Lead Infant Teacher

Job Description

essential duties

interactions with children

• protects the safety of all children in the center.
• directly supervises children (group of four) at all times. infant ratio [1:4].
• uses positive phrasing with children. (no: cussing, swearing, screaming, or yelling).
• communicates frequently with children throughout the day in: naming objects, actions, and; who, what, when, where, & why (open-ended questions).

• co-plays/interacts with children during play activities both indoors & outdoors.
• treats each child with sincerely genuine and thoughtfully delicate - quality care. each care taker must provide each child with dignity & respect, recognizing the: traditional, cultural, religious, spiritual, ethical, moral, and socio-economic diversities within the population.
• responds to the individual needs and learning styles of children.
• responds to children in distress promptly, efficiently, and appropriately.
• is responsible for all meal-time activities of their designated group. assists children in serving themselves in an individual and/or family-style fashion, and sits with children; preferably eating with them when possible. monitors children closely during meals.

• complies with ‘all’ applicable universal precautions and infection control: guidelines, policies, and procedures.
• displays familiarity with and follows the caterpillar care ®: guidelines, policies, & procedures.
• reports any needed facility repairs immediately to both the regional director & center director.
• is responsible for the: welfare, health, & safety of the children in our centers.

• in the event of an evacuation of the center and/or building, eligible candidate will be responsible for calmly assisting in said emergency and in-practice drills. eligible candidate is able and willing to respond to any form of distress and/or emergency.
• cleans and disinfects: ‘mouthed toys’, toys, chairs/tables, mats/floors, cribs/cots, & various objects/spaces (daily).
• checks on sleeping infants every (5) five minutes, and toddlers every (15) fifteen minutes.

• follows activities reflecting the anti-bias philosophy of caterpillar care ® with age- appropriate and individualized activities. provides a well-balanced schedule of individual/group activities, and active/quiet activities - with variations in structure.
• follows open-ended activities with an emphasis on process orientation and developmentally appropriate curriculum within the parameters/guidelines of “the creative curriculum.”
• follows supervised activities for indoors & outdoors involving “gross motor play” during severe and/or inclement weather, which may prevent outdoor play (at least (1) one hour per day).
• keeps informal classroom notes on children’s progress on an on-going basis.

• follows circle-time schedule, which will include hands-on, interactive activities.

• acknowledges parent and child with a greeting at drop-off & pick-up.
• communicates with parents daily, and reports at least (1) one positive event (i.e. accomplishment, amusing anecdote, etc...) about each child to the parent.
• owns an apple iphone device model (11) eleven or higher, in good working order, which will always be charged and brought with candidate to work daily for regular company communication.
• prepares daily digital diaries or end-of-day reports for parents, highlighting children’s experiences - each and every day.
• treats each parent with sincerely genuine and unforgettable experiences. each care taker must provide each parent with dignity & respect, recognizing the: traditional, cultural, religious, spiritual, ethical, moral, and socio-economic diversities within the population.
• inform parents of classroom and center activities, while encouraging family involvement.
• brings any parent feedback and/or concerns about children, or our operation in general, etc...to the attention of the regional director & center director immediately, first before discussing a resolution with the parent, and documents all such parent communication and correspondence.
• insures that ‘all’ items: (paperwork, dirty clothes, & miscellaneous items) are taken home daily by parents, and follows-up with parents on items needed to be brought to the center. (we are ‘not’ a storage facility and/or personal shoppers).
• respects the confidentiality of our families, and takes care not to speak in-front of the children about any said child, or any other parents/children – without having considered these issues. (privacy & discretion go a long way in our business).
• participates in parent conferences as needed.
• accommodates special requests from parents whenever possible. (within caterpillar care’s ®: guidelines, policies, & procedures).

• creates and maintains a classroom environment which reflects the diversity of our children & families, while having considered our children’s interests, including ‘all’ areas of the room; (i.e. art, science, speech, literacy, math, blocks, & dramatic play).
• labels and maintains orderly shelves, including pictures and/or words for easy identification by children.
• displays children’s artwork/projects in an attractive or ‘staged’ manner/method.
• cleans: floors/mats, tables/chairs, sinks (dishes/bottles) after meals, toys, post-incidentals; when spills occur, & after messy events - sanitizes according to infection control: guidelines, policies, & procedures.
• maintains child cubbies neatly, organizing periodically - and sending home, older papers and other child belongings daily.
• leaves classroom at the end of each business day with: floors/mats, tables/chairs, toys, & miscellaneous debris cleaned - daily. (centers must be ‘staged’, as-if ready for a new-client tour at the end of each business day).

• has good work habits, which allow candidate to be in-place and ready to work at scheduled time, and shows no undue tardiness or absenteeism. (a single “no call, no show” occurrence may lead to an immediate employee termination).

• takes pictures daily, while actively supporting/participating in caterpillar care’s ® social media company profiles/networks, which serve as an online community/forum for parents to interact.
• follows opening and closing: guidelines, policies, & procedures as dictated by work schedule.
• acts as a positive representative of caterpillar care ® with: family, friends, colleagues, parents (clients), communities, & the general public (including ‘all’ media & social media outlets – during: active pre-employment, active employment, & post-employment).
• cooperates with, and shows respect to ‘all’ co-workers, at ‘all’ levels of employment.
• completes classroom attendance on an on-going basis; being aware of the number of children in their care at all times.
• checks company e-mail daily.
• communicates: efficiently, clearly, & often (daily).
• does ‘not’ partake in or condone company gossip.
• does ‘not’ waste any company time (during scheduled work-days) for personal matters. (there is ‘always’ something constructive to do at our day care centers on any given work day).
• comes to work, showered & clean – and made-up in a professional manner. proper hygiene is critical in a business where social interaction epitomizes the experience.
• wears professional work-appropriate attire in accordance to caterpillar care’s ®: guidelines, policies, & procedures. (company apparel will be provided).

• assures compliance of licensing, health, and safety regulation.
• assists with scheduling staff.
• arranges for substitute teacher coverage, in advance, when possible.
• participates in monthly training and planning meetings.
• develops and inventories a listing of all caterpillar care equipment.
• coordinates with staff to assure that the children enrolled and their families receive services from other agencies as needed.

• helps orient new families & children.
• develops and maintains effective relationships with families.
• prepares and submits reports in a timely manner.
• communicates effectively through parent handbooks, newsletters, and correspondence with families.
• ensures procedures that maintain strict confidentiality of family records.
• prepares and maintains children’s records.
• maintains parent handbook & child files. keeping child files current with overseeing regulatory authorities.

• supervises and trains support staff and substitutes.
• resolves day-to-day problems relating to staff, facilities, and requisitions.
• provides new staff orientation.
• acts as a model in: appearance, speech, and conduct - using eye-to-eye contact.