns.
- Completes orientation of the classroom with parents.
- May perform other duties as assigned by Area Supervisor to ensure the overall smooth running of the classroom/site.
CCL/ Early Head Start
- Maintains ratio at all times.
- Completes daily ratio counts for supervisor.
- Updates and implements all nutrition/feeding plans as appropriate.
- Completes and reports any symptoms of suspected child abuse to supervisor and/or the Child Abuse Hotline.
- Completes daily health checks regarding hygiene, safety, and overall well-being of children.
- Implements the CACFP requirements including, but not limited to family style meals and point of service documentation.
Qualifications and Experience Requirements
The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skills, and/or abilities required to perform the job successfully.
- Minimum of 6 months experience. One year preferred.
- Knowledge in Desired Results (DRDP) and Developmentally Appropriate Practice preferred.
- Knowledge in Creative Curriculum preferred.
- Must be a team player.
- Bilingual (E/S) preferred.
Education and Certification Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree preferred - individuals with an associate degree if a professional development plan is created and maintained in the employee’s file that clearly describes a pathway and timeframes to degree attainment. The employee must complete, with a “C” or better, at least (3) semester (4.5 quarter) units per year in child development or a general education class required for the Bachelor’s degree.
- A current CA Child Development Teacher Permit (preferred). Must keep permit valid and updated at all times. We will accept a Multiple Subject Teaching Credential in lieu of a Child Development Teacher Permit.
- Current certification in CPR/First Aid.
Other Requirements
- TB test clearance to be renewed every two years.
- Verification of Immunizations required by the California Department of Health.
- DOJ clearance and all other required clearances every 5 years.
Physical Requirements
To perform this job the individual must be able to carry out all essential functions satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individual with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job.
Child Development employees must be able to perform the following physical activities:
- Observe, see, hear, and respond to children’s needs, emergencies, and conflicts that may occur in the child development center or on the playground.
- Lift 30 pounds from the floor to a waist-high table when necessary.
- Reach a child 20 to 30 feet away within 30 seconds without endangering the staff person’s health.
- Crouch to a child’s height, maintain eye contact at the child’s level, sit on the floor and stand tall enough to reach children on the highest piece of equipment.
- Be aware of the cognitive, social, and physical needs of children.
Expectations for All Para Los Niños Staff
Candidates for employment at Para Los Niños, regardless of position, will consistently demonstrate the following:
- Unwavering belief in and commitment to fulfill the mission of Para Los Niños.
- Deep commitment to the success of all PLN students and families.
- Commitment to excellence and high standards -- for self, students, and colleagues.
- Continuous learning by engaging in reflection, self-assessment, and individual professional development.
- Use of data to inform decisions and drive continuous improvement.
- Ability to thrive as a member of a collaborative team.
- Self-motivation and initiative with solutions-oriented disposition.
- Belief in and ability to develop respectful relationships with parents and children marked by sensitivity to the students’ cultural and socioeconomic characteristics.
- Excellent oral and written communication skills.
- Ability to effectively handle challenging situations.
- Comfort with basic Microsoft Office applications and a curiosity and propensity to push own adoption of new technology and approaches.
- Regular, punctual attendance and professional appearance.
Para Los Niños is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer
It is the established policy of Para Los Niños (PLN) to provide equal employment and advancement opportunities to all qualified applicants and employees without discrimination with regard to race, religious belief (including dress or grooming practices), color, sex, sex stereotype, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions (including breast feeding), age, national origin (including possessing a driver’s license issued under Vehicle Code § 12801.9), ancestry, sexual orientation, gender identification and expression, transgender status, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic characteristics, genetic information, family care, marital status, enrollment in any public assistance program, status as military, a veteran or qualified disabled veteran, status as an unpaid intern or volunteer, or any other classification protected by law. PLN also prohibits discrimination based on the perception that anyone has any of those characteristics or is associated with a person who has or is perceived as having any of those characteristics.
Other details
- Job Function Full Time
- Pay Type Hourly
- Min Hiring Rate $23.39
- Max Hiring Rate $27.18
- Required Education Bachelor’s Degree
- Hollywood, 5000 Hollywood Blvd, Los Angeles, California, United States of America