Currently Open Positions

We are currently hiring for Morning Preschool Teachers, to begin in mid-August. See posting below; accepting résumés until Monday April 16.

In May we’ll be hiring a Communications Coordinator to begin in mid-August, as well as part-time and hourly teaching positions for the fall. Check back soon!

We are always hiring substitute teachers—scroll down for details.

CCS strives to create a just and sustainable workplace where all teachers and staff can feel joy and satisfaction in their work and participate in lifelong learning.

General inks:

• Job descriptions for all positions (coming spring 2018)
• Pay schedule for teaching positions

The Children’s Community School is an equal opportunity employer. Our policies, procedures, and practices are designed to prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, ethnicity, color, religious creed, disability, ancestry, national origin, age, marital status, sex, gender, or sexuality. We strive to create a just and diverse school community. We encourage people of color, men, and LGBTQ people to apply for all positions.

Subbing at CCS

Do you get along well with young children? The Children’s Community School is always looking for substitute teachers. Sometimes we schedule subs in advance; other times we reach out for subs just the night before or the morning of. If you freelance or work part-time, subbing can be a great fit for you!

Subbing pays $12/hour; checks are mailed at the end of every week. School hours are 8am-6pm, typical shifts are 8am-1pm or 12pm-5pm (but can sometimes be flexible depending on your needs). Substitute teachers always work on a team with other teachers. Subs are required to attend a brief orientation before working, and are required to pass mandated background checks. If you are interested in helping out this wonderful community by spending enjoyable time with young children, please email Stephanie.

Morning Preschool Teacher

Accepting applications through Monday 4/16.

Working children of various ages, 18 months through 5 years.

Starting August 14, 2018

The Children’s Community School is a learning community in West Philadelphia that honors and empowers children to engage their whole selves in education. Our students (18 months through 5 years old) engage their bodies, minds, and emotions to make meaning, form relationships, and develop an understanding of themselves as active members of a community. Our teachers value deep collaboration and ongoing learning, and our staff works together to support each other and build connections with families and our local community. For more information about our school, see childrenscommunityschool.org.

We’re looking for energetic, committed teachers to join us in creating the school community we envision. In addition to creating curriculum, observing and assessing children’s learning and development, and communicating with families, our staff works together to actively improve our school. We support each other in ongoing professional development to improve our teaching, and we work collaboratively on efforts to better our school community—for instance, our ongoing efforts to work toward racial and economic justice.

To apply, please read this entire posting and see the instructions at the end.

Position summary

Morning teachers are energetic, committed educators and lifelong learners who work in teams to support children, families, colleagues, and the school. In addition to creating learning plans, observing and assessing children’s learning and development, and communicating with families, teachers work together to actively improve our school and uphold its mission.

Responsibilities

• Teach children—In collaboration with teammates, create and implement emergent, play-based curriculum; meet the physical, emotional, social, and cognitive needs of each individual children and of children as a group; use holistic methods to assess children’s learning and development, and use those assessments to guide curriculum
• Care for children’s bodies—In collaboration with teammates, complete tasks such as feeding and bathrooming children; ensure a safe and healthy environment; supervise play
• Support families—In collaboration with teammates, communicate daily with families about the activities of the classroom; communicate regularly with individual families about their children, according to each child and each family’s needs; share assessment information with families
• Continually improve practice—In an ongoing manner, evaluate and improve existing teaching practices, and seek and implement new practices; learn collaboratively with colleagues and children
• Care for the school—In collaboration with other staff, ensure that the school stays clean, organized, and safe
• Communicate—Participate in frequent, regular, prompt, and respectful communication with colleagues and families, including in-person, phone, and email communications
• Participate in the life of the school—Look out for the best interests of the school; build relationships with children, families, and colleagues; attend school events

