Child Care Center Associate

Provide an optimum learning environment for children at child care center and assist director in supervising Early Childhood Education student assistants when appropriate. Qualifications Education: Associate of Arts degree in Early Childhood Education; Kindergarten certification preferred. At least six (6) months (780 clock hours) of professional experience working in a nursery school, kindergarten, or licensed day care center and sixty (60) semester hours of credits from an accredited college or university with at least six (6) semester hours of credit in courses related directly to early childhood education, OR at least one (1) year (1560 clock hours) of professional experience working a nursery school, kindergarten, or licensed day care center and thirty (3) semester hours of credit from an accredited college or university with at least six (6) semester hours of credit in courses related directly to early childhood education required. Experience: Previous experience in childhood education, up to six months. Responsibilities 1. Writes and implements daily lesson plans and resource units. 2. If appropriate, conducts weekly meetings with student teachers to plan daily activities. 3. If appropriate, assists the director in advising and evaluating student teachers. 4. Conducts parent-teacher conferences and group parent conferences each semester; also maintains daily contacts with parents/care-givers to insure the safety of participants and handle special circumstances, etc. 5. Assesses the individual, cognitive, and social/emotional needs of all children. 6. Arranges general layout of the classroom and various learning/activity areas. 7. Dispenses meals and medicines to children. 8. Coordinates field trips and outdoor activities. 9. Maintains a healthy, safe and clean environment for all children. 10. Leads daily learning activities, naps and exercises. 11. Insures that center meets DCFS Regulations. 12. Performs other job-related duties as assigned by supervisor.