Early Education Program

 

The Early Education program is seeking qualified substitutes to work with special needs children in 1:1, small group, and large group settings. Responsibilities include supporting specific children with activities in the classroom, instructional work goals developed by the Special Education team, as well as personal hygiene. Experience in early childhood is preferred, but not mandatory. Training is provided by the program. This position involves per diem subbing, ranging anywhere from one day to several weeks, depending upon the needs of the program. As we look to increase our pool of substitutes, coverage needs may be spur of the moment to cover a sick employee, or they may be planned such as to cover short-term medical leaves. If you enjoy flexibility in your schedule, this may be the perfect fit for you.

 

The Essential Functions of this position include: 

Support the developmental growth of each child:

1. Facilitate children's engagement in play activities by asking children open-ended questions about their activity and offering suggestions to add more complex materials and ideas.
2. Facilitate language development by describing to children their activity as well as the adult’s activity as they are happening.
3. Use motivation/positive behavior management technique
• Respond appropriately to children's acting out/negative behaviors by modelling, encouraging acceptable behavior, redirecting, setting clear limits
• Support children through problem solving when frustrated or having personal struggles
• Quickly assess if a child is a danger to themselves or others
• Give children ideas on how to better handle situations
• Reinforce positive behavior guiding and redirecting children in a positive way and helping children make good choices.
• Help children build self-esteem and positive feelings towards learning

Understand young children, their behaviors and motivation:

1. Understand and apply principles of child development
2. Use age appropriate rules and language
3. Consistently apply rules and teach self-reliancen
4.  Develop an awareness and understanding of how a child's disability may impact their development

Work Collaboratively with Teaching Team by:

1. Using methods and materials prescribed by the teaching team
2. Assist professional staff in supervising students across environments
3. Assist professional staff in the maintenance and operation of classrooms by prepping materials and classroom for daily activities
4. Assist professional staff with the collation, collating and recording of data

Maintain Professionalism:

1. Accept constructive feedback and suggestions from teaching team and use the information to enhance/improve one's work with children
2. Maintain a positive attitude and working relationship with both students and colleagues.
3. Effectively handle stress and stressful situations at work
4. Maintain a high level of confidentiality in accordance with Federal Law (FERPA)

The required education and experience of this position include:

Education: 

1. Minimum Required: At least two years post-secondary education or successful completion of the Praxis exam. 
2. Preferred: Coursework in Early Childhood or related field (i.e. psychology, education, human development, etc.); Associate or Bachelor’s degree.

Knowledge, Skills, And Abilities:

• Working knowledge: Sufficient familiarity with the subject to know basic principles and terminology and to understand and solve simple problems.

• General knowledge: Sufficient knowledge of a field to perform most work in normal situations. The work calls for comprehension of standard situations and includes knowledge of most of the significant aspects of the subject.

• Thorough knowledge: Advanced knowledge of the subject matter. The work calls for sufficient comprehension of the subject area to solve unusual as well as common work problems, to be able to advise on technical matters and to serve as a resource on the subject for others in the organization.
• Comprehensive knowledge: Requires complete mastery and understanding of the subject. This term should be used sparingly and only for unusually exacting or responsible positions required to originate hypotheses, concepts, or approaches.

Specific Skills And/Or Abilities Required:

1. Proficiency in English.
2. Ability to communicate effectively and respectfully with students, parents, guardians and school staff.
3. Ability to tolerate stressful situations and maintain proper decorum.
4. Willingness to learn about children and their needs to better handle situations and problems.
   

The working conditions of this position include: 

1. Work environment is a regular office, classroom, outdoor, community preschool or other school setting.
2. Occasional exposure to weather extremes.
3. Ability to tolerate extremes in noise levels.
4. Ability to tolerate bodily secretions.
5. Strength and stamina to safely restrain a student

Equal Opportunity: The Burlington School District 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.