Hiring Criteria

1. REQUIRED CRITERIA—We will only consider candidates who meet all of the following criteria.
   1. Demonstrated ability to form strong relationships with children and their families
   2. Experience working to meet the emotional, social, and cognitive needs of children
   3. Demonstrated view of children as active, powerful learners
   4. Demonstrated ability to work closely and collaboratively with colleagues
   5. Clear written and verbal communication skills
   6. View of teaching as a lifelong craft and ongoing learning experience
   7. Physical requirements: Ability to lift, move, and hold children and objects up to 40 pounds. Ability to engage in full range of motion to lift, reach, squat, climb, sit, and otherwise fully participate in classroom activities. Ability to supervise and interact with children outdoors for extended periods of varied weather conditions.
   8. Will pass and provide mandated background checks before beginning employment
2. DESIRED CRITERIA—The ideal candidate will possess most of the following qualities.
   1. Experience teaching young children, especially in mixed-age groups
   2. An approach to teaching that centers on children as active, powerful learners who can drive curriculum and learning (for instance, a constructivist philosophy, experience with Reggio-inspired pedagogy, etc.)
   3. An articulated view of learning as a collaborative process, driven by children’s interactions and relationships (for instance, a social-constructivist philosophy, experience with Waldorf or Reggio-inspired pedagogy, etc.)
   4. A demonstrated belief in the importance of children’s social and emotional development
   5. Knowledge of child development (for instance, developmentally appropriate expectations)
   6. Skill in observing children and interpreting their behavior, and using observations to show children’s learning and thinking
   7. Experience implementing emergent or project-based curriculum (i.e., curriculum based on developing children’s interests)
   8. A college or advanced degree in early childhood education or a related field, or related college-level coursework
   9. Demonstrated commitment to social justice
   10. Experience working with communities of color, multicultural communities, or diverse groups
   11. Experience working with families or communities in West or South Philadelphia
   12. Strong skills and experience in communicating through writing
   13. Experience with reflective practices (for instance, mindfulness, yoga, teacher research, etc.)
   14. Demonstrated ability to be adaptive, flexible, and resilient in work situations
   15. Ability to speak more than one language
   16. Comfort using Google Docs, or other online tools for collaborative work

Schedule and calendar

• This is a salaried, full-time position, averaging 35 hours per week.
• The annual contract begins August 15 (August 14 for new staff) and ends August 14.
• The annual contract includes paid vacation (2 weeks winter break, 1 week spring break, 6 weeks summer break)
• Weekly Hours, September through June (Total: 32.5hr/wk)
  • “On the Floor”—Monday–Friday 8:30–12:45 (21.25hr/wk)
  • Prep—Monday–Friday 7:45–8:30 (3.75hr/wk)
  • Team Meetings—Monday–Friday (except Wednesdays) 12:45–1:30 (3.75hr/wk)
  • Staff Meetings—Wednesdays 1:30–3:30 (2hr/wk)
  • Daily email communication (~20 min per day, 1.75hr/wk)
• Other Hours (approx. 100 hours total over the year)
  • Orientation—August 14 through the first day of school, Monday–Friday, 8:00–4:00 (40hr/wk)
  • Professional development days throughout the year (8:00–1:30)
  • Assessments—In addition to regular hours, teachers can expect to spend ~10hr in November, ~20hr in February, and ~30hr in June preparing assessments
  • Family-Teacher Conferences—On two evenings (November and February) teachers are expected to stay until at least 8pm to hold conferences with families; they will be granted a morning off the same week.
  • Presence is required at at least two school events: Back to school night, the Pancake breakfast, the Spring Thing, the Campfire Singalong, etc.

Compensation guidelines

• Paid according to the Salary/Pay Schedule for Teachers—for 2018/19 ranging from $26,260–$30,315
• Salaried
• Benefits include paid time off, health insurance, parental/disability/family leave, 401(k), reduced tuition, and more—see staff handbook or inquire for details

Supervised by

• Curriculum Coordinator and/or Director

TO APPLY

Please email your résumé and cover letter to merrylgladstone@childrenscommunityschool.org. Your cover letter should be between half a page and a page, single spaced, and include

• what you view as the role of the early childhood educator
• something specific from this ad or our website that makes you think you would be a good fit for our school

We look forward to hearing from you!

The Children’s Community School is an equal opportunity child care provider and an equal opportunity employer. Our policies, procedures, and practices are designed to prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, ethnicity, color, religious creed, disability, ancestry, national origin, age, marital status, sex, gender, or sexuality. We strive to create a just and diverse school community. We encourage people of color, men, and LGBTQ people to apply.