Job Title: Early Childhood Teacher Assistant - 2022/2023

Program: Early Childhood 

Reports to: Lead Kindergarten Teacher

FLSA Status: Non-Exempt

Date: May 2022

Position Summary

The Early Childhood Education (ECE) Assistant is responsible for helping to create a wonderful Waldorf Kindergarten experience for our mixed age classrooms (ages 2 ½ to 4, or 4 to 6). The ECE Assistant will work with the Early Childhood Lead Teacher by assisting in classroom management and supervision of the class, engage appropriately with students, support the Lead Teacher, and engage in day to day responsibilities according to the principles of Waldorf Education. This position requires a high level of comfort and appreciation for spending time outdoors with children in all kinds of weather. 

• Essential Duties and Responsibilities
• Assist in maintaining a warm and nurturing Waldorf Early Childhood Education environment 
• Possess a warm, friendly, and joyous demeanor
• Love of working and being with young children
• Assist in curriculum activities; setup/cleanup of circle time, birthday celebrations, and festivals
• Help maintain general order, cleanliness, and aesthetics in classroom and outdoor areas
• Oversee children on the playground and assist with the transitions to and from outside
• Help with daily preparations of classroom, restocking supplies and materials
• Guide children with self-care (diapering, toileting, dressing, and social behavior)
• Provide first aid as needed
• Discuss student behavior and parent communication with the Lead Kindergarten Teacher
• Maintain confidentiality in all student situations

Additional Responsibilities

• Substitute for Lead Teacher if needed (ECT required)
• Substitute in the ECE Afternoon programs (if available)
• May be offered to work with our Summer Camp programs
• Knowledge of campus Emergency Plan and be ready to implement
• Professional Development as indicated below
• In accordance with the SMWS philosophy, the person filling this position may occasionally be required to carry out or assist with other tasks in accordance with the duties listed above.

Education and Qualifications

• Early Childhood Education experience (preferred)
• Waldorf Kindergarten experience (preferred)
• Reliable, dependable, and team oriented

Early Childhood Licensing Requirements

• Complete requirements for Colorado ECE regulations of Colorado Department of Human Services, Division of Child Care. 
• Preferred ECT (Early Childhood Teacher) as designated by the State of Colorado or working toward this qualification. 
• CPR, First Aid, Standard Precautions, Background check, fingerprinting, mandatory licensing classes, registration in Colorado Shines PDIS and Early Childhood Educator qualified per the State of Colorado’s requirements.
• Submission of a medical physical by a licensed physician or other health care professional as required per licensing regulations

Work Setting

• Hours 8:00 am to 1:00 pm with one afternoon until 2:00 pm for Early Childhood Education Section Meetings (or rotation to support licensing coverage in ECE afternoon programs)
• Work schedule follows the SMWS annual school calendar - late August through early June
• Early Childhood classroom, playground and neighborhood walks
• Because of the classroom setting, there are limited breaks offered during the day

Salary and Benefits

• Hourly rate of $20.00 per hour while teaching (and ECE Section Meetings)
• Hourly rate of $18.00 per hour when participating in personal development (non-teaching hours)
• Lead Substitute rate of $25.00 per hour (ECT required)
• Three (3) paid Holidays include: Fall Break Holiday, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, and Memorial Day
• Colorado Paid Sick Leave - 1 hour for each 30 hours worked - up to 48 hours per calendar year 
• Professional Development opportunities

Early Childhood Professional Development

We encourage and mentor people who are interested in developing Waldorf Early Childhood Education practices and skills. We provide the following personal development and mentoring in Waldorf Education.

• Early Childhood Section Meetings - one afternoon a week 1:00pm- 2:00pm 
• Plenum - school wide weekly meetings Thursday afternoons (optional)
• In-Service School Meetings with Faculty and Staff at the beginning and end of the school year (August and June)
• February Conferences for SMWS Faculty and Staff
• Annual completion of required 15 hours of online PDIS (Professional Development Information System) classes
• Hourly meeting rate of $18.00 per hour when participating in personal development (non-teaching hours)

Physical Requirements

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the Essential Duties and Responsibilities of this job. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to:

• Frequent walks; use of hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls; speaking and listening  
• Daily requirement to stand and sit; reach with hands and arms; stoop, kneel, crouch, bend, squat or crawl
• Ability to lift and carry up to 25 pounds and in case of emergency a 40-pound child
• Vision requirements include: close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception
• Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.  

Shining Mountain Waldorf School is fully committed to Equal Employment Opportunity and to attracting, retaining, developing and promoting the most qualified employees without regard to their race, religion, gender, gender identity, disability, familial status, sexual orientation or nation or ethnic origin, citizenship status, veteran status, or any other characteristic prohibited by state or local law. We are dedicated to providing a work environment free from discrimination and harassment, and where employees are treated with respect and dignity. 

Interested candidates should send a letter of interest and intent, resume, brief biography, and three references including current employer to hrmgr@smwaldorf.org.