Associate Teacher

About the role

Position: Associate Teacher

Reports to: Site/Area Manager

Department: Children Family & Service

Pay Rate: $29.48-$31.84

Position Type: Full Time, Hourly

The Associate Teacher supports the delivery of high-quality early childhood education services by assisting in the creation of a safe, nurturing, and engaging learning environment for young children. Under the direction and guidance of the Site/Area Supervisor and Classroom Teacher, the Associate Teacher helps implement developmentally appropriate curriculum, learning experiences, and daily classroom activities that promote children's cognitive, physical, social-emotional, and language development.

The Associate Teacher supports classroom practices and educational programming that align with Head Start Performance Standards, California Department of Education (CDE) regulations, and Community Care Licensing requirements. The role assists with child observations, documentation, and assessments, while helping to foster positive behavior, inclusivity, and individualized learning opportunities that support children's growth and development.

The Associate Teacher collaborates with families, staff, and community partners to promote school readiness and positive child outcomes. In partnership with the Classroom Teacher, the position supports daily classroom operations, including supervision of children, implementation of routines, and maintenance of a healthy and safe learning environment. In the absence of the Teacher, the Associate Teacher assumes responsibility for classroom operations and educational activities to ensure continuity of care and learning. Additionally, the Associate Teacher may provide guidance and support to Teacher Assistants, Substitutes, Volunteers, and other classroom support personnel as assigned.

Essential Duties
Active Supervision & Child Safety — 25%

·        Always maintain active supervision of infants and toddlers in accordance with Community Care Licensing requirements, applicable program standards, and CAM policies and procedures.

·        Provide responsive, individualized care that recognizes each child's developmental stage, temperament, cues, abilities, culture, language, and family practices.

·        Implement individualized routines for feeding, diapering, toileting, sleeping, transitions, and other daily caregiving needs.

·        Maintain a classroom environment that supports children's physical and emotional safety, secure attachment, exploration, and development.

·        Follow safe sleep, sanitation, diapering, feeding, food safety, and other infant/toddler health and safety procedures.

·        Maintain awareness of children's location and activities and follow established child accountability procedures during classroom activities, transitions, outdoor experiences, and other program activities.

·        Promptly identify, respond to, document, and report injuries, incidents, health concerns, developmental concerns, unusual behaviors, or environmental hazards in accordance with established procedures.

·        Fulfill responsibilities as a Mandated Reporter in accordance with California law and CAM policies and procedures.

Curriculum Implementation, Observation & Individualization — 20%

• Build positive, trusting relationships with children while attending to their physical, emotional, and developmental needs.
• Ensure active supervision and safety of children at all times.
• Maintain a clean, safe, and organized classroom in accordance with health and licensing guidelines.
• Support daily routines, including meals, toileting, transitions, and cleaning responsibilities.
• Follow health protocols including daily health checks, sanitizing procedures, and universal precautions.
• Complete and submit incident reports when necessary.

• Implement Creative Curriculum and enhance it using strategies such as SEAL, GLAD, and Teaching Pyramid.
• Observe and document children’s development to support planning and individualized instruction.
• Assist in the use of DRDP online for child assessment.
• Support completion of classroom assessments such as ECERS, ITERS, or SACERS.

Social-Emotional Development & Positive Guidance — 15%

• Use a variety of positive behavior guidance techniques including redirection, logical consequences, and problem-solving support.
• Reinforce positive behavior and encourage children’s self-expression.
• Provide nurturing verbal and physical support to children during transitions and routines.

Family Engagement & Partnerships — 10%

• Develop warm, respectful relationships with families and communicate regularly about children’s development.
• Refer parent concerns to the Teacher or Supervisor as needed.
• Support parent involvement through home-to-school activities, volunteerism, and participation in events.

Inclusive & Culturally Responsive Environment — 10%

·        Create and maintain a welcoming, inclusive, and culturally responsive classroom environment.

·        Incorporate diverse materials, books, experiences, and visual supports that reflect the cultures and backgrounds of children and families.

·        Promote equity, belonging, and respect for individual differences.

·        Collaborate with specialists and support staff to ensure meaningful participation of children with disabilities and diverse learning needs.

·        Encourage family engagement and honor family values, traditions, and perspectives within the classroom community.

Team Collaboration & Classroom Operations — 10%

·        Collaborate effectively with teachers, support staff, families, and program leadership to ensure high-quality services

·        Assist with classroom routines, including meals, toileting, transitions, rest periods, cleanup, and daily operations.

·        Support classroom organization, preparation of learning materials, and maintenance of classroom environments.

·        Provide guidance and support to substitutes, volunteers, and new staff as appropriate.

·        Participate in staff meetings, trainings, professional learning communities, and program events.

