Preschool Teacher, Early Childhood Services (ECS)

Pacekids Programs is a charitable organization that empowers children with diverse needs and their families through excellence in therapy, education, and play. From as young as six months of age, Pacekids is there to support children with diverse needs and their families in the home, in the community and in the classroom. Pacekids offers a dynamic, active environment, specializing in therapeutic learning, supporting each child's unique developmental and physical needs.

Pacekids offers the challenge and reward of working in an integrated, child and family focused environment – a setting that recognizes and appreciates your contribution and gives you the deep satisfaction of making a real difference.

If you are passionate about helping children with diverse needs and their families thrive, then Pacekids Programs is the organization for you!

P****urpose of Position:

The Preschool Teacher, ECS is responsible for the delivery of classroom programming to approximately 15-20 children. The Preschool Teacher will work in collaboration with an assigned Certified Teacher and be supervised by the Education Manager, ECS. The Preschool Teacher works on an interdisciplinary team with other ECS teachers and therapists and is responsible for planning and implementing creative, developmentally appropriate programming that meets the unique needs of the children in their classrooms.

What We Offer

• Paid flexible sick and personal time for all staff, accrued at 5.38% of hours worked
• Employer-paid health and paramedical benefits for full-time employees
• Paid observance of 13 holidays
• 3 weeks annual paid vacation
• Support for professional development including in-house learning and development

Overview of Responsibilities:

Include but are not limited to:

• Plan, prepare and implement a play-based learning program
• Support planning and coordination of fieldtrips and community outings
• Follow the designated curriculum and frameworks
• Develop and update Individual Program Plan (IPP) goals, and ensure that they are carried out appropriately and effectively by members of the classroom team
• Make referrals to appropriate therapists for classroom consultation and follow through with therapists’ recommendations and strategies
• Collect data for the preparation of reports and IPP reviews
• Track daily attendance and contact notes on School Cloud
• Report on children’s progress with educational goals and classroom participation in year-end report cards as well as participate in parent-teacher interviews two times/year.
• Consult and connect with management, therapy teams, and classroom teams to review, brainstorm and implement strategies and ideas
• Facilitate weekly team planning meetings
• Assist with self-help skills where needed, including toileting and diapering children
• Ensure that classroom practices meet with the Accreditation, Alberta Education, and Health & Safety standards
• Provide classroom leadership and coaching to ensure team cohesiveness

Position Expectations:

• Communicates and collaborates effectively with students, families, and other team members
• Is flexible to adjust the plan based on any priority issues that may need to be addressed
• Planning is appropriate for the child’s developmental age, interest and ability level, as well as the family’s capacity, and the curriculum is adapted to meet each child’s individual needs
• Plans effective, engaging, learning through play opportunities
• Works with the family to incorporate the family’s priorities while creating developmentally appropriate goals, strategies and activities
• Ensures Alberta Education standards are met (i.e. updated child folders, obtaining parent signatures on all forms, collecting and managing attendance records)
• Weekly lesson plans are posted in the classroom
• Builds rapport with the CTAs, children and families, can effectively explain, model and demonstrate suggestions and provide ongoing feedback
• Maintains professional growth and learning to ensure that services provided are best practice and evidence based
• Meet teaching quality standards applicable to the provision of basic education in Alberta
• Knowledgeable about various common diagnoses within school population and can communicate this information effectively
• Sensitive to students’ behavior, attention and energy level and makes needed adjustments, creating a positive learning environment
• Identifies appropriate recommendations for students’ transition planning and education needs, and communicate recommendations to families
• Ability to manage time as demonstrated by timely updates to working documents, time sheets, and meeting deadlines for any program specific documentation (i.e. goal updates and reports)
• Ability to manage your own schedule as demonstrated by arriving on time and fully prepared for all scheduled appointments and ensuring the timely running of the classroom day
• Keeps classroom organized and clean (must meet Health and Safety Standards)
• Uses socially acceptable voice, speech and language
• Follows appropriate protocol for reporting absences, vacation requests and payroll submission
• Knowledgeable about employee policies/procedures (vacation policy, sick policy etc.).
• Adheres to all regulations under the Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA) and Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FOIP)
• Always respects and maintains staff and student confidentiality
• Ensures that all work conducted is in accordance with the Pacekids’ Occupational Health and Safety Policy and protocols, Alberta Occupational Health and Safety Act, Regulations and Code and other health and safety legislation as applicable

Pacekids Programs is an equal opportunity employer. We appreciate a diverse workforce and do not discriminate against any employee or applicant on the grounds of race, colour, ancestry, place of origin, religious beliefs, gender, gender identity, gender expression, age, physical disability, mental disability, marital status, family status, source of income, or sexual orientation.

If you require accommodation in completing this application, interviewing, or otherwise participating in the hiring process, please direct your inquiries to Pacekids’ Human Resources team at careers@pacekids.ca*.*