Master Teacher

Job Description:

POSITION SUMMARY

Master Teachers work directly with children, parents, and members of their teaching team to provide a developmentally appropriate program for young children. They demonstrate and train staff and practicum students, implement emergent curriculum, provide a learning environment for the whole child, incorporate all learning styles in their classrooms and demonstrate a commitment and understanding of anti-bias education and its implementation.

Master teachers have an important role in the classroom and in the school.  They lead a small collaborative team of experienced teachers in developing an emergent curriculum, and supporting children’s thinking and individual development.   Other responsibilities include:  teaching, parent relations, home-school communications and connections, furthering school-wide initiatives along with other master teachers.

Master Teachers are ultimately responsible for the overall coordination and operation of the entire program and report directly to the Executive Director of the Children’s School.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

• Demonstrate a clear understanding of and commitment to the progressive philosophy of the Children’s School
• Responsible for planning and implementing a developmentally curriculum on a daily basis
• Ensure the setup of a purposeful environment both indoors and outdoors
• Ensure a safe, healthy, and clean environment for all children
• Establish limits; facilitate problem solving, conflict resolution, and model humanistic interactions
• Establish a trusting relationship with children with a focus on anti-bias perspectives
• Establish collaborative partnerships with parents including a respect for cultural differences, family configurations and a variety of parenting styles
• Conduct individual parent conferences at least once a yea

JOB FUNCTIONS:

• Guide children’s growth through observations, daily recording, and consultation with the Executive Director, parents, and staff
• Supervise staff in their written observations
• Protect the health and safety of all children at all times
• Provide an in-depth developmental summary for each child at least once a year
• Communicate with external consulting firms for children with special needs
• Facilitate a communication system for families in the program which may include daily notes, and weekly/monthly newsletters
• Communicate regularly with parents/families concerning children’s individual needs and program goals
• Provide parents with an in-depth developmental summary at least once a year
• Facilitate regularly scheduled parent meetings on a weekly or monthly basis
• Attend and contribute to Parent Orientation meetings and other special events throughout the school year
• Supervise the assignments and daily responsibilities of each staff member
• Support staff in curriculum planning
• Model appropriate techniques of working with children and adults
• Provide guidance, direction, and leadership
• Lead daily and/or weekly staff meetings
• Suggest/provide professional articles for extending knowledge in the field
• Conduct individual staff conferences as needed
• Monitor daily staffing in coordination with Children’s School Office
• Evaluate staff performance and set goals while providing support for the staff
• Supervise the work of practicum students including curriculum planning and work with children
• Provide an orientation to practicum students at the beginning of each semester
• Meet with students individually on a weekly basis
• Confer with Practicum Faculty as needed concerning students’ performances and evaluations
• Liaise with faculty about practicum students
• Other duties as assigned.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES:

• Maintain professionalism and confidentiality

PREFERRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES:

• Communicate with members of the school community openly, directly, promptly, and constructively without resorting to gossip and rumor
• Model appropriate ethical behavior for children, families, and colleagues while exemplifying care, respect, and honesty
• Monitor maintenance needs of the program environment and request necessary maintenance as needed
• Use appropriate channels for problem solving and communication
• Attend Children’s School staff meetings, parent orientations, and sponsored events at the Children’s School
• Demonstrate punctuality and adhere to appropriate attendance standards
• Ability to run, walk, stand for extended periods of time, bend, climb, see up close and at a distance, sit on the floor with children, lift up to 40 pounds and reach children quickly in the event of an emergency.
• Skilled, knowledgeable, and experienced in preschool teaching based on active learning, play, progressive, constructivist, and/or emergent principles. 
• Effective written and verbal communication skills
• Demonstrated ability to work well with colleagues, parents, and others.
• Interested in continuing to learn and stretch professionally.   Growth-minded.
• Ability to support professional development of program staff and give guidance as needed
• Leadership and supervisory skills and able to make sound decisions and delegate.

REQUIRED EDUCATION:

• Master’s degree in Early Childhood Education, Child Development, or a related field (or enrollment in a graduate program with completion within 2 years of hire).
• Completion of at least 12 Early Childhood Education (ECE) units, including:
  • Child Development 101 (Introduction to Child Development)
  • The Child, Family, and Community
  • One curriculum-focused course
  • One additional child development elective

*Course titles may vary by institution but should reflect equivalent subject matter.

REQUIRED EXPERIENCE:

• Previous experience working with children (6-months minimum).

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