Assistant Teacher

Organizational Overview
We are community builders co-creating enduring change toward a just society where every person has personal, social, and economic power. Our united system of programs, neighborhood centers, social enterprises, and partnerships connects individuals and their families across the region.
Position Overview
This position assists in planning and implementation of developmentally appropriate activities and experiences for children enrolled in the Pillsbury Early Education Center, builds positive relationships with parents/caregivers of the children to ensure continued enrollment and active participation, and maintains required records. Under lead teacher supervision, this position will assist in the care for toddlers and/or preschool age children, ensuring the children's well-being and safety, care and cleaning of classroom, equipment, and supplies, as well as other duties as assigned, and the ability to carry out each duty satisfactorily. The PEEC manager retains the discretion to add or change the duties of this position at any time due to the daily needs of the center.
Primary Responsibilities (Essential Functions)
Strategy and Thought Leadership

• Help design and implement activities to support children's positive development.
• Help create a warm, welcoming, and calm environment to support learning.
• Help identify and implement process improvements for PEEC.
• Maintain current training as required by DHS and for program innovation.

Operations and Outcomes

• Ensure that equipment in the classroom meets state licensing requirements in terms of quantity and quality.
• Maintain a sanitized, clean and safe work environment which meets state health department requirements.
• Provide first aid for injured children and inform parents through completed incident reports.
• Work with special needs coordinators and all adjunct staff to ensure all individual family service plans are carried out effectively

• Provide, solicit and receive constructive feedback

People and Community Development

• Ensure children's basic needs are met
• Assist children develop self-help skills which encourage independence.
• Assist with development/implementation of sensory-motor development based on movement, experimentation, and exploration
• Assist in the implementation of weekly lesson plans to include the following curricular areas: group time, art, science, math, music, movement, sensory, dramatic play, early literacy, story time, gross motor, and skills development encouraging child participation
• Provide non-sexist, anti-biased curriculum which includes use of special events, books, puzzles, pictures, and staff role modeling
• Develop/implement health awareness, such as body safety and nutrition
• Coordinate with PH+T resident teaching artists to develop and deliver arts programming that is aligned with children's developmental goals and PEEC curricula
• Assess each child's developmental level using a checklist as well as classroom observations, to record information
• Supervise and participate in children's activities guiding their behavior as needed to ensure their safety and well-being

Financial Management

• Maximize use of PEEC, PH+T and PUC resources

• Collect data and prepare reports for caregivers, DHS, CACFP, PUC and other stakeholders as needed

Required Skills/Experience

• Meet the qualifications for Assistant Teachers as stated in Minnesota Department of Children Families and Learning, Rule 3
• Knowledge of child development and ability to apply this knowledge in classroom setting
• Experience and knowledge of positive guidance techniques and the use of redirection into positive behaviors
• Physical and emotional stamina necessary to effectively supervise a group of children with a wide range of developmental abilities and needs
• Ability to lift a child as needed
• Ability to plan and implement developmentally appropriate activities/experiences for toddlers and preschool children
• Knowledge of Minnesota's Childcare Licensing Requirements, Rule 3, Parent Aware/ NAEYC
• Knowledge of health and safety precautions, sanitation/cleaning techniques, and emergency response
• Effective verbal and written communication skills
• Ability to work respectfully and communicate effectively with different cultures, groups, and languages

Desired Attributes

• Passion for what's possible
• Clear sense of personal purpose
• Commitment to social justice
• Creative problem-solver
• Skilled communicator and motivator
• Commitment to dismantling oppressive systems including but not limited to racism, sexism, homophobia, ableism, and colonialism

Benefits
Benefits are offered to all regular employees who work at least 20 hours a week. Our benefits package includes health insurance, dental insurance, vision coverage, employer paid short term and long term disability, employer paid life insurance, health saving account (HSA) option, flexible spending account (FSA) option, retirement plan option with an employer match, paid time off and floating holidays, and 16 paid holidays.
A Note to Potential Candidates:
Studies have shown that women, trans, non-binary folks, and Black, Indigenous, People Of Color are less likely to apply for jobs unless they believe they meet every single one of the qualifications as described in a job description. We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive organization, and we are most interested in finding the best candidate for the job. That candidate may be one who comes from a background less traditional to our field of work, and that's okay. We would strongly encourage you to apply, even if you don't believe you meet every one of the qualifications described.
Affirmative Action/EEO statement
As an Equal Opportunity Employer, Pillsbury United Communities is intentional about its responsibility of maintaining an equitable environment that is inclusive and welcoming. We hire, support, and promote talented individuals using a process that is fair and equitable to all that apply. We believe differences such as age, race, culture, ability, and sexual orientation are valuable and an asset to our organization, and employees are protected from reprisal. All applicants will receive consideration for employment regardless of their race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, disability, age, marital status, or status with regard to public assistance.