Infant/Toddler Teacher

Are you passionate about fostering the growth and development of young minds? Do you believe in the power of education to make a positive impact? If so, we invite you to become a part of our warm and welcoming team as a Infant/Toddler Teacher. At Community Action Marin, we are dedicated to creating a nurturing environment where children and families thrive. As a Infant/Toddler Teacher, you will play a crucial role in supporting the overall functioning of our classroom and ensuring that daily programming meets the highest standards. Join us in our mission to make the world a better place, one child at a time.

Infant/Toddler Teacher

Reports to:  Area/Site Manager

Department: Children & Family Services (CFS)

Are you passionate about providing a warm, supportive, and enriching environment for infants and toddlers? Do you believe in the power of early childhood education in shaping young lives? If so, we invite you to become an integral part of our dedicated team as an Infant/Toddler Teacher. At Community Action Marin, we are committed to fostering the cognitive, physical, emotional, and social development of the youngest members of our community and their families. Join us in making a profound impact as an Infant/Toddler Teacher and be part of something truly special.

Embody the CAM Agency Core Competencies: 

   - Champion an equity mindset, treating all individuals equally, regardless of background, race, or gender.

   - Continue to develop your expertise through ongoing training and experience.

   - Foster cultural humility, challenging cultural biases and showing curiosity toward other cultures.

   - Place clients at the center of our work, recognizing them as part of our community family.

   - Exhibit reliability, kindness, and empathy in all interactions.

Perform Primary Care Giving:

   - Ensure the health, safety, and well-being of all children throughout your shift.

   - Build strong personal relationships with each child while meeting their physical, emotional, and developmental needs.

Ensure Health and Safety: 

   - Prioritize vigilant supervision of children.

   - Create a safe environment that prevents illness through daily health checks, cleaning, sanitizing, and disinfecting procedures, and universal precautions.

   - Follow the Family Style Meals format for serving food.

   - Complete health and safety checklists and incident reports as needed.

Implement a Developmentally Appropriate Curriculum:

   - Develop a curriculum based on the Creative Curriculum for Infants and Toddlers.

   - Embrace reflective planning, observation, and assessment using the DRDP assessment system online.

Individualized Approach:

   - Complete new child orientation tasks.

   - Conduct developmental screenings, document results, and follow up on referrals.

   - Integrate screening and assessment findings into daily routines, curriculum, and individualization.

Provide Positive Guidance:

   - Employ positive guidance techniques such as redirection, logical choices, and consequences.

   - Consistently reinforce positive behavior and encourage children to express their feelings.

   - Create a nurturing and supportive environment both physically and verbally.

Provide an Accepting Environment:

   - Cultivate a warm, welcoming atmosphere for children and parents.

   - Incorporate diverse materials and languages that reflect various cultures in the learning environment.

   - Support children with disabilities in alignment with their Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP).

Build a Partnership with Parents:

   - Develop strategies to connect home and school learning and seek parent input in the planning process.

   - Regularly share information with parents regarding their child's growth and development, including daily feedback.

   - Conduct meetings, conferences, home visits, and assess each child's strengths and needs in coordination with parents.

   - Educate parents on their role and responsibility in documenting monthly in-kind contributions.

Contribute and Collaborate with the Team:

   - Act as a valuable team member through active participation, clear communication, and shared problem solving and decision making.

   - Follow the CFS programs' communication policy.

   - Attend team and site meetings, in-service days, and training opportunities.

   - Provide support for classroom substitutes and volunteers.

Professionalism:

    - Adhere to Head Start performance standards, CDE State regulations, and Children and Family Services policies and procedures.

    - Maintain positive and respectful relationships with management staff, children, families, and the community.

    - Safeguard the confidentiality of staff and family information.

    - Complete paperwork accurately and on time.

    - Follow work schedules, arrival times, breaks, etc.

    - Notify your supervisor in advance if you cannot come to work and arrange coverage as necessary.

    - Adhere to health procedures, including safe lifting, handwashing, and universal precautions.

    - Maintain a positive attitude toward the agency and the CAM Children and Family Services program.

    - Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

- Education: Must meet one of the following:

  - AA or BA in Early Childhood Education, Child Development, Human Development, Sociology, or related field with coursework meeting California Childcare Licensing requirements for Infant/Toddler teaching.

  - Possession or eligibility for a California Child Development Permit at the Associate Teacher level or higher with at least 6 units related to the care and/or education of infants/toddlers.

  - Current/Valid Infant Toddler CDA issued by the Council for Professional Development.

- Experience: At least 6 months of experience in a licensed infant care center or comparable group childcare program for children under five years of age.

- Skills: Strong communication skills, ability to work well with parents from diverse backgrounds, bilingual English/Spanish is preferred, proficient computer skills.

- Knowledge: Knowledge of Head Start Performance Standards is desirable.

- Ability: Pediatric First Aid and Infant/Child CPR certification or willingness to obtain within the first two weeks of employment.

Physical Requirements: 

- Ability to bend, lift, and carry objects up to 25 pounds, and children up to 40 pounds for safety reasons.

- Flexibility to adapt to changing environments.

- Physical abilities such as simple and power grasp, pull, twist, and grip.

- Other physical requirements as necessary.

Community Action Marin is an Equal Opportunity Employer and Prohibits Discrimination and Harassment of Any Kind. We prioritize the health and safety of our employees and community members and require COVID-19 vaccination. Reasonable accommodations will be considered for exemptions in accordance with applicable law.

Why Join Our Team?

At Community Action Marin, we offer more than just a job or a career; we offer an opportunity to make a real difference in the lives of children and families. Join our caring community and help break the cycle of poverty and inequity. Be a part of a team that is dedicated to making the world a better place, one child at a time.

Apply today and embark on a rewarding journey as a Infant/ToddlerTeacher with us!