Early Learning & Development Center Co-Teacher

Special Information

• This position is open to current NAU employees and Partner Assistance Program Partners ONLY. 
• This position is an on-site position which requires the incumbent to complete their work primarily at an NAU site, campus, or facility with or without accommodation. Opportunities for remote work are rare.

About the Department/College

At NAU, we develop educational leaders who create tomorrow’s opportunities and prepare leaders in education to make a difference for the lives of those with whom they work. NAU has long been recognized as a leader in education, in Arizona and beyond. We offer undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs that offer innovative teaching strategies that allow students to work closely with our accomplished education faculty.

About the Position

Northern Arizona University's Early Learning and Development Center (ELDC) serves children aged 2-5 and their families, supporting children's intellectual growth, social-emotional intelligence, and physical development. The Co-Teacher Position Assists with planning and implementing curriculum for preschool age children through developmentally appropriate learning experiences. Assists in preparing the classroom environment; supports children’s learning; helps document and analyze children’s learning; and engages with parents to maintain a partnership between school and home through open and cooperative communication.

Responsibilities Include

50% - Classroom Instruction and Support

• Assists Mentor Teacher to meet standards in social emotional, physical, language, social studies, and the arts domains.
• Supports the classroom by helping to create an environment and structure for maintaining classroom order and behavior management.
• Implements NAEYC developmentally appropriate practices in the daily life of the classroom, while supporting the health and safety of the children.
• Assist in the instruction for children in the classroom using the Project Approach curriculum as a framework for learning experiences.
• Provides support for children personal care and needs, including diaper changes, potty training assistance and providing guidance to children on basic personal hygiene functions.
• Acts as back up to Mentor Teacher during absences, during breaks or as needed.
• Assist children in emergency situations, assisting with accidental injuries and conflict management. 

15% - Instructional Planning

• Supports in the development of lesson plans utilizing the Project Approach to promote literacy, language, mathematical thinking, scientific thinking, social studies, arts, and social emotional development.
• Collaborates with the Mentor Teacher to plan and implement classroom learning experiences. 

15% - Assessment

• Assists the Mentor Teacher by using authentic assessment strategies including photography, anecdotal records, children’s words, and artifacts as a means to measure student learning.
• Creates and manages developmental screenings for every child in the classroom as a form of authentic assessment to demonstrate children’s learning.
• Supports Mentor Teacher in collecting data and documentation for classroom inquiry.
• Document and enter growth data into Child Assessment app, Kaymbu, to document the learning of each child.
• Assist the Mentor Teacher in reporting children’s growth milestones to families or parental units.

15% - Professional Development and Mentorship

• Engage in coaching and professional development plans to engage in a cycle of self-inquiry of teaching and learning.
• Build authentic relationships with families through a variety of communication strategies.
• Provides support to the Mentor Teacher in coaching pre-service teachers.
• May provide guidance or additional support to student employees or hourly employees of the center. 

5% - Other 

• Other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• A Child Development Associate Credential (CDA) or 12 higher education credits in early childhood education, early childhood special education, elementary education, and/or child development.
• 6 months of directly related experience working with young children.
• The ability to obtain a DPS Fingerprint Clearance Card

*A combination of related education, experience, and training may be used as an equivalent to the above Minimum Qualifications.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in early childhood education or a closely related field.
• One to three years of experience working with young children.
• Some experience in lesson planning, authentic child assessment, and the use of appropriate technology.
• Holds a DPS Fingerprint Clearance Card.

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities

Knowledge:

• Of best practices and current research in early childhood education.
• Of the NAEYC standards for professionals
• Of the early childhood education and early childhood special education field.
• Of diverse cultures, families, and children, including children with special educational needs. 

Skills:

• Use of appropriate technology for lesson planning and authentic child assessment.
• Strong communication skills with diverse cultures, families, and children with a variety of needs.
• Excellent emotional skills, managing to work through any given situation involving children.
• Develop a culture of caring through the implementation of positive guidance techniques in the classroom.

Abilities:

• Must be able to run, squat, and participate side by side with young children.
• Can anticipate needs, assess a situation quickly and respond in an appropriate manner.
• To collaborate with classroom colleagues and other staff on supporting classroom practices.
• To engage in self-reflection and inquiry within one’s own teaching practice through coaching and professional development planning.
• Must be able to ensure the health and safety of the children enrolled, while carrying out a supportive daily routine conducive to children’s learning.

Compensation

• Salary range begins at $38,628. Annual salary commensurate with candidate's qualifications and related experience.

Pre-Employment Check

Northern Arizona University requires satisfactory results for the following: a criminal background investigation, an employment history verification and a degree verification (in some cases) prior to employment. You may also be required to complete a fingerprint background check. Also, as an employer in the state of Arizona, NAU is required to participate in the federal E-Verify program that assists employers with verifying new employees' right to work in the United States.

This position has been identified as a safety/security sensitive position. Therefore, per AZ Revised Statute, Northern Arizona University requires satisfactory results for the following: a criminal background investigation, employment history investigation, degree verification (in some cases) and fingerprinting. If you are applying for a job that requires a CDL, you will be required to register with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse and adhere to the clearinghouse requirements.

Notice of Availability of the Annual Fire and Security Report

Each year Northern Arizona University releases an Annual Security Report. The report is a result of a federal law known as the Clery Act. The report includes Clery reportable crime statistics for the three most recent completed calendar years and discloses procedures, practices and programs NAU uses to keep students and employees safe including how to report crimes or other emergencies occurring on campus. In addition, the Fire Safety Report is combined with the Annual Security Report for the NAU Flagstaff Mountain Campus as this campus has on-campus student housing. This report discloses fire safety policies and procedures related to on-campus student housing and statistics for fires that occurred in those facilities. If you would like a free paper copy of the report, please contact the NAUPD Records Department at (928) 523-8884 or by visiting the department at 525 E. Pine Knoll Drive in Flagstaff.

Immigration Support/Sponsorship

Northern Arizona University will not provide any U.S. immigration support or sponsorship for this position.

Submit your Application

To apply for this position, please click on the "Apply" button on this page. You must submit your application by midnight of the application deadline.

If you are an individual with a disability and need reasonable accommodation to participate in the hiring process, please contact the Disability Resources Office at 928-523-8773, DR@nau.edu, or PO Box 5633, Flagstaff AZ 86011.