KIndergarten Prep Teacher

• Interact frequently, affectionately, and respectfully. Speak in a friendly, calm, soft, courteous manner within close proximity of the child.
  
  
• Respect and observe children's interests. Intervene when needed to maintain safety. Enhance children's play with language, toys and activities.
  
  
• Communicate directly with each child at the child's level.
  
  
• Engage and communicate constructively with individual children during activities and routines. Take every opportunity to positively extend children's thinking and actions.
  
  
• Be available and responsive to children's needs, questions, and requests.
  
  
• Encourage and model social behavior and expectations that are developmentally appropriate.
  
  
• Acknowledge feelings with sensitivity and demonstrate appropriate expression of emotions.
  
  
• Practice positive discipline techniques in guiding children's behavior according to Bright Horizons Discipline Policy.
  
  
• Be attentive, flexible and supportive of children and their families during transitions to and from classrooms.
  
  

• Implement a developmentally appropriate curriculum, which reflects observations and assessments of individual children and goals jointly developed with parents/guardians.
  
  
• Design an environment, which responds to children's individual developmental levels, physical, emotional, academic needs and current interests by consulting appropriate Bright Horizons’ resources (i.e., Environmental Checklist).
  
  
• Provide a variety of developmentally appropriate materials and activities to promote and encourage Kindergarten readiness, which foster social and academic skills and encourage children to think, problem solve, question, and experiment.
  
  
• Foster positive self-concept by supporting individuality, independence, and the ability to make choices. Encourage creative expression.
  
  
• Demonstrate respect for diversity and inclusion by providing anti-bias, non-sexist language, images, and experiences which reflect both school and global communities.
  
  
• Plan a daily schedule which provides a balance of activities: quiet/active, indoor/outdoor, fine/gross motor, etc.
  
  
• Plan and implement child-oriented, self-initiated activities while limiting large group, faculty-initiated activities.
  
  
• Provide more than one option for group activity and maintain flexibility in changing planned activities, according to children's interests.
  
  
• Create documentation of children's accomplishments and learning through anecdotal notes, documentation panels and/or portfolios. Documentation must be accurate, well organized and of high quality.
  
  

• Acknowledge parents/guardians and all classroom visitors. Demonstrate a friendly, courteous and professional demeanor.
  
  
• Respond to parent/guardian comments and concerns with sensitivity, interest, and respect. Maintain confidentiality.
  
  
• Invite input from parents/guardians regarding their child’s education and care.
  
  
• Communicate articulately verbally and in writing with parents/guardians regarding the education and specific activities of the children in their classroom. Communication must be focused, direct and convey progress against learning milestones.
  
  
• Plan and facilitate in regular parent/guardian conferences to discuss orientation, transitions, and developmental goals for their child based on appropriate assessment tools
  
  
• Assist in planning and attend school/classroom events and meetings.
  
  
• Share resources with parents/guardians through discussions, articles, parent/guardian boards, newsletters, and community contacts.
  
  

• Maintain and follow all safety and health rules of the school.
  
  
• Organize a variety of materials on low, open shelves for children to use independently.
  
  
• Arrange space in clearly defined, well organized activity areas.
  
  
• Keep environment and equipment safe, clean, and attractive. Encourage respect for classroom materials. Notify designated individual in advance when supplies are needed.
  
  
• Encourage children to utilize appropriate health, safety and nutritional practices.
  
  
• Complete appropriate paperwork (i.e., accidents, medication, and allergies).
  
  
• Maintain accurate attendance records throughout the day.
  
  
• Know the number of children in your group and maintain ratios at all times.
  
  
• Supervise children at all times. Demonstrate awareness of entire group while working with a small group or individuals.
  
  

• Maintain confidentiality about issues concerning other faculty members, children and families or Bright Horizons management and operations. Must not involve parents/guardians in school concerns.
  
  
• Demonstrate knowledge of developmentally appropriate practice for 4 and 5 year-old children. Understand the general areas of physical, social, cognitive and emotional development for this age group.
  
  
• Support organizational mission, philosophies, values, goals and policies to parents/guardians, coworkers, and community.
  
  
• Ensure continuity of education and care for children by reporting to work on time and maintaining consistent attendance, arranging and communicating leave requests in advance.
  
  
• Respect and adhere to staffing schedules which may be adjusted as program needs change and may include working in another classroom.
  
  
• Demonstrate flexibility, adaptability and openness to new ideas in education practices, particularly related to Kindergarten-Prep curriculum and materials.
  
  
• Maintain professional appearance to reflect Kindergarten-Prep standards.
  
  
• Attend faculty meetings, training sessions, and other school events.
  
  
• Respond to school and organizational needs by attending regional training, contributing to a newsletter, serving on a task force or substituting at another school.
  
  
• Continue professional growth by attending courses, asking for feedback, and reading professional literature.
  
  
• Receive constructive criticism with an attitude that indicates a willingness to improve. Give feedback in a respectful manner.
  
  

• Establish and maintain a relationship of cooperation and respect with coworkers.
  