Professionalism, Documentation & Compliance — 10%

·        Follow Head Start Performance Standards, California Department of Education requirements, Community Care Licensing regulations, and CAM policies and procedures.

·        Complete required documentation, reports, assessments, and records accurately and within established timelines.

·        Maintain confidentiality of child, family, and program information.

·        Demonstrate professionalism through positive communication, reliability, ethical conduct, and collaboration.

·        Maintain required permits, certifications, trainings, and professional development requirements.

·        Perform other related duties consistent with the scope and classification of the position as assigned.

Qualifications

Education:

·        High school diploma or equivalent (GED) required in accordance with Community Action Marin employment standards.

·        An AA or BA in Early Childhood Education, Child Development, Human Development, Sociology, or a related field and necessary coursework to meet the California ChildCare Licensing requirements for a fully qualified Associate teacher.

·        Minimum of 12 college level semester or equivalent quarter units including courses on general areas of child growth and development, family and community, and curriculum. 

·        Associate level Permit issued by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing. 

·        Valid CDA credential with the appropriate age level endorsement. 

Experience:

·        Previous experience providing care and education to infants and/or toddlers in a licensed early childhood education setting preferred.

·        Experience implementing developmentally appropriate curriculum, conducting child observations, and completing developmental assessments preferred.

·        Experience working collaboratively with families from diverse cultural, linguistic, and socioeconomic backgrounds preferred.

·        Head Start or Early Head Start experience preferred.

Skills and Abilities: 

·        Knowledge of child development, responsive caregiving, early learning, and developmentally appropriate practice.

·        Ability to establish warm, responsive, and nurturing relationships with children.

·        Ability to observe children's development and use observation and assessment of information to individualize learning experiences and caregiving practices.

·        Ability to plan and implement developmentally appropriate curriculum and classroom experiences.

·        Ability to recognize and respond appropriately to children's verbal and nonverbal cues.

·        Ability to maintain active supervision and consistently implement health and safety practices.

·        Ability to organize and maintain accurate child, classroom, and program documentation.

·        Ability to communicate professionally and respectfully with children, families, coworkers, managers, and community partners.

·        Ability to provide effective classroom guidance and direction to support staff while maintaining collaborative working relationships.

·        Ability to adapt to changing classroom and child needs while maintaining consistency and appropriate routines.

·        Ability to exercise sound judgment, maintain professional boundaries, and seek assistance when circumstances require additional support.

·        Ability to work effectively as part of an interdisciplinary team.

·        A strong commitment to social justice, equity, and the agency’s mission to provide high-quality programs to serve low-income individuals and families.

·        Deep understanding – and ability to articulate – the role equity, inclusion, and diversity plays in our work.

Certifications & Other Requirements:

·        Completion of required employment health screening/physical.

·        Tuberculosis clearance and other health documentation as required by applicable regulations and CAM policy.

·        Criminal record clearance as required by Community Care Licensing and applicable law.

·        Completion and maintenance of required health, safety, mandated reporter, and program-specific training within established timelines.

·        Pediatric First Aid and CPR certification as required by the position and applicable program requirements.

·        Must obtain and maintain any additional certifications, permits, or clearances required for the assigned program.

Software

·        Basic proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, including Outlook, Word, Excel, Teams, and SharePoint, as well as internet-based applications.

·        Ability to learn and effectively use agency-specific child assessment, documentation, communication, learning management, and other technology systems required for the position.

Confidential and Sensitive Information:

 Ability to maintain the highest level of confidentiality regarding children, families, employees, developmental information, health information, and agency records


Employees in this role may be required to perform the following physical activities, with or without reasonable accommodation:

Bend: Flexion of the upper trunk forward while standing and knees extended, or knees flexed when sitting

Lift: Exertion of physical strength to move objects 10-25lbs from one level to another

Carry: Hold or rest weighted objects 10-25lbs directly on hands, arms, shoulders, or back while moving from one location to another

Climb: Ascend/descend with gradual or continuous progress, using both hands and feet

Push: Exertion of force on or against an object (weight/size) to move it from one location to another

Feel: Perceiving attributes of objects, such as size, shape, temperature, or texture by touching with skin

Travel: Travel to sites using a personal vehicle may be required based on job duties

About Community Action Marin

COMMUNITY ACTION MARIN’S MISSION: We make it possible for people in Marin to achieve well-being by providing the vital services they need. Together, we break down the barriers that get in the way of fair and lasting change in service to better outcomes for all. 

We hold a shared vision for equity: Those who live, work, and visit Marin, including all racial and ethnic groups, experience fair and just inclusion. We act together to rectify historic patterns of racial, class, and gender marginalization, ensuring that all see themselves reflected in decision making and that all can participate, prosper, and reach their full potential.