Associate Teacher, Infant Toddler Center

SALARY:

$35,941.00

POSITION TITLE:

ITC: Associate Teacher

DEPARTMENT:

Leet Infant and Toddler Center

JOB DESCRIPTION:

EMPLOYMENT TERMS: Full-time position

PRIMARY DUTY:

The ITC Associate Teacher will serve as a teacher and educational leader in an early childhood laboratory school environment which values child-centered care and education practices. The ITC Associate Teacher should possess high energy and the ability to handle the demands of infants and toddlers with different personalities and needs.

This position will design and implement curriculum to meet the social, emotional, physical, communication and cognitive needs of children based on the National Association for the Education of Young Children accreditation standards and a Reggio-inspired philosophy of learning.

This position is responsible for promoting high standards for care and teaching of young children, communicating effectively with parents, curriculum design, and collaboration with the Leet Center, Horace Mann, and School of Education faculty and staff.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

1. Collaborate with ITC colleagues for the best interest of the infants and toddlers within the ITC classroom

2. Be responsible for the overall daily operation of the infant/toddler classroom

3. Be responsible for the health, safety, and well-being of infants and toddlers

4. Be responsible for creating an environment that is nurturing, developmentally appropriate, and allows for exploration and investigation

5. Collaborate with the School of Education Early Childhood faculty for the placement and mentorship of University Early Childhood students

6. Mentor and coach the Early Childhood students by offering positive guidance, constructive feedback, and support throughout their practicum experiences

7. Mentor and coach student employees by offering positive guidance, constructive feedback, and support

8. Build and maintain working relationships with parents, families, caregivers and other Horace Mann and Leet Center colleagues

9. Participate in professional development opportunities when needed and/or as they arise

10. Participate in after school committees, parent meetings, and faculty meetings, as assigned

11. Participate in University, School, department and discipline accreditation processes (DESE, AAQEP, HLC, NAEYC) and related duties to ensure continuous quality improvement

12. Support the Director of Horace Mann & Leet Center and Assistant Director of the Leet Center in earning and maintaining state licensure and operational safety training and protocols

13. Perform other duties as assigned

REQUIREMENTS:

Education: Bachelor’s degree in Education, Early Childhood Education, or other closely related associated program OR Five or more years of experience in childcare

Experience: Experience in childcare; knowledge of Constructivist Philosophy, Reggio Emilia Approach, and Conscious Discipline; experience in a collaborative setting

Skills: Ability to collaborate with others; communication skills; general technology skills; ability to mentor and coach University students

WORKING CONDITIONS:

Collaborative team-based academic environment in a university-based laboratory school

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Will assist with the supervision of observation students, practicum students, and student employees

EQUIPMENT/MATERIALS USED: laptop, iPad

TYPICAL PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

Actively instructing and monitoring infants and toddlers in the classroom and in the outdoor classroom. Ability to push and pull wheeled equipment. Must be able sit, stand, squat, twist, turn, to meet the care demands of working with young children. Must be able to lift up to 30 pounds, sitting and standing for extended periods of time, and navigate steps and ramps with young children.

COMMUNITY:

Northwest Missouri State University located in Maryville, Missouri, a community of 12,000 with a diverse economy and a strong industrial base. Maryville is located 45 miles north of St. Joseph, Missouri, 90 miles north of Kansas City, Missouri, and 110 miles southeast of Omaha, Nebraska. For more information visit the city’s website at www.maryville.org.

UNIVERSITY:

With an enrollment of more than 8,500 students, Northwest is a coeducational, primarily residential four-year university that offers a broad range of undergraduate and selected graduate programs on its Maryville campus and through Northwest Online.

Founded in 1905, Northwest boasts a high retention rate and a graduation rate in the 95th percentile among its peers. Additionally, results of the Ruffalo Noel Levitz Student Satisfaction Inventory show Northwest students are more satisfied than students at national peers, and 78 percent of Northwest students report they would repeat their university experience, compared to 75 percent of students surveyed nationally at their respective institutions.

Furthermore, the University is a national model for student success and career placement with 93 percent of bachelor’s degree earners and 98 percent of master’s degree earners securing employment or continuing their education within six months of completing a degree at Northwest, according to the most recent data.

Northwest places a high emphasis on profession-based learning to help graduates get a jumpstart on their careers while maintaining competitive tuition rates and generous financial assistance to help minimize the financial barriers students may face when pursuing a college degree.

Students have opportunities to build their résumés with experiences on campus in nearly every area of study, including the Horace Mann Laboratory School, National Public Radio affiliate KXCV, the R.T. Wright Farm, Mozingo Outdoor Education Recreation Area, a partnership with the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency or Knacktive, a student-driven integrated digital marketing communications agency. In conjunction with its emergency and disaster management program, Northwest organizes and hosts Missouri Hope, an annual mass casualty training exercise that attracts first responders and emergency workers from throughout the nation and provides hands-on training in preparation for a natural disaster.

The University’s vibrant and diverse learning community also offers more than 150 student organizations, and textbooks and a laptop are included in tuition, saving students an estimated $6,900 over four years. Northwest offers 1,200 student employment positions, allowing students to build professional skills through its internationally benchmarked student employment program.

For more information about Northwest and its performance, visit www.nwmissouri.edu/aboutus/facts/.