Substitute Teacher

Job Summary

Substitute teachers provide coverage for regular classroom teachers in the infant/toddler and preschool classrooms when they are absent. The work hours of the Substitute position fluctuate significantly and qualified candidates must be able to be scheduled on an as needed basis. Responsibilities of this role will include, but not be limited to the following: physical caregiving, implementation of age appropriate/individually appropriate curriculum, and facilitating supportive relationships with parents and coworkers.

Essential Job Functions

• Early Childhood Programming
• At all times ensure the children’s safety in both indoor and outdoor environments.
• Responsible for formulating relationships with parents and children that are respectful of individual differences, family styles, and cultural/socioeconomic diversity.
• Responsible for ensuring that all meal and rest breaks for the staff and the changes in the daily schedule for the children (outside time, meals for the children, diaper changes, etc.) are done in an organized manner to support a sense of routine in the environment for the children.
• Provide feedback to staff and program director about consistency of practices within the program.
• Adaptable to changes in daily routines and program needs.
• Strive to create a state of the art childcare program.

Interactions with Children

• Strive to create a language-rich program, encouraging positive and respectful interactions with all children.
• Treat each child with dignity and respect.
• Help each child to become aware of his/her role as an integral member of the group.
• Help each child to become comfortable with him/herself.
• Encourage children to be responsible for their actions to support the development of their roles as effective decision-makers.
• Encourage children’s active involvement in problem solving.

Working with Parents

• Work with each classroom team to effectively address parent issues.
• Create an environment that embraces open and positive communications between staff and parents.

Supporting Positive Staff Relationships

• Attend and participate in all staff meetings (if available for long-term substitute position).
• Attend all recommended in-service trainings.
• Direct any issues to the suitable person in a timely and appropriate manner.

Administrative Functions
Complete all assigned paperwork (daily information sheets/daily attendance, child injury reports, etc.) in a timely manner.

Physical Requirements

• Continually able to observe and respond to children’s needs, emergencies and/or conflicts that might occur during the day (inside or outside environment).
• Continually able to supervise children outside exposed to the sun and changing temperatures.
• Continually able to lift children/materials up to 40 pounds from the floor to a waist high table.
• Ability to push a cart/stroller weighing up to 100 pounds for up to three miles.
• Continually able to walk and run as job dictates.
• Continually able to kneel to maintain eye contact at child’s level.
• Continually able to sit on the floor to work with children.
• Continually able to react to a child that is up to 30 feet away within 30 seconds.
• Continually able to carry a child up to 40 pounds, up to 100 feet.
• Continually able to respond to children’s first aid needs (inside and outside) which may include cuts, bruises, blood/bodily fluids.
• Continually able to communicate clearly and calmly to children, parents and co-workers.
• Continually able to deal effectively with the stress involved in working closely with children, parents and co-workers.
• Continually able to do fine and medium hand manipulations.

Minimum Job Qualifications

• High school graduate
• Six months’ experience working with young children, one year preferred.
• Twelve (12) units in Early Childhood Education (Child Growth & Development, Child, Family & Community, and two program development courses)
• Successful completion of the fingerprinting process and/or successful transfer of fingerprints from another program.
• Successful completion of the hiring packet, including current immunization record.
• Excellent customer service skills in person and on the phone.
• Comfortable with team-based works structure; demonstrates flexibility and initiative on the job.
• Is conscientious and provides complete follow-through on areas of responsibility.

Preferred Job Qualifications

• 3-6 Infant-Toddler units
• Bilingual (Spanish)
• Familiarity with RIE philosophy
• CPR and First Aid Certification, or able to acquire within 3 months hire date.

Employee Conduct
It is the responsibility of every employee to contribute to a positive work environment through cooperative and professional interactions with co-workers, customers and vendors.