Location and Job Title:

Lead Preschool Teacher
Jewish Community Center of the East Bay
1414 Walnut St
Berkeley, CA 94709

Principal Responsibilities:

POSITION SUMMARY

The Lead Teacher, 24 Units will report directly to the Director of Early Childhood Education and play a critical role in promoting a safe and welcoming environment to support the learning and individual growth of the preschool community. Lead teachers will create an environment of acceptance where children can grow with a positive self-concept, and where each child and staff member are treated with dignity and respect. Children will be enriched by a developmentally and culturally appropriate emergent curriculum.

Curriculum Planning

• Develop inquiry-based curriculum that advances the physical, emotional, social, and cognitive growth of children. Submit a lesson plan before the start of every week.
• Develop curriculum that incorporates a commitment to learning about the Jewish community, values, and traditions.
• Develop curriculum that incorporates organizational philosophies and overall program vision.
• Ability to support other teachers' lesson planning; point person for collaboration around classroom lesson planning.
• Provide varied opportunities using multiple learning styles for children's active participation, independent choices, experimentation, and problem solving within the context of a structured setting and program.

Classroom Safety

• Establish and maintain a well-organized, safe, and healthy environment for children.
• Check materials, equipment, and supplies to see that amounts are adequate and that everything is in good working condition; take preventative measures against hazards to physical safety.
• Maintain appropriate staff to child ratios for supervising children at all times.
• Complete accurate reports as directed (attendance, accidents/incidents, illness, medications administration, ID checks, etc.).
• Maintain cleanliness of classroom: wash dishes, wipe counters, put things away.

Support and Communication

• Observe and assess the cognitive, perceptual, spoken, non-verbal language, and social, emotional, physical, and personal developmental needs of each child. Share observations with families on areas of interest, strengths, and challenges.
• Identify, provide, and facilitate additional assessment or interventions when necessary.
• Serve as a role model and facilitate collaboration between teachers in the classroom.
• Point person for interceding in conflict resolution within the classroom; support an amicable resolution for children involved.
• Help children find a place of calm and comfort, and attend to any injuries.
• Establish positive communication with parents in daily conversation and formal parent conferences that facilitate the free flow of information about their children.
• Write classroom newsletter.

General

• Ability to and interest in mentoring less experienced teachers.
• Participate in team meetings for planning curriculum, other staff meetings and trainings, and other JCC staff meetings.
• Participate in parent orientations, parent conferences, and community-wide activities and celebrations.
• Meet weekly with the Program Director to discuss classroom, student, and/or team needs.
• Ability to lead peer to peer professional development.
• Continue professional development through workshops and classes.
• Assist with early and/or late care, as needed.
• Commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging work.
• Commitment to anti-bias education.

The salary range for this position is $25.74/hour to $28.12/hour. Excellent benefits including medical, dental, vision, vacation, sick pay, and holidays (including Jewish).

The JCC East Bay is an Equal Opportunity Employer and makes employment decisions on the basis of merit. JCC East Bay policy prohibits unlawful discrimination in accordance with federal, state, and local laws. The JCC East Bay complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act and is committed to providing reasonable accommodations for people with disabilities. If you require particular accommodations during the application and interview process, please inform us of your needs so that we can provide accordingly.

Systemic inequities in hiring have caused women, people of color, LGBTQ+ folks, and others to apply to jobs only if they meet all of the qualifications. The JCC East Bay encourages you to apply anyway, as no one ever meets 100% of the qualifications. We look forward to your application.

The JCC East Bay requires all employees to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19, and applicants are required to submit proof of vaccination prior to beginning employment. (As of January 31, 2022, the definition of fully vaccinated includes a booster shot.) In accordance with the law, the JCC East Bay will accommodate employees who cannot be administered the COVID-19 vaccine for medical/disability or religious reasons if to do so is not an undue hardship.

Minimum Qualifications:

• 1-2 years of experience in an ECE setting and 24 or more completed ECE units.
• Bachelor's or Associate's Degree highly preferred.
• Knowledge of current research and practices in early childhood education.
• Proficient in various skill areas such as planning, scheduling, record keeping, classroom environmental design and arrangement, classroom management.
• Competent in various skills areas, such as music, art, science, literacy, mathematics, language development, and physical development.
• Maintain First Aid and CPR certifications.
• Ability to be on your feet and work a full 7.5 hour shift, 5 days per week.
• Ability to sit on the floor and to get up and down with ease.
• Ability to lift and carry a child, and help children with clothing, shoes or other needs.
• Ability to diaper change or help children with toilet needs.
• Quick reflexes to respond to the needs of children.
• Ability to work with teams of teachers in classroom settings.
• Ability to speak with parents about their children.
• Commitment to the mission of the JCC East Bay and knowledge of or commitment to learning about the Jewish community, values, and traditions.

Agency Information:

The JCC East Bay is a welcoming home for people of all ages and life stages. Our mission is to create healthy communities inspired by Jewish values, culture, and tradition. We build interpersonal relationships, foster learning and inspiration, and explore Jewish life. The JCC's core programs include intergenerational Jewish holiday celebrations; early childhood education and preschool; camp and afterschool programs; and provocative cultural arts and civic engagement events. The JCC serves and reflects the diverse residents of the East Bay, offering physical gathering spaces for the Jewish and broader community.