Early Learning Center Partner Teacher
Beauvoir, the National Cathedral Elementary School in Washington, DC, seeks an Early Learning Center Partner Teacher beginning the 2023-24 school year. Partner teachers hold the ultimate responsibility for aspects of teaching, planning, and curricular development and implementations, parent communication, and coordination of the life of the classroom. Direct supervision is managed by the designated Program Team administrator while ultimate reporting is overseen by the Head of School. This is a 10-month position, and the normal hours are 7:30 a.m.-4:00 p.m., Wednesdays 7:30a.m.-5:00p.m.
Duties and Responsibilities
- Demonstrate a joy for learning and teaching.
- Plan, prepare and deliver lesson plans and instructional materials that facilitate active learning.
- Develop schemes of work, lesson plans and projects that demonstrate a distinguished knowledge of content and pedagogy appropriate for early childhood students.
- Develop and implement plans for the curriculum program and show written evidence of preparation as required.
- Plan and use appropriate instructional/learning strategies, activities, materials, and equipment that reflects accommodations for individual needs of students assigned.
- Use technologies in the teaching/learning process to support and enhance instruction and learning.
- Provide appropriate written/oral feedback on student work, and work with grade-level team to assign developmentally appropriate and relevant homework when appropriate.
- Encourage and monitor the progress of individual students and use information to adjust teaching strategies.
- Observe and assess student performance and development.
- Maintain accurate and complete records of students’ progress and development, including anecdotal notes and or written reports.
- Prepare required written formal and informal reports on student progress and development.
- Communicate necessary information regularly to student, colleagues and families regarding student progress and needs.
- Update necessary records accurately and completely as required by school leaders.
- Participate in grade level, school, and parent meetings.
- Prepare and nurture a positive emotional climate in the classroom.
- Prepare classroom for class activities, projects and different learning experiences.
- Manage student behavior and classroom routines by establishing and upholding values and procedures aligned with the Responsive Classroom best practices and Beauvoir’s social curriculum.
- Maintain a professional relationship with colleagues, students, families, and community members.
- Demonstrate enthusiasm for the mission of the school and for working collaboratively with fellow faculty members to fulfill and support the strategic initiatives and vision of the School.
- Exemplify collaboration that supports an authentic and inclusive school community, and collaboration that supports colleagues in a positive manner.
- Establish and maintain open and respectful lines of communication with students, parents, and colleagues; encourage parent and community involvement, obtain information for parents when requested, promptly return phone calls and answer emails, and seek and participate in professional development activities and programs.
- Engage in professional conversations about growth through observation and feedback with school leaders.
- Attend and participate in faculty meetings and serve on committees.
- Demonstrate mature judgment and discretion; maintain confidentiality and composure under pressure and in situations with students, parents and colleagues, and demonstrate behavior that is professional, ethical, and responsible.
- Exhibit a strong ability to organize work, set and adjust priorities, meet deadlines, and execute multiple concurrent tasks; anticipate needs and respond accordingly, and to perform with an appropriate degree of initiative.
- Demonstrate preparation and skill in working with students from diverse cultural, economic and ability backgrounds.
- Embody the Beauvoir Life Rules in aspects of employment and interactions with school stakeholders.
- Support, uphold, and promote the Beauvoir Core Values of Childhood, Collaboration, Creativity, Curiosity and Courage.Perform other duties assigned by the Head of School.
Functional Knowledge, Skills, Abilities
- Demonstrate a penchant for teaching early childhood children and helping them to achieve their fullest potential.
- Possess disciplinary acumen of early childhood curricula, including understanding of preliterary and prenumeracy skill development.
- Working knowledge of the care children need between the ages of 3 months to 4 years.
- Share equal responsibility with teaching partner in the areas of classroom design, classroom management, lesson design, lesson planning, activities, assessments, report writing, data gathering, and communication with families.
- Demonstrate professional flexibility, a growth mindset, and optimism.
- Demonstrate initiative, confidence, and joy in aspects of work and in front of teaching partner, other colleagues, parents, and students.
- Demonstrate an ability and willingness to collaborate with teaching partner.
- Frequently discuss and reflect on teaching partnership as it relates to professional work and professional growth.
- Demonstrate a commitment to team work.
- Communicate effectively and efficiently with teaching partner on all aspects of the position, including student progress and information.
- Demonstrate a willingness and ability to learn more about a topic, strategy, or area of interest that students identify as interesting to their learning; design learning experiences around topics of student interest.
Minimum Qualifications (education, certification, years’ experience):
- Bachelor’s degree required. Master’s degree in education preferred.
- At least three years of demonstrated experience in teaching.
- Coursework and or professional training in early childhood development and the visual arts.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills.
- Compatibility with the School’s values, culture, and current administration and faculty are a must.
General Requirements
- Passing periodic background checks, an FBI background check and, at the discretion of the School, drug and alcohol screening.
- Passing the Child Protection Register Check for the Office of the State Superintendent of Education.
- Passing the DC Police background check for the Office of the State Superintendent of Education.
- Current CPR and FIRST AID certification.
- Current SUID (Sudden Unexpected Infant Death) certification.
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
- Strong writing and editing skills; ability to write and format professional correspondence, memos, and support documentation.
- Mature judgment and discretion; ability to maintain confidentiality and composure under pressure.
- Ability to work and maintain attendance for the Early Learning Center hour of operation from 7:30 a.m.-4:00 p.m., Wednesdays 7:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m
- Consistent and prompt attendance.
- Compliance with the provisions of the Beauvoir Faculty & Staff Handbook.
Working Conditions (Schedule, Physical Demands, and Work Environment):
- The position requires prolonged sitting, standing, walking, climbing stairs, reaching, twisting, turning, kneeling, bending, and stooping in the performance of daily activities.
- The position requires grasping, repetitive hand movement, and fine coordination in preparing newsletters and reports using a computer keyboard.
- The position requires near and far vision for reading and preparing written reports and other documents.
- Acute hearing is also required when providing phone assistance.
- The need to lift, drag, push, and pull files, reports and other materials weighing up to 25 pounds is required.
Applicants are asked to submit a cover letter and resume to: Colleen Williams, Head of the Early Years (ELC and Pre-Kindergarten) cwilliams@cathedral.org with “Early Learning Center Partner Teacher-(your name)” written in the subject line.
Beauvoir the National Cathedral Elementary School provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.
Nothing in this Job Description restricts the School’s right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this position at any time. This position is at will, which means that either the employee or the School may terminate the relationship at any time, with or without notice and for any reason or no reason.
