Specialized Youth Instructor- Licensed Funtime Preschool Program

Overview
Current hiring needs are for our year-round, state-licensed Funtime Preschool Program. Positions available are for Early Childhood Assistant Teachers and Early Childhood Teacher Aides.

The City of Fort Collins Recreation Department creates exceptional programs to serve an exceptional community. Our programs are an opportunity for children to learn new skills, discover new passions, be active, and connect with their peers. Our Funtime Preschool is a state-licensed program that operates during the school year and runs from September – May for children ages 3-5. During the summer, Funtime Preschool transforms into Funtime Adventures for a summer camp experience for 4-5 year olds. Funtime Preschool Program focused on the development of readiness skills through child-directed discovery and teacher-led activities. Comprehensive curriculum content includes development of fine motor, cognitive, gross motor, social emotional and early literacy skills. The play-based, intentional approach encourages self-regulation, critical thinking and problem-solving. We are excited to be a Universal PreK Provider for the Fall 2024-Spring2025 school year.

We are searching for enthusiastic, dedicated professionals who are passionate about working with preschool-aged children. Ideal candidates genuinely enjoy the learning that takes place through play and is comfortable spending their days on a child’s level! Assistant Teachers and Teacher Aides will assist in program coordination and class management alongside Lead teachers in licensed classrooms.

Work Schedule
Funtime Preschool generally follows the Poudre School District Calendar with classes running from September through mid-May. Summer Funtime Adventure Camps run end of May through mid-August. Required, pre-service trainings must be completed prior to working with children. Weekly work schedules will vary with up to 8-hour shifts between 7:30am – 5:30pm depending on the programming season with up to 29 hours per week during the school year and up to 40 hours per week during the summer. Minimal evening or weekend hours necessary with exceptions for staff meetings or seasonal family engagement events. Emphasis is placed on candidates who are available year-round, but optional school-year only (September – May) positions are available.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities 

The following duties and responsibilities are illustrative of the primary functions of this position and are not intended to be all inclusive.
-Active supervision of children including regular participation and attendance counts.
-Greet children and parents in a friendly manner; conduct daily health screens and electronic check-in/out process.
-Assist in the planning and instruction of daily developmentally appropriate activities including but not limited to science, math, reading, indoor/outdoor games, crafts, dramatic play, music, and cooking.
-Prepare for and clean up following class/camp activities.
-Treat all children with care and respect in all interactions, including behavior guidance and classroom management strategies.
-Responsible for general maintenance of classroom/camp space and informing supervisors of missing and/or damaged equipment.
-Assist in the planning of safe and fun walking field trips when available.
-Responsible for class/camp supply and equipment inventory, and requesting materials based on available budgets as needed.
-Attend regular staff and department meetings as needed.
-Represent the City with a positive, professional, and healthy demeanor at all times.

Supervisory Responsibilities
This position is not responsible for the direct supervision of any City employees.

Qualifications To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.

Early Childhood Assistant Teachers
Licensing Requirements:
-Minimum age is 18.
Must have one of the following:
-Completion of one of the following Early Childhood Education courses with a course grade of “C” or better: Introduction to Early Childhood Professions, Introduction to Early Childhood Techniques, Guidance Strategies for Young Children or has been issued the Colorado Pyramid Model Training certificate of completion, Health, Nutrition and Safety, Administration of Early Childhood Care and Education programs, Administration: Human Relations for Early Childhood Professions or Introduction to Business, Curriculum Development: Methods and Techniques, Child Growth and Development, the Exceptional Child or Infant/Toddler Theory and Practice or have been issued the Expanding Quality Infant/Toddler Training certificate of completion; AND
-A minimum of nine months (1,365 hours) of verified experience in the care and supervision of four or more children less than eight years of age who are not related to the individual; OR
A current Early Childhood Professional Credential Level I or higher in Version 3.0.
General Requirements
Course work and/or work experience in working with children with disabilities highly preferred.

Early Childhood Teacher Aides
Licensing Requirements:
-Minimum age is 16.
-Must have informal experience working and/or genuine interest in working with children, specifically those ages 3-5.
Certificates, Licenses, Registrations

All positions:
-Must past City background check.
-Must receive clearance from state and federal fingerprinting, and child abuse reporting background check.
-Must possess a current CPR and First Aid Certification or attend a City provided CPR and First Aide course within one month of hire.
-Must complete 15 hours of required pre-service trainings and courses before working with children.

Language Skills: Must be able to communicate effectively with children, parents, co-workers, supervisors, and the general public. Must be able to effectively give developmentally appropriate, verbal guidance to children between the ages of 1-5 years.

Reasoning Ability: Must possess the ability to solve and implement practical solutions to problems, to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form, and to foresee and initiate proactive measures to ensure program quality, customer service and participant safety.

Physical Demands: 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.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand; walk; sit; use hands to finger, handle or feel; talk and hear. The employee is frequently required to crawl, kneel, jump, run stoop, crouch, reach with hands and arms. The employee must have the ability to lift up to 40 lbs., lead children in extended periods of exercise and movement, must be able to control children in both an indoor and outdoor environment.

Work Environment: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee may occasionally be exposed to various weather conditions including rain, snow, wind, hail and heat. The employee may be exposed to allergy causing conditions (i.e. cottonwood, dust, animals, etc.). The employee may be exposed to a variety of childhood illnesses. The noise level in the work environment can be at high extremes at times.

The employee must be able to work effectively in an environment of noisy, happy, and sometimes distraught children. The employee must possess high tolerance for the characteristic behavior of children in indoor and outdoor recreation settings and work effectively in high stress situations. The employee should be flexible with the demands and interests of children.