About 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.
We strongly encourage people of color, individuals from historically marginalized communities, and those with lived experience related to the communities we serve to apply. UTEC is also proud to be a second-chance employer. We believe that past involvement with the legal system should not be a barrier to meaningful employment, and we welcome applicants regardless of criminal record.
Job Summary:� UTEC seeks an experienced and caring early childhood educator to teach in our new Early Education Center. Our center is designed to serve infants, toddlers, and preschoolers whose parents are enrolled in our Workforce Development and Social Enterprise program. You would be part of an innovative, big-thinking organization whose mission is to help young adults and their children attain social and economic success.
As a classroom teacher, you will work with a co-teacher to implement effective educational practices. The center promotes developmentally appropriate, constructivist, and play-based learning with a focus on socioemotional, cognitive, physical, and communication development. � Key Responsibilities:
Create and implement a developmentally appropriate and culturally responsive curriculum that engages children
Work with co-teacher in developing and implementing lesson plans and daily activities
Welcome families into the classroom and promote family engagement
Maintain a safe and positive program
Exhibit a warm, engaged attitude toward the children in the classroom and their parents
Take a prosocial approach to working with individuals as well as groups of children
Implement assessment tools for the purposes of evaluating individual child progress, as well as the effectiveness of different teaching strategies
Encourage problem-solving and self-help skills in children
Use redirection, logical consequences, and natural consequences to guide children
Offer reminders and choices to children to foster their positive self-esteem development
Maintain program equipment, supplies, and physical environment, including daily clean up and proper use of materials
Implement special event programs for parents and the school community
Respond immediately to the individual needs of children and families
Participate in staff meetings
Participate in at least 25 hours of professional development training annually
Maintain current first aid and CPR certification and ensure equipment/kits/materials are maintained and available
Follow all company and state policies and procedures
Required Skills/Abilities:
Flexibility: Thrives in a collaborative and fast-paced environment; 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 actively seeks out personal and professional improvement
Commitment: Cares about children’s and families’ success
Must have prior experience in an Early Head Start setting or willing to learn.
Controlled Response: Remains calm and objective when confronting difficult situations; tolerates stress
Relationship Builder: Values and nurtures relationships between oneself, children, parents, and colleagues
Drive: Hunger to do an excellent job; a passion to own one’s work; proactively comes up with ideas to enhance children’s educational experiences
Team Player: Upholds UTEC’s mission, values, and vibe; collaborates well with others; willing to provide reflective feedback
Organized: Prepared for every day; maintains organized files, physical space, and lessons
Child-Focused: Makes curriculum and operational decisions centered on the children’s interests and needs
Family-Focused: Truly believes that guardians and parents are partners in children’s learning and demonstrates warmth, friendliness, and care toward families
Sense of Humor: The ability to laugh at oneself is a must!
Education and Experience:�
Must be "Lead Infant toddler Qualified" by EEC
Must have at least 2 years of successful experience teaching in a toddler or preschool classroom
Must have an Associate Degree / CDA or higher Education
Physical Requirements:
Ability to lift small children ages infant through preschool
Ability to life
Compensation:� The salary range is $48,000-$56,000. UTEC offers a competitive benefits package that starts with 3 weeks of vacation plus a week off between the Christmas and New Year holidays, 12 holidays, 10 sick days, 2 personal days, and 3 bereavement days, as well as health, dental, and vision insurance starting day one. We also offer life insurance, first-time homeowners down payment assistance, cost-of-living increases, a paid sabbatical after three years, and a 401K retirement plan with up to $2,000 savings match.� See more about our benefits here.�
UTEC provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, or genetics. In addition to federal law requirements, UTEC complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location where the company has facilities. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.