Assistant Teacher - Early Childhood Educator

From birth through age five, children develop a sense of emotional security, form relationships, and learn social skills. Young children depend on early childhood educators for physical care; their survival depends on attentive, nurturing adults. The responsiveness of early childhood educators to the social, emotional, and physical needs of young children has a profound influence on children's development and learning.

The work of the Assistant Teacher requires simultaneous attention to teaching and caregiving, meeting young children's needs for nurturance while maintaining a safe and healthy learning environment.

About the Work Unit

Child & Family Center offers quality early childhood education and care for the children of Vanderbilt Faculty, staff, and students. The program serves children age infants (6 weeks) to five years old. The Centers are licensed by the Tennessee Department of Education. For more information about VU's Child & Family Centers, click here: ~~~/

Duties and Responsibilities

Child Development

• Ability to implement a Whole Child, Emergent Curriculum.

• Supports personal-care routines, schedules, environments, and interactions that meet children's individual needs and reflect diverse perspectives and interests.

• Maintain a developmentally appropriate environment to ensure children's health and safety, and growth and learning.

• Supportive of children's feelings, perceptions, behaviors, and interactions, and seeks to understand them (The Acorn School implements the Pyramid Tools for Social Emotional Development.)

• Values play as essential to a young child's growth, learning and development.

Child Care Operations

• Attentive supervision of children: knows classroom group size and adult to child ratio, constantly scans classroom/playground to ensure safety, and closely monitors children by frequently taking name to face attendance.

• Implementation of hygiene practices (e.g., hand-washing, diapering/toileting.)

• Implementation of and support for nutrition and sleep routines.

Customer Service

• Creates an atmosphere of joyful learning community

• Friendly greeting to each and every parent/visitor

Assist in planning and implementing developmentally appropriate curriculum and activities aligned with VCFC pedagogy and policy, and DOE licensing standards:

• Participates in planning meetings with teachers.

• Collects needed materials and supplies in advance.

• Evaluates activities based on the needs of the children.

• Contributes to the preparation of the classroom newsletter.

• Assists in maintaining records and submitting reports.

• Assists with the planning and preparation of materials.

Maintains a clean, safe, orderly classroom environment which contributes to the physical, emotional, social, and cognitive growth of children.

• Monitors classroom and playground for cleanliness and safety.

• Cleans classroom according to established policies.

• Complies with center cleaning and sanitizing procedures.

• Limits excessive clutter in the classroom.

• Focus on child engagement: limits time out of the classroom and off of the playground.

• Punctuality: arrives on time, maintains appropriate adult-child ratios.

• Bathes children in language through speaking, singing, and listening; facilitates discussions with children throughout the day in order to enhance language development.

• Monitors tone and volume of own voice to ensure respectful interactions with children, parents, and coworkers.

• Assures that children are supervised at all times.

• Monitors clean-up and transitions in order to assure the safety and security of all children.

• Positions self in classroom and on playground in order to interact with and guide children.

Assist with orientation and supervision of practicum students and volunteers.

• Discusses weekly and daily plans with co-workers.

• Communicates necessary information concerning schedules and activities.

• Offers clear directions to students, observers, and volunteers.

Works with supervisors to maintain a safe learning environment.

• Removes broken toys and materials, immediately reports needed repairs.

• Monitors classroom inventory of supplies and materials.

• Conducts necessary repairs when possible.

Participates in staff meetings, parent meetings/conferences, and opportunities for professional development.

• Reports issues, concerns, or topics that need to be included in staff meetings

• Attend workshops and conferences as directed by supervisor.

• Demonstrates a knowledge and understanding of Department of Education Licensing Standards, Parent Handbook, and Staff Handbook.

Professional Communication.

• Answers parental questions appropriately and professionally. Avoids conversations with parents concerning children (other than their own), parents, and co-workers.

• When supervising and interacting with children, limits conversations with other adults.

• Cellphones are kept silenced and out of sight when in ratio with children.

• Models appropriate interactions and behaviors for children, including manner words.

Supervisory Relationships

This position does not have supervisory responsibility; this position reports administratively and functionally to the Site Director.

Qualifications

• Ability to pass a Child Care Background Investigation (per DOE licensing)

• Ability to lift and carry 30 pounds

• Ability to reach, run, sit, squat, stoop, and walk

• Knowledge of blood-borne pathogens, and ability to implement safety procedures (including for diapering, nutrition, First Aid)

• Possession of or ability to become Infant-Child First Aid/CPR certified

• 12+ college course units of Early Childhood Education preferred

Applicants must be physically, mentally, and emotionally capable of using appropriate judgment for the care of children (DOE licensing 0520-12-01-07) and pass a relevant medical and psychological examination prior to employment.

Please note, all candidates selected for an offer of employment are subject to pre-employment background checks, which may include but are not limited to, based on the role for which they have been selected: criminal history, education verification, social media review, motor vehicle records, credit history, and professional license verification.

In addition to offering a lively community that encourages learning and celebrates diversity, VU offers a competitive, flexible benefits package including health, dental, vision, life, accidental death & dismemberment, disability insurance, paid time off, and a 403(b) retirement plan with employer match. Vanderbilt offers tuition assistance to employees, spouses and dependent children. Also, after five years of service, Vanderbilt will pay up to 55% of the tuition for up to three dependent children to earn a bachelor's degree. Learn more about Vanderbilt's benefits at VU Benefits Overview

Commitment to Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion

At Vanderbilt University, we are intentional about and assume accountability for fostering advancement and respect for equity, diversity, and inclusion for all students, faculty, and staff. Our commitment to diversity makes us who we are. We have created a community that celebrates differences and lets individuality thrive. As part of this commitment, we actively value diversity in our workplace and learning environments as we seek to take advantage of the rich backgrounds and abilities of everyone. The diverse voices of Vanderbilt represent an invaluable resource for the University in its efforts to fulfill its mission and strive to be an example of excellence in higher education.

Vanderbilt University is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Please note, all candidates selected for an offer of employment are subject to pre-employment background checks, which may include but are not limited to, based on the role for which they have been selected: criminal history, education verification, social media review, motor vehicle records, credit history, and professional license verification.