  
• Assume a fair share of work. Look for ways to be helpful. Demonstrate initiative.
  
  
• Assume additional classroom and school responsibilities as needed: kitchen, pets, children's files, bus or lunch duty, etc.
  
  
• Offer and share ideas and materials with coworkers.
  
  
• Participate actively in teaching team through communication, collaboration, and curriculum planning.
  
  
• Communicate directly, work to resolve conflicts quickly, and avoid gossip.
  
  
• Exercise care in expressing views regarding the personal attributes or professional conduct of co-workers. Statements are based on first-hand knowledge and relevant to the interests of children and programs.
  
  

• Must have prior approval from supervisor to:
  
  
  • take time off from scheduled work hours/days or alter schedule
    
    
  • release a child to someone other than a known parent/guardian
    
    
  • discuss behavior or developmental concerns with a parent/guardian
    
    
  • purchase supplies or spend petty cash
    
    
  • contact a parent/guardian regarding a child's temperature or illness
    
    
  • administer medication (in compliance with state requirements)
    
    
  • seek outside support services for individual children
    
    
  • schedule a field trip
    
    
  • transition a child into another classroom
    
    
• May take action, but must inform direct when you:
  
  
  • care for a child with a significant injury
    
    
  • acknowledge and listen to a parent/guardian concern
    
    
  • record an unusual incident
    
    

• Must meet state requirements for Teacher and additional center/school requirements may apply.
  
  
• High School diploma/GED required with related college-level course work or CDA course work preferred.
  
  
• Bachelor’s degree is preferred.
  
  

• Must meet state experience requirements for Teacher; 12 months of professional teaching experience preferred.
  
  
• With regional manager’s approval, extensive teaching experience may substitute for education requirements, provided professional development plan is in place.
  
  
• Demonstrated knowledge of developmentally appropriate curriculum practice for 4 and 5 year old children.
  
  
• Strong organizational, verbal and written communication skills are required.
  
  

• Comply with all applicable federal, state, local, Bright Horizons’, and client site requirements concerning immunizations, employment physical/screening, and health and safety training.
  
  
• Work in person in an early education/preschool childcare center to provide supervision, care, curriculum delivery and services per Bright Horizons’ policies, procedures and guidance, in compliance with any applicable laws and regulations, and in a manner that will ensure safety of children in Bright Horizons care and the employee. This will include the following physical demands:
  
  
• Frequently lift, carry, or hold children with a range of weight from 10 to 40 pounds.
  
  
• Occasionally lift, carry, or hold weight more than 40 pounds.
  
  
• Supervise and interact daily with children both indoors and outdoors (for extended periods in varied weather conditions).
  
  
• Repeatedly lift, reach (overhead, at and below shoulder level), squat, crouch, climb, sit, bend, stretch, twist, grasp/move small objects, push and pull, and engage in all other physical movements needed to fully participate in supervision and curriculum and care delivery activities, which take place while standing, sitting (including on floor or low chairs), and walking.
  
  
• Stand for extended periods of time.
  
  
• Move within and access all areas of the assigned center’s physical work environment – i.e. classrooms, inside common spaces, and outside care delivery spaces, which may include both even and uneven surfaces - at speed sufficient to maintain appropriate supervision and care delivery.
  
  
• Remain physically active for extended periods of time, and throughout assigned work shift, to perform essential job functions.
  
  
• Maintain mental and physical alertness and an appropriate level of energy throughout assigned work shift to perform essential job functions.
  
  
• Ability, with or without corrective/assistive devices, to clearly recognize and distinguish objects, people, and/or printed words at distances ranging from close (within 20 inches) to far (greater than 20 feet) at a level sufficient to: maintain visual supervision of children in accordance with Bright Horizons policies and procedures, and applicable law/regulation; review written policies, procedures and communications in writing or on electronic device; respond immediately to any emergency alarms or similar devices; and deliver curriculum and care services in accordance with company policies, procedures and guidance.
  
  
• Ability, with or without corrective/assistive devices, to hear, understand and distinguish speech and other sounds at a level sufficient to: maintain audio supervision of children in accordance with Bright Horizons policies and procedures and applicable law/regulation; hear spoken communication by managers, co-workers, children in care, and families whose children are in care; respond immediately to any emergency alarms or similar devices; and deliver curriculum and care services in accordance with company policies, procedures and guidance.
  
  
• Ability to express or exchange ideas by spoken word to impart oral information to managers, co-workers, children in care, and families whose children are in care.
  
  
• Ability to respond immediately and appropriately to multiple or unexpected situations or emergencies, which may include necessity to take rapid physical actions to assist children and/or evacuate.
  
  
• Bright Horizons complies with all laws that require reasonable accommodations for qualifying disabilities and/or pregnancy-related limitations. Any employee who believes that they may need a reasonable accommodation to perform essential job functions (including any physical demands) should indicate that potential need to their manager, review and follow the company’s Accommodations and Disability Inclusion Policy and contact Human Resources if they have any questions.