Lead Teacher – Infant/Toddler

BACKGROUND ON UTEC, INC.:

UTEC’s promise is to ignite and nurture the ambition of our most disengaged youth to trade violence and poverty for social and economic success. UTEC’s outcomes-focused model begins with intensive street outreach, reaching proven high-risk youth where they’re at. UTEC engages youth in workforce development and educational programs and provides mental health services and intensive case management. Social justice and civic engagement are embedded in all programming. For more info, please visit www.utecinc.org.

UTEC is committed to its vision for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion which pledges to honor the lived experiences and expertise of individuals; create community and celebration of cultures; challenge all forms of oppression; and embody a culture that leans into discomfort and recognizes it as a growth opportunity. UTEC is dedicated to fair and equitable compensation practice, the health, mental health, and overall well-being of young adults and staff and to creating an environment that supports work-life balance and the individual and professional growth of all.

Job Summary

The Lead Infant/Toddler Teacher assists in creating a warm, and loving educational classroom where they will lead and coach with classroom co-teacher in implementing a variety of activities within the classrooms; such as Social-Emotional Language, Sensory, Arts & Crafts, and Gross Motor.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

Work with co-teacher in developing and implementing lesson plans and daily tasks
Support maintaining a safe and positive program
Exhibits a warm, concerned attitude that uses a positive approach in dealing with individuals as well as groups of children
Encourage problem-solving and self-help skills in children
Ability to create and implement age appropriate curriculum that engages and challenges the children
Use redirection, logical consequences, and natural consequences to guide children
Offer reminders and choices to foster positive self-esteem development
Is an active, positive team member with supervisor, other staff, volunteers and members at all times by communicating effectively
Ability to be flexibility and have a “put me in coach” perspective
Working collaboratively and mentor and coach your team to ensure success in the program and organization
Responsible for care and maintenance of program equipment, supplies and facility including daily clean up and proper use
A proactive approach to communicating with classroom teacher and school administration to ensure successful partnership
Follow all company and state policies and procedures
Respond immediately to the individual needs of children and families
Participate in monthly staff meetings
Actively participates in professional development trainings to ensure hit 25 hours of PD yearly
Maintain current first aid and CPR certification and ensure equipment/kits/materials are maintained and available
Support the vision, goals, and philosophies of the organization
Provide regular updates on site challenges, opportunities and best practices to supervisor
Implement program assessment tools
Implement special event programs for parents, teachers and school community to participate in quarterly
Express a desire to grow and learn in an ever-changing field
Qualifications & Competencies

Must have at least 1 year of successful experience teaching in an infant or toddler classroom
Must have Associate/Bachelors Degree and 30 or more college credits in ECE
EEC “Lead Infant/Toddler Teacher” Certification is strongly preferred
Flexibility: Thrives in a collaborative and fast-paced environment; is comfortable with gray areas; understands that the process is just as important as the end
Perspective Taking: Comfortable working in a diverse environment and considers divergent opinions
Coachable: Open to feedback and personal and professional improvement
Commitment: Genuinely cares about children’s and families’ success
Drive: Hunger to do an excellent job, a passion to own one’s work, proactively comes up with systems and solutions to make one’s work more effective
Team Player: Upholds UTEC’s mission, values and vibe
Persuasion: Able to motivate others to pursue a course of action and try new things
Organized: Handles responsibilities in an efficient, productive manner. Focuses on key priorities
Innovative: Creates innovative approaches to reach goals and ensures that the center’s curriculum is hands-on, inclusive, and fun
Child-Focused: Makes curricular and operational decisions with children’s interest at the center
Family-Focused: Truly believes that guardians and parents are partners in children’s learning and demonstrates warmth, friendliness and care toward families. Direct experience working with 17-25 year old’s is also highly valued
Sense of Humor: Ability to laugh at oneself a must
EHS Experience: Worked in EHS school setup or able to learn to work within EHS standard
Salary/Benefits: Salary of $48,500-$55,000, commensurate with experience. UTEC offers a competitive benefits package that starts with 4 weeks of vacation (3 standard for all new employees and a week of agency-wide wellness closure between the Christmas and New Year holidays), 12 holidays, 10 sick days, 2 personal days, and health, dental and vision insurance. We also offer life insurance, first time homeowners support, an annual cost of living increase, a 401-K retirement plan, a $1,200- $1,800 annual wellness fund, and professional development support. With time, benefits grow to include up to 6 weeks of vacation, 80% coverage of employee health and dental insurance costs and availability for a 3 week sabbatical.

Education & Certifications: Any current 2Gen staff member that receives any additional educational certifications, degrees, or additional licenses while they are employed will be eligible for a one-time bonus based on UTEC’s education bonus policy.

UTEC also stresses the importance of work-life balance and offers several wellness opportunities including additional time off (i.e. for the past two years we have closed at 3pm on Fridays during the summer months), an employee assistance program, down payment assistance for first time home buyers, parental leave, bereavement supports and unlimited free coffee! See more about our benefits here.

Location: UTEC Inc. is located at 35 Warren St Lowell, MA, 01852.