Preschool Associate Teacher

Title: Preschool Associate Teacher

Reports to: Preschool Director

Status: Full Time, Non-Exempt Employee

Job Description

A Preschool Associate Teacher at Marin Primary & Middle School is first and foremost committed to serving our school mission of inspiring joyful learning, honoring each child, and building connections to inspire all children to make a difference.

The Preschool Associate Teacher works with the lead preschool classroom teacher in a preschool classroom every day. The Preschool Associate Teacher supports the lead classroom teacher and classroom program as directed by the lead classroom teacher and supervised by the Preschool Director. The Preschool Associate Teacher interacts with children and assists with tasks that ensure a safe, clean, vibrant learning environment.

This position is highly collaborative and requires the development of a strong, positive, supportive relationship with the lead teacher and Preschool Director. The Associate Teacher will participate in staff training and work with teachers to celebrate creativity, exploration, emergent curriculum, and the positive development of the whole child through social, emotional, and early academic skills.

At MP&MS, teachers work together to understand every student from multiple perspectives, build meaningful relationships with students and their families, maintain high standards, and promote a love of learning.

Hours of employment: 7:30am-3:30pm or 8:00am-4pm, Monday through Friday

Salary range: $24.00-$28.00/hour

Duties and Responsibilities

• Provide for the safety and well-being of students at all times by maintaining a safe, secure, and nurturing environment in which students can grow in autonomy as they learn, work, and play together.
• Support the lead classroom teacher in the implementation of their plans and daily activities to actively engage students in making connections, solving problems, and thinking independently.
• Support the lead classroom teacher in maintaining an inviting, organized, and developmentally appropriate learning environment that reflects the program's learning objectives and our school mission.
• Interact with students in a positive manner that respects individual learning styles, temperaments, and developmental stages and demonstrates an understanding of best practices in early childhood education.
• Build relationships with the students in which each child feels understood, nurtured, and challenged, and within which each child's emerging identity is respected.
• Create a positive relationship with parents to facilitate the effective and timely exchange of information, while understanding that the lead teacher in the classroom is responsible for overall communication.
• Defend the dignity and worth of each member of the community and create an environment that fosters respect, understanding, and acceptance of differences; always model appropriate and ethical behavior.
• Collaborate enthusiastically with a team of faculty, staff, administrators, and parents to nurture children both inside and outside the classroom, including recess, lunch, arrival, and dismissal times.
• Participate fully in the life of the preschool, including field trips, student performances, and other events.
• Pursue professional growth opportunities on an ongoing basis.

Position requirements include but not limited to:

• 6 ECE units (or a willingness to work toward) to meet State of California requirements for Preschool Assistant Teachers
• Previous experience teaching in an early childhood setting or camp setting
• Outstanding interpersonal skills, including collaboration, positivity, flexibility, patience, discretion and good judgment

Physical Requirements

In the course of a workday in the Marin Primary & Middle School preschool, a teacher should expect to:

• Sit
• Walk
• Stand
• Lift and carry up to 35 pounds on a routine basis
• Lift and carry up to 50 pounds in emergency situations
• Bend from the neck
• Bend from the waist
• Squat
• Climb
• Kneel
• Crawl
• Twist from the neck
• Twist from the waist
• Withstand exposure to noise, which may be excessive on occasion
• Use both her or his hands for a variety of tasks, including:
• Pushing
• Pulling
• Grasping
• Fine manipulation
• Reaching, both above and below shoulder level
• Using a keyboard

In addition:

• Regular attendance and punctuality are necessary for the performance of this job
• Most tasks require visual perception and discrimination.
• Some tasks require oral communications ability.
• Some tasks require the ability to perceive and discriminate sounds.

The frequency with which any teacher may need to use any of the skills and physical requirements listed above vary on a daily basis. However, any of them may be necessary at any time on an emergency basis, and there are some situations in which one or more of them may be necessary for an extended period of time.

It is desirable that a preschool teacher can drive cars and other vehicles.

MP&MS is an equal opportunity employer. All individuals have an equal opportunity for employment based on qualifications and merit, regardless of religion, race, sex, marital status, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, age, color, national origin, ancestry, physical or mental disability, medical condition, sexual orientation, military service status, or any other factor prohibited by state or federal law. This policy applies to all areas of employment, including recruitment, hiring, training, promotion, compensation, benefits, and other conditions of employment. MP&MS also makes reasonable accommodations for employees with disabilities and for employees who request an accommodation for pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions.