BACKGROUND ON UTEC, INC.:

UTEC’s promise is to ignite and nurture the ambition of our most disengaged youth to trade violence and poverty for social and economic success. We serve young adults, ages 17-25, with serious criminal and gang involvement in the Merrimack Valley area (Lowell, Lawrence, and Haverhill). UTEC’s outcomes-focused model begins with intensive street outreach and in-reach within correctional facilities, specifically targeting proven high-risk youth “where they’re at.” UTEC engages youth in workforce development (running our own social enterprises in mattress recycling, food services, and woodworking), while also integrating educational programs (high school equivalency preparation and other core competencies). We provide intensive transitional coaching and counseling services, all within a two-generational approach (providing on-site child care, parenting and a whole family approach for our young parents and their kids). Finally, our model prioritizes embedding social justice and civic engagement in all programming, including the opportunity for young adults to lead policy campaigns on issue areas that directly impact them (e.g. criminal justice reform).

Job Summary

The Lead Infant/Toddler Teacher assists in creating a warm, and loving educational classroom where they will lead and coach with classroom co-teacher in implementing a variety of activities within the classrooms; such as Social-Emotional Language, Sensory, Arts & Crafts, and Gross Motor.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

• Work with co-teacher in developing and implementing lesson plans and daily tasks
• Support maintaining a safe and positive program
• Exhibits a warm, concerned attitude that uses a positive approach in dealing with individuals as well as groups of children
• Encourage problem-solving and self-help skills in children
• Ability to create and implement age appropriate curriculum that engages and challenges the children
• Use redirection, logical consequences, and natural consequences to guide children
• Offer reminders and choices to foster positive self-esteem development
• Is an active, positive team member with supervisor, other staff, volunteers and members at all times by communicating effectively
• Ability to be flexibility and have a “put me in coach” perspective
• Working collaboratively and mentor and coach your team to ensure success in the program and organization
• Responsible for care and maintenance of program equipment, supplies and facility including daily clean up and proper use
• A proactive approach to communicating with classroom teacher and school administration to ensure successful partnership
• Follow all company and state policies and procedures
• Respond immediately to the individual needs of children and families
• Participate in monthly staff meetings
• Actively participates in professional development trainings to ensure hit 25 hours of PD yearly
• Maintain current first aid and CPR certification and ensure equipment/kits/materials are maintained and available
• Support the vision, goals, and philosophies of the organization
• Provide regular updates on site challenges, opportunities and best practices to supervisor
• Implement program assessment tools
• Implement special event programs for parents, teachers and school community to participate in quarterly
• Express a desire to grow and learn in an ever-changing field

Qualifications & Competencies

• Must have at least 12 months' successful experience teaching in an infant or toddler classroom
• Must have Associate/Bachelors Degree and 30 or more college credits in ECE
• EEC "Lead Infant/Toddler Teacher" Certification is preferred
• Flexibility: Thrives in a collaborative and fast-paced environment; is comfortable with gray areas; understands that the process is just as important as the end
• Perspective Taking: Comfortable working in a diverse environment and considers divergent opinions
• Coachable: Open to feedback and personal and professional improvement
• Commitment: Genuinely cares about children’s and families’ success
• Drive: Hunger to do an excellent job, a passion to own one’s work, proactively comes up with systems and solutions to make one’s work more effective
• Team Player: Upholds UTEC’s mission, values and vibe
• Persuasion: Able to motivate others to pursue a course of action and try new things
• Organized: Handles responsibilities in an efficient, productive manner. Focuses on key priorities
• Innovative: Creates innovative approaches to reach goals and ensures that the center’s curriculum is hands-on, inclusive, and fun
• Child-Focused: Makes curricular and operational decisions with children’s interest at the center
• Family-Focused: Truly believes that guardians and parents are partners in children’s learning and demonstrates warmth, friendliness and care toward families. Direct experience working with 17-25 year old's is also highly valued
• Sense of Humor: Ability to laugh at oneself a must
• EHS Experience: Worked in EHS school setup or able to learn to work within EHS standard

Salary/Benefits: Salary of $42k-$45k, commensurate with experience. Benefits include retirement 401K plan, health and dental (50-85% subsidized), 3 weeks paid vacation, holiday and paid sick/personal time, opportunity for a paid sabbatical after 3 years, first-time homebuyers funding, free counseling for all staff, and unlimited free coffee courtesy of Café UTEC! Please see www.utecinc.org/jobs for more details.

Location: UTEC Inc. is located at 35 Warren St Lowell, MA, 01852.

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