Early Childhood Teacher - Infant

The Goodwill Excel Center Adult High School is currently seeking an Early Childhood Teacher for our Exploration Center, located at 1015 Norwood Park Blvd, Austin, TX 78753.

The Goodwill Excel Center is the first free, public charter high school in Texas that provides adults aged 18-50 the opportunity to earn their high school diploma, complete an in-demand professional certification, and begin post-secondary education. There are seven campuses within the charter district. Two campuses are in Austin: one at the Goodwill Community Center and one in South Austin in partnership with American YouthWorks. The other five campuses are located within correctional facilities across the state. For more information on the Goodwill Excel Center Adult High School, visit https://excelcenterhighschool.org/.

The primary role of the Early Childhood Teacher is to implement high-quality exceptional care and education to children in the Exploration Center. This position will be responsible for the overall well-being of children in the center and will be dedicated to the growth and development of each of our children. This position will be responsible for the design/layout of appropriate environments, plan for classroom instruction, and model interactions with children.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Maintain compliance with all DHHS Minimum Standards for Licensing, Texas Rising Star, and aid Center in pursuing national accreditation.
• Organizes educational planning and delivery of instruction for quality early childhood education to stimulate exploration, discovery, and conceptual learning for children.
• Provide quality early care and education to young children by planning and implementing developmentally appropriate experiences and curricula across each of the developmental domains.
• Maintain open and cooperative communication with parents and families encouraging their involvement in the program through parent-teacher partnerships and coordination of center-home child-rearing practices.
• Develops and implements daily schedules, lesson plans, and classroom management techniques using program curriculum for whole group/small group of children and individualized child.
• Assess progress for children informally (collecting relevant work samples over an extended period, develop portfolios and records of developmental growth) and formally.
• Conducts ongoing program evaluation in cooperation with Director; uses current research in implementing classroom changes for updating methods of practices.
• Participates in program evaluation efforts and in developing action plans for program improvement.
• Describes and identifies basic patterns of development associated with age groups. Uses knowledge of child development to meet the needs of individual children during group activities.
• Utilize appropriate direct and indirect guidance strategies to guide behavior.
• Attend and participate in staff meetings and mandatory training requirements (Pediatric First Aid/CPR, Child Abuse Training, Pre-Service Training, and Annual Training) a minimum of 30 hours annually.
• Communicate in a positive, professional manner following the NAEYC Professional Code of Ethical Conduct.

OTHER DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Maintain a clean and safe physical environment for children (cleaning, sanitizing, and organizing the areas).
• Assist in preparing food for children and serve meals and refreshments to children and regulate rest periods.
• Ensure that curriculum lesson plans, daily schedules provide ample opportunities for both child-initiated and adult-guided play based on children’s interests.
• Communicate the center policy to staff and parents.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY:

This position does not have supervisory responsibilities.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s Degree in any discipline with a minimum of 36 college credits in early childhood education, child development, elementary education, or early childhood special; and professional practices and development, including relevant experience.
• Accredited, in-person Pediatric CPR/First Aid certification (must obtain within 30 days of hire).
• Three years of experience as a classroom teacher of young children in a child development center or other educational facility working with children from birth to kindergarten age.
• Must be able to understand work instructions in English.
• Must have a working knowledge of computer programs and accessing internet applications such as Microsoft Products, Google Applications (Gmail), Excel, Microsoft Word, and Internet Explorer.
• Communication skills to be able to work on a team as well as interact with parents in a professional manner.
• Ability to multi-task in a fast-paced environment, including taking care of multiple children at a time.
• Ability to respond to a child’s needs promptly and courteously.
• Ability to safely lift children throughout the day.
• Ability to perform continuous walking, stooping, standing, and bending for most of the shift.
• Must possess an understanding of marginalization and how it impacts those Goodwill serves and employs.
• Exhibit respect for diversity of thought and have the experience to advance it in teams/organizations.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education, Child Development, Interdisciplinary Studies, or Child and Family.
• Texas Teacher Certification for EC-6 or Spec ED EC-12.
• Bilingual in Spanish or Arabic and English.

What We Offer

• Comprehensive Health Coverage: We provide top-tier medical, dental, and vision insurance to ensure you and your family stay healthy and happy.
• Generous Paid Time Off: Recharge with our generous PTO policy, which includes vacation days, personal days, and company-wide holidays.
• Teacher Retirement System & 403b Participation
• Paid Parental Leave: We understand the importance of family. We offer a generous parental leave policy to support you during this significant life event.
• Professional Development Opportunities: We believe in continuous growth! Take advantage of our access to workshops and online courses & tuition/certification support.
• Wellness Programs: Prioritize your well-being with our wellness initiatives, including gym membership and free mental health support.
• Employee Recognition Programs: We celebrate our team members’ achievements with recognition awards.
• Diverse and Inclusive Culture: Join a workplace that values diversity and inclusion, with regular team-building activities and events that foster a sense of belonging.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement:

Goodwill Central Texas is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability status, protected veteran status, gender identity, sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Background Check Requirement:

Employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a pre-employment background check. This may include verification of employment history, education, criminal background, and other information relevant to the position.