USC’s School for Early Childhood Education is dedicated to providing comprehensive, high-quality early childhood education services to children and their families in the South Los Angeles area. Founded in 1970 as a teaching school for future early-childhood professionals, the USC School for Early Childhood Education (USC SECE) seeks to promote school readiness, health/nutrition, mental wellness, and family engagement. Today, our licensed Head Start and Early Head Start centers serve more than 500 infants and pre-school children and their parents each year. We are seeking enthusiastic, creative, dynamic, and team-oriented individuals who enjoy working with children while fostering a supportive learning environment.

Job Overview:

To provide a successful, safe and supervised educational setting for children while they are in the USC-SECE environment (classroom, outdoor play area, and field trips). To promote the social, emotional, physical, and cognitive development of Early Head Start children. Encourage parent involvement in all aspects of the program. To develop individual goals for children, provide on-going assessment on progress and facilitate transition into kindergarten. Considered the Teacher of Record for all children in assigned classroom and works as a team with the assigned Associate Teacher

Responsibilities and Duties:

• Implements a program selected curriculum that takes into account the results of screenings and assessments and weekly observations.

• Implements a program selected curriculum that takes into account the results of screenings and assessments and weekly observations.

• Makes referrals to coordinators and other specialists for children that may need additional support.

• Implements the goals outlined in the ILP and/or in the Individual Education Program (IEP).

• Works with all Infant/Toddlers in the classroom, including children with disabilities.

• Works cooperatively with other staff in the delivery of services to children and families.

• Meets timelines for all reports, screenings, assessments required and assigned.

• ​Supervises associate teachers, student teachers, and volunteers.

• Works collaboratively with other teachers in the classrooms and parents of the Infant/Toddler children in the classrooms.

• Supervises the Associate Teacher in the classroom and reviews all of the anecdotal notes, home visit forms, and developmental screenings, completed by the Associate Teacher, for accuracy.

• Conducts monthly reflective supervision meetings with the Associate Teacher to discuss goals for the month, tasks, provide feedback on work performance, and discuss new ideas for the classroom.

• Is also responsible for conducting ongoing assessments based on specified timelines. Based on these assessment tools, teachers maintain monthly anecdotal notes that highlight infant/toddler children’s progress.

• Conducts educational home visits, when assigned, in the children’s homes with the child’s primary caregiver.

• Responsible for a minimum of two parent-teacher conferences to discuss the development of the Infant/Toddlers.

• Produces classroom updates and/or newsletters that are distributed during the monthly, classroom meetings that are held at the beginning of every month.

• Provides parents with a Monthly Parent Report, so as to keep parents informed of their child’s progress.

• Individual may act Promotes parent involvement through home visits and parent teacher conferences, as well as other informal means of communication.

• Leads Parent and Child Together Time (PACT Time) sessions as scheduled throughout the school year and at least once a month, which includes sending activities home for parents.

• Meets all the Head Start Performance Standards as outlined in CFR 1304, State licensing requirement, and the State Preschool Funding Terms & Conditions.

• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications/Skills:

• Prefer two years’ experience in pre-school (infant/toddler) classroom.

• Experience should include the ability to adapt curriculum to meet the needs of all children including at risk, special needs, and culturally diverse populations.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

• Intermediate to advanced computer skills, internet and e-mail.

• Must have flexible schedule to accommodate family needs, may include some evening or weekend hours.

• Bilingual – English/Spanish preferred.

Educational Requirements:

• Bachelor of Arts/Science preferred in early childhood education or child development, including 6 units in Infant/Toddler development.

• Infant/Toddler CDA (Child Development Associate Certificate) or acquisition of within one year of hire.

• Commission on Teacher Credentialing Child Development Teacher Permit.

Physical Requirements:

Must be able climb stairs, reach, bend, lift 20-30 pounds, crawl, kneel, stoop, twist, grasp with hands and fingers materials, use arms and legs, able to walk, climb ladders if applicable.

Pre-Employment Requirements:

• MMR and Tdap vaccinations

• Child Abuse Mandated Reporter Training

• Position requires valid California Driver’s License

• Current physical

• Tuberculosis screening

• First Aid/CPR

• Department of Justice Clearance

The hourly rate range for this position is $21.00 - $25.00. When extending an offer of employment, the University of Southern California considers factors such as (but not limited to) the scope and responsibilities of the position, the candidate’s work experience, education/training, key skills, internal peer equity, federal, state, and local laws, contractual stipulations, grant funding, as well as external market and organizational considerations.

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About University of Southern California (USC)

USC is the leading private research university in Los Angeles—a global center for arts, technology and international business. With more than 47,500 students, we are located primarily in Los Angeles but also in various US and global satellite locations. As the largest private employer in Los Angeles, responsible for $8 billion annually in economic activity in the region, we offer the opportunity to work in a dynamic and diverse environment, in careers that span a broad spectrum of talents and skills across a variety of academic and professional schools and administrative units. As a USC employee and member of the Trojan Family—the faculty, staff, students, and alumni who make USC a great place to work—you will enjoy excellent benefits, including a variety of well-being programs designed to help individuals achieve work-life balance.

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