About this role
Job Title: Early Childhood Teacher Location: Current opening is at the Elementary School Reports to: Building Administrator and Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Special Services Terms of Employment: Term of days for certified staff as defined by district calendar, which is approved yearly. Current year is 178 working days. MOQPK grant is awarded yearly and the position is dependent on renewal of the grant.
Summary: The purpose of the Early Childhood Preschool Teacher (MOQPK) position is to support the instructional process by providing high-quality, developmentally appropriate instruction within the district's Missouri Quality Pre-K (MOQPK) preschool program. The teacher is responsible for fostering children's academic, social-emotional, language, physical, adaptive, and interpersonal development while promoting independence in activities of daily living and school readiness. Responsibilities include planning and delivering engaging group and individualized instruction aligned with curriculum and MOQPK program standards; supervising students in the classroom and other assigned settings; assessing student growth to guide instruction; implementing meaningful family engagement and parent education; collaborating with teachers, related service providers, administrators, and community partners to support student success; and communicating effectively with parents and guardians regarding instructional programming, student progress, and successful transitions to kindergarten. Essential Job Duties and Responsibilities:
• Conduct developmental screenings and ongoing assessments to guide instruction and individual learning plans.
• Provide a safe, nurturing, and developmentally appropriate learning environment aligned with MOQPK expectations.
• Plan and deliver engaging, play-based instruction that supports early literacy, mathematics, language, social-emotional development, science, and motor skills.
• Differentiate instruction to meet the diverse developmental needs of preschool children.
• Assist children with personal care needs, including toileting and other age-appropriate self-help skills, as needed.
• Analyze assessment data to monitor student growth and inform instructional decisions.
• Communicate regularly with parents/guardians regarding student progress and strategies to support learning at home.
• Collaborate with paraprofessionals, related service providers, administrators, and other staff to support student success.
• Conduct family conferences and, when appropriate, or other family engagement activities consistent with MOQPK requirements.
• Supervise students in all learning environments to ensure safety and positive behavior.
• Direct and support paraprofessionals.
• Maintain accurate student records, assessment documentation, attendance, and other required program documentation.
• Participate in IEP, evaluation, and other required meetings as appropriate.
• Respond appropriately to emergencies, mandated reporting responsibilities, and student health or safety concerns.
• Support smooth transitions to kindergarten through collaboration with families and elementary staff.
• Perform other duties as assigned to support the effective operation of the MOQPK preschool program.
Other Job Functions:
• Maintains strict confidentiality.
• Prepare lesson plans for use by a substitute teacher.
• Maintains professional competence through in-service education activities provided by the district and self-selected professional growth activities.
• Report suspected abuse, neglect, discrimination and harassments as directed by Board policy.
• Other duties as assigned
Qualifications Education: Bachelor's Degree Certificates, Licenses, Registrations: Valid Missouri State Teaching Certificate in Early Childhood Education. Skills and Abilities Language An individual who holds this position must have the ability to: Read, analyze and interpret professional journals, Board policy, administrative procedures and forms, and governmental regulations and guidance. Complete forms, write reports and engage in written correspondence with parents. Present information effectively and respond to questions. Write clear and complete lesson plans. Reasoning An individual who holds this position must have the ability to: Solve a variety of problems in many different situations. Interpret instructions presented in written, oral, diagram or schedule form. Apply knowledge of current educational theory and instructional techniques while presenting subject matter to students Technology An individual who holds this position must have the ability to: Perform basic computer functions such as word processing and internet use. Use district software for recording grades, writing IEPs and finding student information. Utilize Interactive Flat Panels and other instructional technology provided by the district. The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions. Physical Demands An individual who holds this position: Is frequently required to stand, stoop, bend and kneel. May have to use therapeutic restraint or lift students. Must have both close and distance vision. Speak and hear in an environment where numerous conversations and activities may be taking place simultaneously. Move around the classroom. There can include the following physical demands:occasional lifting, carrying, pushing, and/or pulling, significant stooping, kneeling, crouching, and/or crawling and significant fine finger dexterity. Read handwritten or printed material.