At the Community Action Council of Howard County (CAC), our mission is to diminish poverty and enable self-sufficiency for all Howard County individuals, families, and children in need. We take action towards this mission by focusing on four critical services that are housing assistance, food assistance, energy and weatherization assistance, and early childhood education. CAC impacts our local society by changing lives and helping create a pathway through and out of poverty or just providing a hand up when one is needed.

CAC is looking for a Pre-K teacher. This individual will be responsible for providing a learning environment based on sound developmentally appropriate practices. The ideal candidate for this position will need to adhere to health, safety, and nutritional procedures directed by CAC. Additionally, a Pre-K teacher will need to create an environment that encourages the child's caregiver(s) to have an active role in their child's education. Pre-K teachers at CAC are also responsible for the supervision of potential assistant teachers, or caregiver volunteers that they may have in their class.

Responsibilities:

• Supports the individual learning and development of each child by providing an environment that offers developmentally appropriate equipment, and room for self-expression

• Supports the home language, culture, and family composition of each child through the creation of a culturally and linguistically appropriate classroom.

• Develops and implements lesson plans based on CAC's provided curriculum that emphasizes the Head Start Early Learning Outcomes Framework and Maryland Early Learning Standards.

• Collects observation data on each child to measure developmental progress

• Provides a daily program that balances adult and child-initiated activities in both large and small groups, indoor and outdoor play, and timely and predictable transitions.

• Invites parents to become an integral part of the program, by providing opportunities for parents to participate in classroom and agency activities.

• Encourages parents to provide information regarding their child by scheduling and conducting two home visits and two parent and teacher conferences throughout the year.

• Assists parents with transitioning from CAC's Early Childhood Education Program to kindergarten.

• Practices and models the CAC's sanitation, hygiene, and medical procedures

• Complies with the Agency's approved Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting, and nutrition policies

• Ensures that emergency information for each child is current and that files are updated on a regular basis

• Participates in the creation of newsletters and parent communications which will highlight classroom activities and upcoming events

• Creates a Substitute Guide that includes class lists, supplemental activity guides, outlines of daily schedules and transitions, and the location of all emergency evacuation and contact information.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education or related field.

• Teaching certificate from the Maryland State Department of Education in Pre-K to 3rd grade (SPC I, SPC II, APC, or PEC)

• MSDE credentialing of level 6

• Demonstrated knowledge of classroom management, lesson planning, and age-appropriate instructional strategies targeted for pre-school-age children.

• 1+ years of experience in an educational program with 3 to 5-year-old children.

• Valid Maryland driver's license and access to a reliable vehicle during work hours

• Able to read, write, comprehend and speak English

• Able to maintain a safe environment for up to 22 people. This includes, but is not limited to the physical ability to evacuate students and clients during disaster drills and emergency situations.

• Able to move quickly in order to respond to children who are very active and may need redirection in order to ensure their safety and/or the safety of others in the environment

Preferred Qualifications:

• Early Childhood Education experience

• Data management experience

• Project management experience

What we offer:

• Medical Insurance- fully paid for employee

• Dental Insurance- fully paid for employee

• Vision Insurance- fully paid for employee

• Short-term disability- fully paid for employee

• Long- term disability

• Life Insurance

• FSA Account

• HSA Account

• HRA Account

• 15 days of vacation leave- built into the school schedule

• 12 days of sick leave

• 3 days for personal leave

• 13 days of paid federal holidays

• Educational Assistance programs

• Participation in state-supported Credit Union

• Participation in Maryland State Retirement System

• Work-life Balance Employee Assistance Programs

AAP/EEO Statement:

Community Action Council of Howard County is an equal opportunity employer.

***Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.***