"Child Care Specialist - Merritt College"

Job Description Summary

Under general supervision, performs a variety of para-professional early childhood education related duties. This class is assigned responsibility for curriculum development and providing learning experiences matching the needs of individual and groups of children of a given age bracket. Incumbents also oversee the work of Child Care Assistants, work-study students and parents.

Work Schedule

This is normally a full-time position with a work schedule of five days and 40 hours/week. Duties are normally performed 10 months a year. May be required to work some evenings and Saturdays during peak periods, such as registration, audits, fiscal year end, graduation, etc.

Duties & Responsibilities

• Plans and coordinates the educational program for a group of children ages twelve (12) months to five (5) years of age.
• Responsible for implementing the program’s curriculum through planning the environment while providing individual, small group and large group activities.
• Provides age-appropriate language arts, social studies, cognitive arts, computers, science, art, music, and physical development educational experiences for children in the group.
• Supervises and mentors assigned staff and volunteers.
• Participates in evaluation and planning sessions with supervisory and/or Center staff.
• Assures that safety precautions are adhered to.
• Follows and carries out all State, District and Center policies, procedures and guidelines.
• Supervises and interacts with the children in the classroom and on the playground.
• Responsible for all written information in regards to assigned classroom.
• Coordinates all State and Center paperwork for assigned classroom, including attendance, child and program records.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

1. Possession of a Child Development Teacher Permit or higher OR a Regular Children’s Center Instructional Permit is required as a condition of employment.
2. Knowledge of early childhood education as related to child development and infant/toddler or nursery school programs.
3. Ability to work effectively within a team structure and relate to parents, students and staff of various ethnic backgrounds.
4. Possession of valid certification in Pediatric CPR, First Aid and health & safety practices within six months of employment.
5. Completion of Infant/Toddler units from an approved college within a year of employment.
6. Understanding of, sensitivity to and respect for the diverse academic, socioeconomic, cultural, disability and ethnic backgrounds of Peralta Colleges’ students, faculty, staff and community.

Desirable Qualifications

• Knowledge of early childhood education as related to child development and infant/toddler and pre-school age programs.
• Ability to work effectively within a team structure and relate to parents, students and staff.