Toddler/Preschool Teacher, Early Education at Highlands Recreation District – San Mateo, California

Job Summary

The Educator is responsible for caring for and educating young children aged 3 months to 2 years (infants) or 18 months to 5 years (toddlers/preschoolers). The educator is responsible for creating a warm, nurturing relationship with each child, designing and maintaining an environment that stimulates curiosity, and using a dynamic “emergent” curriculum grounded in hands-on exploration and play, inspired by the Reggio-Emilia Approach. The Educator documents each child’s growth and learning to make learning visible for children and families. The Educator engages in highly reflective teaching practice based on child observation, which informs the planning of learning experiences aligned with their developmental level and the California Foundations for Early Learning and NAEYC Developmentally Appropriate Practice. Educators are expected to follow the principles of the NAEYC Code of Ethical Conduct.

Essential Functions and Tasks

The foundation of the learning environment at the Early Education Center is that relationships are the core of all experiences.

• Develop and plan a developmentally appropriate curriculum that reflects children's needs, interests, and developmental stages.
• Create and maintain a safe, clean, and organized classroom environment conducive to exploration, creativity, and problem-solving.
• Implement and maintain a nutritious snack program that promotes healthy eating habits.
• Conduct comprehensive observations of each child to document developmental progress, using this data to guide curriculum and lesson planning.
• Provide a balance of child-initiated and teacher-initiated activities, ensuring a mixture of active and quiet learning opportunities throughout the day.
• Plan and implement interest-based experiences and curriculum that support cultural diversity and promote physical, cognitive, and socio-emotional growth.
• Utilize Reggio-Emilia philosophy and play-based learning to facilitate a rich learning environment.
• Foster positive relationships with families, communicating through daily updates and tools such as Brightwheel, and facilitating annual conferences to discuss children's development.
• Welcome parent participation and provide resources and support when needed to facilitate understanding of assessment results and child development.
• Maintain consistent routines to support transitions and encourage self-help skills and independence in children.
• Assist in creating a professional, collaborative, and respectful working environment by participating in team meetings, offering constructive feedback, and engaging in professional development opportunities.
• Stay informed about licensing regulations and assist in compliance efforts with the director/assistant director.
• Provide training and guidance to aides, substitutes, and volunteers in the classroom, ensuring they understand their role and the classroom expectations.
• Regularly assess classroom supplies and materials, ensuring that everything needed for planned activities is available in advance.
• Monitor and maintain the health and well-being of children in your care.
• Assist with diapering, toilet learning, and hygiene practices for children, ensuring they are supported in developing good hygiene habits and independence in a positive and respectful manner.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSA’s)

• Curriculum Development: Must be able to develop and plan a developmentally appropriate curriculum that supports diverse learning needs and adapts based on children’s interests.
• Safe Learning Environment: Must be able to create and maintain a safe, nurturing, and engaging classroom that encourages exploration and creativity.
• Child Development Knowledge: Knowledge of human and child development to support the creation of an effective learning environment.
• Observation Skills: Ability to complete comprehensive observations of children to assess developmental progress and adjust curriculum as necessary.
• Licensing Compliance: Ability to complete the required documentation and forms in accordance with licensing regulations.
• Adaptability: Must be able to tailor and adapt the curriculum to meet the varying needs of individual children and respond to their interests.
• Teamwork and Collaboration: Ability to work effectively as a team member, collaborating with colleagues and participating in team discussions to enhance classroom practices.
• Positive Guidance and Communication: Strong verbal and written communication skills and the ability to use positive guidance techniques to support children’s social-emotional development.
• Professionalism and Flexibility: Must be reliable, flexible, and open to feedback in order to improve performance and meet the needs of the children and the program.
• Physical Ability: Must be physically able to perform the duties required of an Early Childhood Educator, including lifting, bending, and actively engaging with children in both structured and spontaneous activities.

Required Qualifications

• Prior experience working with children.
• High School Diploma or equivalent
• A minimum of 12 college-level units in Early Childhood Education, this includes the core course required by licensing.
• Child/Human Growth & Development
• Child/Family & Community
• Programs/Curriculum
• 3 Infant/Toddler college-level units required for Infant/Toddler Teacher

Desired Qualifications

• CPR/First Aid qualified.
• Mandated Reporter Certification or completed within one month of hire.

Compensation - $26.00 - $34.00 / hour