Contact Person: Suzanne M Gabli

Job Location:
Building Blocks Preschool
340 Harvey Lake Rd, Highland, MI 48356

Job Description:

Associate Co-Teacher Full-time, Non-union, at-will position

POSITION SUMMARY:
The associate teacher is responsible for working as a team member in providing a quality educational program for preschool children by supporting the classroom teacher in planning, assessing, and instructing learners. The position includes assisting the classroom teacher in maintaining required records to ensure grant compliance and meet licensing guidelines. This is a full- time position, currently 8 hours a day. Hours tentatively are 8:15 am-5:15 pm with a 30 -60 minute unpaid break.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:
Associate’s degree (AA) in early childhood education or child development or the equivalent; or a valid Center-based Preschool CDA credential. We are open to hiring a candidate who is willing to attain the required credentials, giving priority to those who are within three years of completion.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:
Experience in working with preschool children Familiarity with research-based preschool curricula and Preschool Program Quality Assessment (PQA) Understanding of Reggio-Inspired and DAP Practices. Understanding of social-emotional learning and Restorative Practices Understanding and ability to implement portfolio work sampling, documentation, and writing learning stories Ability to be self-directed and take initiative when given a variety of tasks and responsibilities. Certification in CPR and First Aid Strong communication and interpersonal skills to effectively interact with students, parents, and teachers Ability to work well with diverse families Ability to act as a resource person for families Outgoing, caring personality

RESPONSIBILITIES:
• Work as a team member in providing a quality educational preschool program
• Assist in planning, implementing, and monitoring curriculum and assessment
• Assist in establishing parent involvement activities
• Assist in all daily operations of the program
• Work with individual and small groups of learners
• Support children’s emotional and social development, encouraging understanding of others and positive self-concepts
• Work collaboratively and communicate with the classroom teacher to implement lesson plans, activities, and classroom tasks
• Assist teacher with monitoring behavior and supporting the educational process in the classroom
• Observe learners’ performance and record relevant data to assess progress
• Collect and document data regarding the learner(s)
• Maintain accurate and complete learner records
• Provide a welcoming and supportive climate to establish and reinforce acceptable child behavior, attitudes, and social skills.
• Create an effective and stimulating work environment for learning that meets the standards outlined in the Preschool Program Quality Assessment (P.Q.A.)
• Implement and maintain standards set forth by the “Great Start to Quality” initiative.
• Know and follow all State of Michigan licensing guidelines.
• Promote parent participation and involvement in education activities provided for their children.
• Conduct and evaluate Early Childhood Screener (Ages and Stages) twice a year.
• Participate in staff and team meetings.
• Provide a physically and emotionally safe environment for young children in both indoor and outdoor settings. Assist children with personal hygiene practices like handwashing, diapering, etc.
• Work with teaching teams to develop and implement a nature-based curriculum that reflects the needs and interests of the children. Participate in weekly debriefs with co-teacher before and after class.
• Spend significant time outdoors with children during all seasons, interacting, and guiding them at their physical level. Apply developmentally appropriate practices to all interactions with children, including reflective listening, modeling social/emotional norms, and promoting self-regulation.
• Observe and record children’s learning using notes, assessments, portfolios, and documentation panels that illustrate physical, social/emotional, linguistic, and cognitive development. Share professional observations with families with learning stories and as requested.
• Support risky play
• Work with individual and small groups of learners
• Support children’s emotional and social development, encouraging understanding of others and positive self-concepts with restorative practices
• Participate in training and ongoing professional development
• Set personal and professional goals, seeking opportunities to develop skills in focus areas.
• Able to work flexible hours as needed for family involvement activities, including home visits, recruitment events, open house
• Participate for family involvement activities, including home visits, recruitment events, open house
• Perform other duties as assigned

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:
Employee must be capable of performing physical demands of the job, including but not limited to lifting, bending, stooping, squatting, and standing for long periods. The work environment has a raised noise level. This document is intended to describe the general nature and level of the work performed by those assigned to this position. This is not an exhaustive list of all duties and responsibilities. Administration reserves the right to amend the change responsibilities to meet business and organizational needs as necessary.

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT:
Employment Date: August 2025
Employment Type: Full-time, Non-union, at-will position
Hourly: $17.50-18.50/ per hour based on experience
Rev. July 28, 2025

Closing Date for Job:  08/27/2025