Teacher

Position Summary:

The Teacher provides individualized instruction to children with disabilities and typically developing peers from birth to age three. As a member of the Local Early Steps multidisciplinary team, the Teacher supports the development of family-centered outcomes and goals while demonstrating sensitivity to the cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds of families served.

Responsibilities:

• Develop teaching materials and procedures necessary for children to acquire knowledge and skills appropriate to their developmental level.
• Use integrative, hands-on collaborative activities that encourage children to explore all classroom areas utilizing best practice curriculum.
• Responsible for curriculum instruction and administration of child development assessments.
• Individualize instruction and set objectives for each child in the class.
• Complete children’s daily reports, document children attendance and follow up on absent students, maintain accurate meal service records, prepare parent-teacher meetings, complete ongoing child observations (keynotes) and complete school communication records when needed.
• Prepare evaluations in a timely manner and actively participate in child staffing meetings along with Service Coordinator, Therapists, Miami Dade County Public School Staffing Specialist and children’s family members.
• Collaborate with families and the multidisciplinary Local Early Steps team to translate family priorities into functional outcomes and measurable goals for the Individualized Family Support Plan (IFSP).
• Creates and provides a clean, safe, and responsive educational environment for children.
• Exercise discretion and judgment in a variety of circumstances.
• Completes all required documentation and record keeping.
• Communicates effectively with families and personnel from other agencies.
• Adheres to all guidelines established by local, state, and federal regulations, and applicable contracts and funding agreements.
• Demonstrates and utilizes appropriate guidance techniques, behavior supports, and classroom management skills for young children.
• Reports all suspected child abuse/neglect to the Hotline; as well as the Center Director.
• Always ensures confidentiality of all records and information
• Maintain required continuing education and in-service training hours.
• Work a flexible schedule as needed (childcare, transportation, homebound etc.)
• Attend professional meetings, educational conferences, and teacher training workshops to maintain and improve professional competence.
• Ensure the safety of all staff, volunteers, visitors and individuals receiving services at Easter Seals.
• Act in compliance with Medical and Non-Medical Emergency Procedures.
• Assist individuals in evacuating the building during emergency situations to include but not limited to fire drills and external disaster drills. Specific duties to be assigned by immediate supervisor.
• Assume assigned responsibility for non-clinical duties during disaster and/or drills including but not limited to safety of files/office areas, closure of doors.
• Participate in continuous agency wide quality and performance improvement and comply with all Quality Improvement requirements.
• Other related duties as necessary may be assigned to ensure the smooth running and efficiency of the program and the agency.

Qualifications:

• Associate Degree (60 college credits) required; but bachelor’s Degree preferred.
• CDA in Infant and Toddler or availability to complete the certification during Saturdays or after hours in the first year of employment.
• Department of Children and Families (DCF) 45 hours of required childcare training or completion in the first 6 months of employment.
• Maintain an active Child CPR & First Aid certification or completion in the first 90 days of employment.
• Supervised teaching experience preferred
• Minimum of 1 year of experience as a teacher working with people with special needs
• Minimum of 1 year of experience providing educational instruction to students with autism.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS: Health status appropriate to the physical and emotional demands of the job.

• Ability to motivate students, take initiative and meet objectives
• Ability to effectively communicate both written and verbal
• Ability to promote teamwork and build effective relationships
• High level of interpersonal, problem-solving and analytical skills
• Desire to improve the lives of people with special needs

Other:

• Work a flexible schedule as required.
• Other related duties as necessary to ensure the smooth running and efficiency of Easter Seals South Florida as a whole.
• Successful completion of background process which includes Local background check, Level 2 clearance (FBI, FDLE), clear TB test, medical clearance, drug test and reference checks.
• Adhere to the use of Universal Health & Safety Precautions as applicable