Teacher Assistant - Early Childhood Center

Teacher Assistant - Early Childhood Center

Founded by Detroit philanthropists George and Ellen Booth in 1904, Cranbrook Educational Community is one of the world’s leading centers of education, science, and art. Comprised of a graduate Academy of Art, contemporary Art Museum, Center for Collections and Research, House and Gardens, Institute of Science, and more than 1,600 students attending our Pre-K through 12 independent college preparatory Schools, Cranbrook welcomes thousands of visitors and students to its campus each year. Critics have called Cranbrook “the most enchanted and enchanting setting in America” and in 1989 it was designated a National Historic Landmark. The campus is located in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, about 20 miles north of downtown Detroit. For more, please visit our website: www.cranbrook.edu.

The Vlasic Early Childhood Center (ECC) is seeking a Teacher Assistant to start in July 2024. This is a full-time position working 40 hours per educational week following the academic calendar.

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Assist in planning, supervision and implementation of developmentally appropriate curriculum in accordance with the philosophy of Brookside School.
• Attend classroom team planning meetings.
• Attend grade-level team planning meetings when possible.
• Prepare a daily, well-planned environment with appropriate, meaningful, and interesting activities which stimulate children’s involvement and learning.
• Facilitate children’s learning and play in a non-directive, positive, and flexible manner, knowing when and how to step in, shift gears, and adapt activities to promote cognitive and social growth.
• Establish and maintain a print-rich environment, varied socio-dramatic and sensorimotor opportunities, with activities to foster learning in math, language arts, science, social studies, music, and art.
• Help children become aware of their roles as integral members of a group.
• Gear the program, expectations, and responses to the needs of individual children with concern for their interests, ethnic and cultural backgrounds, learning differences, special talents, and individual style and pace of learning.
• Treat all children and their families with dignity and respect, maintaining positive discipline through the use of nonjudgmental language and tone of voice.
• Share responsibility for the ordered arrangement of the learning environment, arrival, dismissal, snack, lunch, and playground supervision.
• Assist with assessment of children and attend parent/teacher conferences on conference days and evenings.
• Maintain open and positive communication among team members.
• Each team may vary their delegation of responsibilities as they see fit; however, ultimate responsibility and final decision-making for curriculum, instruction, and parent communication is the role of the lead teacher(s).

Secondary Job Responsibilities:

• Attend full faculty meetings, ECC meetings, All Schools meetings, and iGroup meetings.
• Attend curriculum open house, admissions open houses, and applicant visiting days – some evening and weekend time required.
• Maintain current CPR/First Aid Training and adhere to all state licensing requirements.
• Participate in recommended in-service, training programs, and other aspects of professional growth.
• Participate in set-up and take-down of classroom each year.

Requirements:

• An undergraduate degree is required.
• The person selected for this position must have professional training in the field of Early Childhood, Child Development, or related professional field, and/or have practical experience working with young children.
• This person must have a warm and friendly personality, be sensitive to the feelings and needs of others, and be able to relate well to children and team members.
• Responsibilities must be fulfilled in accordance with Brookside’s philosophy.

Cranbrook offers competitive compensation and benefits that include medical, dental, life insurance, long-term and short-term disability, and retirement programs with employer contribution.

Interested candidates should submit a cover letter explaining your educational philosophy, a resume, and contact information for at least three references. Please be sure all documents are uploaded at the time you submit your application.